Clownfish issue

[dugg]

I have a small black and white clown that has decided to host in my large dersa clam. I bought him a RBTA on Sunday from Wingnut. I place the anemone right by the clam, but the clown acts like it isn't even there. I am trying to figure the best way to get him to host the anemone instead without harming the clam doing it. I have thought about building a cage for him and the anemone until he host it, or maybe placing the clam in the sump for a few days. I don't want to risk any hrm to the clam. The clown would have to go first. Any suggestion?

 

[tangers]

I have heard of some people putting the clown in a collection cup and holding it right above the anemone. The clown has 2 choices- stay in the colletion cup or go down throught the anemone. I question this as most clowns have to build a resistance to their anemone, but there was a thread on it a while ago and almost everyone who tried it said it worked.

 

[Swirlygig]

It may take him a few days, but moving the clam to a new location may do the trick...

 

[Swirlygig]

other than that you could always put the clam in a critter keeper in the main tank depending on the size...this way he could still get light and keep the clown off him to force him to a new home

 

[JUICE!]

my black and white clowns took a good while to host....close to a month.

I would also recommend moving the clam to a new location. you may have luck just moving the clam every couple days for a couple weeks. They will find the nem eventually!

My clowns were tank raised and I doubt they had ever seen an anemone before! it was really funny! at first they didn't even seem to take notice, but after a week or two they were obviously drawn to it, but they were very very cautious. I was actually watching when they first swam in. The larger of the two pecked at one of the bubble tips on the nem once or twice, then bumped it a few more times. After about 30 minutes of that game, the larger one swam directly through the tentacles real slowly once. Then BAM! dove right in! and when the smaller one was the bigger one snuggling it like crazy, it followed a minute or two later. Now they rarely stray more than 6 or 8 inches from it unless I'm feeding the tank.

I think clownfish snuggling on an anemone is one of the most fantastic things you can have in a reef! My Maroon clown in my bedroom tank is the most fun to watch! It really looks to be in ecstasy when it's in the nem! you can almost hear her saying "oooooOOOOOoooOOoHHH snuggle, snuggle, snuggle, snuggle snuggel, snuggle, snuggle"

 

[viruzjk]

WHAT KIND OF ANEMONE IS IT? IVE HAD SUCCESS WITH WITH MY CLOWN HOSTING IN A BUBBLE TIP ANEMONE, BUT WOULDN'T IN A CONDYLACTUS ANEMONE.

 

[AJ69]

cover the clam or just move it until the clown takes ver the anemo

 

[chrisstie]

Before messing with the clam I'd ask how long has it been established in your system? They are definitely finicky and I would say your best option is to just wait. Clowns can take a day, a month, even up to a year to decide if they are going to host. My perc took roughly a week to figure it out and my latz took all of like, an hour. Some take longer. They also say instead of forcing your clown to get stung prematurely you can put a picture up on the outside of your tank of the same type of clown hosting in an anemone. Sounds silly but for the aquacultured ones I've heard of great success with this method, and that way you dont have to put undue stress on any of your creatures.

Best of luck, trust in nature, your clown will figure it out

 

[cowboyswife]

We always just guided the clowns to the nems with our hands. They caught on pretty quick.

 

[dugg]

Sorry it took so long to get back. Been busy around here last few days. Thanks for all the suggestions. I decided to make a cage out of needlepoint backing and placed the anemone and it's rock, and the fish into. I also moved the clam to the sump since there just isn't room for both the cage and the clam. He's a tough one though, i think he will do fine. I am hoping that once the fish hosts the anemone, i can put it all back and all will be good. The clam is pretty bigg, and has had my watchman goby perched on him for 4 years. so i'll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully it will only take a day or two since he already feels the need to host something.

 

[dugg]

Now i know why we call em clown fish lol. He has been rubbing my clam to death, and now that it's just him and the anemone and rock, he swims around like it's just a rock with nothing on it lol. Good news is, the anemone doesn't seem to mind, and the clam kinda has his spot back.

 

[dugg]

Update.
I tried the container with no luck, so i went and found the clownfish a mate that was already hosting an anemone. The new clown went straight to the anemone, then the next morning BAM both clowns are now hosting in --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------wait for it ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




That's right, THE CLAM LOL. They're not clowns, they are just stupid. LOL