Clown Feeding His Corner?

[Gwynhidwy]

My tank bred maroon clown has recently started bringing food back to his favorite corner and spitting it out as they normally do with anemones. I had been wanting to add an anemone, but didn't think that he/she was likely to host as he/she is tank bred and I've heard they often don't. Does this mean he/she is more likely to host?

Also, he/she is creating a bit of a pile and chases every other critter in the tank out of the area so no one cleans it up. Because it is under and behind a large rock in a corner I'm not sure how to clean it. Any suggestions on reef safe hard shelled critters that will clean it up and not be deterred by the clown? Or Should I just try the anemone which would then alleviate the need?

 

[timrandlerv10]

how long has your tank been set up and what kind of lights do you have?

he's storing food (which my moron thinks she is doing in her nem...but my nem doesnt realize its storage, so he eats it...) which is a good sign. mine were tank raised, and hosted almost immediately (put them in late at night, she was hosting the next morning, she let him in two months later).

moving a small powerhead might just blow away her storage, which will make it easy to clean, but you'll probably upset her. i know i'd be mad!

how large is she, and how long has she been alone in that tank?

btw, my maroon chases crabs and snails away. some hermits have pulled into their shells, and then she's pushed them off the shelf (which is hilarious to watch, but probably pretty upsetting to the crabs. they havent done it in a while, so i think crabs learn pretty quickly!).

 

[Slakker]

My female went around knocking crabs off the rocks one day just because she wanted to. Hilarious to witness, probably not so funny for the crabs.

I would say that this has no effect on the chances of your clown hosting. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't...it has little to do with where they were "born."

 

[Gwynhidwy]

Thank you very much for the replies!

The tank has been up for about a year with no problems, knock on wood, except for an outbreak of ich several months ago. The lighting is metal halide with rockwork at various levels so the anemone could choose to be as high as about six inches from the top.

The maroon is about three inches long now and has been one of two fish in the tank along with a Kole tang. The maroon has been in this tank for about three months now. The Kole was there first.

I didn't know it was for storage. That is interesting. Though a tad annoying since it will just rot! I think I'll try the powerhead if it becomes a problem. So far it does not seem to have effected the water quality, again knock on wood.

I would very much like to have an anemone and the maroon hosting would be a bonus. I think I'll start researching more. What is the favored host anemone for maroons?