Clownfish stealing food from my Anenome

[NoobtoSalt]

Anyone have any ideas as to what I can do to get this to stop. I was going to sell them thinking it was an issue with my Blue Hippo tang taking the food but now it just looks like the clowns bring the food to the nem and then after a few minutes take it away. It's a pair of black and white saddlebacks and a long tentacle.

 

[Toddrtrex]

That isn't all that uncommon. I personally have never believed that clowns feed their anemone, more that they use it as a safe space to hold/hide excess food -- without realizing that the anemone is eating it. Think of it like a dog burring a bone.

For you, you have to find a way (( I used to use my hand with my pink skunk pair )) to keep the clowns away when you feed the anemone. If it is a healthy anemone it should take less then a minute for it to pull the food in. (( I have seen it happen in a second with both an LTA and S. Haddonni.

 

[NoobtoSalt]

Thanks for the reply. Problem is that it has lost a lot of it zoanthelle (I'm sure that's spelled wrong) and although it's still alive and kicking it has been really bleached out for about a month. I've been trying to feed it krill and it wants it and when I bring the krill down to it the nem still feels sticky but the clowns go right into it and steal the food. I have tried to block it off for up to 10 minutes and it still hasn't helped.

 

[Toddrtrex]

10 minutes is a long time. Might have to build/place something around the anemone until it recovers. Plus, need to figure out why it bleached.

What size tank?
What lights?
How long has it been set up?
What are your water parameters? (( with numbers ))

 

[elegance coral]

If it is taking 10 minutes for the anemone to consume its food, I would remove the clowns for a while. This will give the anemone time to heal without the harassment from the clowns. Once the anemone is health, I would return the clowns.

 

[NoobtoSalt]

10 minutes is a long time. Might have to build/place something around the anemone until it recovers. Plus, need to figure out why it bleached.

What size tank?
What lights?
How long has it been set up?
What are your water parameters? (( with numbers ))

75 gallon with sump, 2-T5's with 2-250w halides. Tank as it sits right now has been running for about 3 months but I changed everything from my old tank.

I have had some issues just recently with my Mag and Calcium levels being extremely high. I typically run my calcium at 450-500 and mag around 1400.

But currently here they are:

Alk: 8
Mag: 1550
Calcium: 550
PH: 8.3
Nitrates: 0
Nitrites: 0

 

[NoobtoSalt]

If it is taking 10 minutes for the anemone to consume its food, I would remove the clowns for a while. This will give the anemone time to heal without the harassment from the clowns. Once the anemone is health, I would return the clowns.

I've thought about putting the clowns in the sump. I have three tanks right now but I can't put them in with the puffer in the 10 gallon, and I just bought two false percs yesterday for my sons 29 gallon biocube.

 

[elegance coral]

I have a clarkii and a grouper in one of my sumps. You just have to make sure the return pump can't suck them up, and give them something to call home.

 

[NoobtoSalt]

I have a clarkii and a grouper in one of my sumps. You just have to make sure the return pump can't suck them up, and give them something to call home.

not getting sucked up into the return pump could be a problem...

I think them mean well they just don't know they are stealing it back from the nem..lol I also don't want to over feed the tank but I tried to feed the whole tank krill in hopes they would leave the nem alone. The nem had the krill half way down and one of the clowns pulled it out. Maybe I should sell the clowns and keep the nem?

 

[NoobtoSalt]

Here is a picture of what the nem looks like right now.

 

[NoobtoSalt]

Any suggestions?

 

[saltybastard]

I have the same issue and basically I just have to stand around scaring off the clown fish with the turkey baster until the anemone eats the food.

What sometimes helps is, after placing the food on the anemone, i will agitate it slightly which results in it closing up. This way, the food is trapped inside and the clown can't get to it.

 

[NoobtoSalt]

I have the same issue and basically I just have to stand around scaring off the clown fish with the turkey baster until the anemone eats the food.

What sometimes helps is, after placing the food on the anemone, i will agitate it slightly which results in it closing up. This way, the food is trapped inside and the clown can't get to it.

I've been feeding bigger pieces to it (full peices of krill). Maybe I should try and give it some of the regular food I feed my tank. A buddy of mine and I made some food a couple of months ago and the fish love it. I guess I could just try a turkey baster to it as well. I don't spot feed anything in my tank. If they don't eat when I feed the tank then it's their fault..lol

 

[saltybastard]

Agreed. Just because it is an artificial environment, survival of the fittest still applies.

Also, I may start this debate all over again by posting this but I read (on this very forum) that anemones really don't need any extra food from humans and get by just fine on strong lights.

I've been trying this for about a month now and my two anemones look no worse for the wear. In fact, my BTA seems to be getting a little bigger.

 

[NoobtoSalt]

Agreed. Just because it is an artificial environment, survival of the fittest still applies.

Also, I may start this debate all over again by posting this but I read (on this very forum) that anemones really don't need any extra food from humans and get by just fine on strong lights.

I've been trying this for about a month now and my two anemones look no worse for the wear. In fact, my BTA seems to be getting a little bigger.

I'm running 250w halides on my tank. So lighting shouldn't be an issue. my nem has been going downhill since I got it. Here is a picture of what it looked like when I got the nem.

 

[bues0022]

I'm not an LTA expert or ever owned one, but that nem is seriously bleached. You said it's a new tank up only three months, but that you used old rock. Did you also use all old sand? What did you do to the sand between transfer? just plain reuse it or rinse it at all? Old sand has been known to goof up a tank. I'll let the LTA experts attack the more specific aspects of this anemone.


How old are your bulbs? what color are they?

 

[NoobtoSalt]

I'm not an LTA expert or ever owned one, but that nem is seriously bleached. You said it's a new tank up only three months, but that you used old rock. Did you also use all old sand? What did you do to the sand between transfer? just plain reuse it or rinse it at all? Old sand has been known to goof up a tank. I'll let the LTA experts attack the more specific aspects of this anemone.


How old are your bulbs? what color are they?

I actually added some additional sand to the new tank as well as rinse some of the old sand. All my other parameters are fine so I'm not sure I'm understanding why the sand would make a difference in the nem? I know it's bleached that's why I was asking for help. It's not getting any food and has plenty of light but it needs more nutrients than just light alone. Keep in mind I'm a Noob and that's why I'm asking these questions but am a little unsure with why your asking about the sand?

 

[NoobtoSalt]

Oh and the bulbs are 10k Ushio's that do need to be replaced in the next couple of months. They are aprox. 10 months right now.

 

[bues0022]

At 10 months, I'd replace the bulbs. I've never had good growth from bulbs much past 8 months anyway. Also, if I'm understanding the nem placement, it's near the edge of where the best light is, so even though you have MH, it still might not be getting the best light.

Old sand, especially from a DSB, can contain lots of chemicals and gases that once released can wreck havoc on a tank. It can also be just fine, just a thought.

Have you tried smaller pieces of food? Maybe smaller pieces closer to the mouth might help?

 

[NoobtoSalt]

At 10 months, I'd replace the bulbs. I've never had good growth from bulbs much past 8 months anyway. Also, if I'm understanding the nem placement, it's near the edge of where the best light is, so even though you have MH, it still might not be getting the best light.

Old sand, especially from a DSB, can contain lots of chemicals and gases that once released can wreck havoc on a tank. It can also be just fine, just a thought.

Have you tried smaller pieces of food? Maybe smaller pieces closer to the mouth might help?

My zoa's are growing like crazy still. wierd.. but either way I know I need to replace them. I've been looking into different bulbs anyways since these ushio's are very yellow. I'm going to go with the Phoenix 14k 250w. I've tried smaller pieces, larger pieces, more krill to keep the clowns occupied and nothing seems to work. I think I will try the smaller pieces again and see where that gets me.

Thanks for the replies!