Clowns don't go near my BTA

[dvega101]

My clowns spend most of the time on the same side of the tank as my bubble tip but won't go near it. Will they host after a while? Any tips to encourage it without removing them all and placing in a smaller container?

 

[davocean]

You should never force close proximity, be patient.
What kind of clowns?

 

[dvega101]

Bonded pair of gladiator clowns. I was hoping it would happen naturally but thought there might be a clever method using food or something.

 

[davocean]

BTA is not natural match to percs or occs, so often takes longer to recognize.
They also may need to adapt to sting cells, that's why we advise not forcing.

Tricks like a flashlight over nem as lights ramp down make nem brightest thing in tank, sometimes that makes them curious

 

[dvega101]

All good to know. Thanks!

 

[OrionN]

Sometime, if there is a threat to the clownfish in the tank, they are more likely seek protection of an anemone and more likely to go into a non natural host anemone.
Several times a day, put your clean hand in the tank away from the anemone and wave it around for several minutes. I find that this will get my Ocellaris and Percula go into my Malu, which is not a natural of these clowns.

 

[youpey]

I once had a clown that would not host. I read that if you turn off all the lights in the house and tank so its completely dark and wait 15 to 20 minutes, then shine a spotlight on the anemone the fish will see it and be drawn to it and hosted in it forever after that.

I assumed it was nonsense but tried it anyway. It worked almost immediately. On my next setup i tried it again and it did not work at all.

Its worth a shot, but it is certainly not a guarantee

 

[davocean]

^^ flashlight trick does draw their curiosity, done this myself, but curious or not my last picasso's just refused the hadonni I had, but still worth a try.
Best as light are ramping down, not completely out

 

[CSmooth2009]

I have placed the nem close to where they sleep at night and the 85 percent of the time will go into the nem and then they always go in no problem now.