Clown replacing, pairing & RBTA hosting questions????

[duganderson]

I have two classic, orange (Nemo) fancy Oc. clowns that I bought from my LFS in Jan. 2012. They were supposedly 6-8 months old when I bought them so they are about 20-22 months old. I bought one smaller than the other and they seem to be paired. Currently, he bigger one is about 1 3/4" long and the smaller about 1 1/2" long.

They, however, will not host the gorgoeous RBATa anemone (I know the RBTA hosts the clown, not the other way around) despite trying every strategy to make this happen. I'm ready to sell one or both and try again to get them hosted.

I'm thinking about buying one Black and White Oc. clown and taking out one of the clowns but I had a few of questions......

1. When I add this new clown, are there any tricks to encourage it to host right away? The anemone is on a rock that could be removed into a large tupperware if necessary?

2. The LFS is going to add the Black and White Clown to a RBTA tank to see if it hosts before I buy it.....will this likely increase my odd of it hosting the nem????

3. Assuming the black and white clown hosts, which clown should I remove (the bigger girl or the boy) to increase the likelihood that the one that is left follows the new Black and White into the Anemone.

4. Should I add the new clown and then remove the one I'm going to remove OR take one out first before adding the new one??

5. Is the current clown left in the tank likely to attack the new black and white? Will it likely be OK? Is a black and white as likely to pair with the orange as two oranges.....do clowns care about coloring???

6. Are the black and white clowns more aggressive than the orange. Live aquaria says there semi aggressive but the orange oc. clowns are considered peaceful.

Any other thoughts or tips appreciated

Thanks

 

[deweyhowell]

The black and white are still ocellaris and you will still be 50/50 whether they choose to take to the RBTA. Like all occellaris some people have no problem getting them to take to a BTA other will go months or never do it.

Your best odds are choosing a clownfish in which the BTA is the natural host. Maroons, clarkii, tomato clowns, I think are the primary ones for BTAs.

One caveat though, even with these that naturally host together, it is not 100% in the aquarium, especially with tank-raised specimens that have never seen an anemone, but your odds are much higher.

 

[duganderson]

Due to the size of my tank.....I'm apt to stick with the RBTA & Oc. clowns. In addition, those are my favorite clowns and nem. I know a lot of folks have had success with this combo.

Do folks have any thoughts on my other questions.....especially the one about which clown to remove (male or female) to increase chance of current clown following black and white one into nem?

 

[velvetelvis]

They may eventually take to the anemone. I've had ocellaris hosted by BTAs before. The instinct to take refuge in a host is powerful--hence the accounts of clownfish going into LPS, mushrooms, leather corals, hair algae, etc. Sometimes it just takes time. I remember a poster here whose ocellaris went into a BTA after 2 years!

 

[duganderson]

They may eventually take to the anemone. I've had ocellaris hosted by BTAs before. The instinct to take refuge in a host is powerful--hence the accounts of clownfish going into LPS, mushrooms, leather corals, hair algae, etc. Sometimes it just takes time. I remember a poster here whose ocellaris went into a BTA after 2 years!

Thanks for the ideas.

I have waited 14 months. Also, having a clown hosted anemone was the goal of my tank. I can trade in one fish to the LFS for a credit so I'm ready for a change.

 

[duganderson]

Good news update...

I traded in the larger female for a black and white oc. clown that was about 1/4" smaller than my male. My LFS had trained him to host with another clown and a RBTA. The two clowns have been getting along well. The bigger male occasionally strikes at him but never seems to make contact.

After about 4 days, the new clown buried himself into the RBTA. The other clown is showing some more interest in the RBTA but has not dived in yet.

--Doug