Clowns killing my Nems!

[stagefright13]

I started this hobby many years ago after I seen clowns and anemones hanging in their homes. So to make a long story short I took LFS advice and got a Percula and a Clarkii 6 or 7 years ago. And got a BTA shortly after and a dual MH setup. The Percula and Clarki actually got along but after about a year I came home to see a giant bristle worm attached to the side of the Percula. So I stabbed the worm with a coat hanger. And he let go but the Percula was hurt and the Clarki kinda beat him up after that and killed him. So much for short stories.

So after I knew what I was doing kinda I got a Juvenile Clarki and my original Clarki mated with it. Spawned many times etc. Problem is the Clowns kinda grew too fast for the Nem. The Nem finally got pounded by the Clowns and instead of growing just shrank after a couple years.

Well anyway the clarki juvenile ended up getting swim bladder disease eventually. And the now adult female kept making it swim with her. Till it finally disappeared.

So I just recently introduced another juvenile Clarkii that is just a crazy one and is doing great. It's fast as a bullet. And they love each other.

So I thought it is a good time for another BTA. When I was at the lfs I saw the biggest BTA I have ever seen locally. So I got it cause it was cheap and kinda on the bleached side.

The big female clown went right for it and beat it into the rocks relentlessly! I don't even think she slept she had to be in it. Then the next day the baby was all over it. Good god! It retreated into the rocks and came out the back so I made acrylic sheets filled with holes as fast as I could to divide it from the tank. But they busted them down.

Need some advice. I can't pull the rocks to get it out for 2 reasons. I used copper in my QT tank to get the baby ready so I can't put it there. And I am afraid of tearing it. And it is like 7 inches across. Think I can nuke a 10 gallon with light and grow it larger? Or just get more of them and group them. My Female is huge...

I feel bad for getting the nem now I thought I was saving it from fish store plunder...

 

[stagefright13]

I'm starting to think I should just get a giant carpet anemone and put my MH back on...

 

[Heterodonut]

You might be better off by pulling the clown(s) out, and letting a new nem get well established, and then re-introduce clown(s). In nature Nems are always there first, never the other way around. Big clowns, esp. Maroons and Clarks can really pound a nem. A big established nem can take that kind of pushing, but I think it would be tough for a new one, especially a weak or bleached one.

 

[davocean]

Am I reading this right that you QT new nem in copper?
Normally nem is cool as long as 3-4x bigger than clowns.
Clarkis can be a bit rough.
I've never heard of anyone stabbing a bristle worm w/ a coat hanger!
Not sure I'd put a carpet in a 29g

 

[stagefright13]

I used copper in the QT tank for the juvenile Clarki a while back. It kept laying on the bottom of the tank with no signs of any disease. So I dosed cupramine for a few days and it was fine. The Juvenile is at this point in the main and is a speed demon. Perfectly healthy and is the adult females best friend now. I had the QT tank only a couple inches next to the main so they got to know each other for quite a long time even before he went into the bigger tank.

The Nem got a 2 hour drip acclimation and went in the tank without a hitch. Didn't deflate or anything. I have a six pack cooler just for this. Was all open and such 'till the female started pounding it. I didn't make the acrylic divider fast enough before it went into the rock caves.

LOL the bristle worm was huge like a foot long or longer and was afraid to touch it. So I stabbed it to get it off my Percula...:eek1:

I'll see where the Nem goes today. Maybe I can wait 'till it gets in a reasonable spot to peel it out. I would hate to lose it.

I guess getting the clowns out would be alot easier cause they come right up to me if my hand is in the tank. I just don't have a new QT tank to put anything in. At least not 'till friday or so... But I do have an extra protien skimmer etc. But once I pull one the other is likely not to be easy.

All this stuff in my 29 is eventually going into my 55. Almost all my freshwater fish have already died of old age. Is a 55 big enough for a carpet? I only expect to ever have 2 clowns and some anemones.

 

[davocean]

I've had good luck catching clowns at night while sleeping, they're real stupid for about a minute, so be quick.
I have no exp w/ carpets myself.

 

[Aerowen]

how big is the clarkii female? i just got a pair and she is the sweetest thing to the nem, very gentle and always feeding the nem- do they get meaner when they get larger? i beleive the pair is about 3-4 yrs old. i would separate the clowns from the nem just catch them when they are sleeping or eating.

 

[stagefright13]

Here is a pic of the main culprit. The Nem is like 7" across! It is huge compared to any other nem I saw recently. But somehow stuffed itself into the rocks... The baby Clarki has no trouble in it. But At the moment the large BTA is in the caves in my rock. It's not getting light and is not as tan as it should be. Very bleached IME. Pic taken today of her. She is just TOO big. Even for my 29 gallon I think. And can't swap them to the 55 yet...

 

[stagefright13]

I don't think she is meaner in any way. She just loves an anemone. It is all she thinks about. But now she is grown up and huge. She doesn't feed nems anymore tho but used too. She would grab a shrimp and drop it to her host almost every time I fed her.

The nem just popped out again for light and I put the acrylic dividers back in. But I cannot cut 1/16 acrylic by eye to fit around all the rock. I got close but the baby made it. I give up. At this point i just made it inconvenient hopefully that is enough.

I put my salt mixing powerhead in the tank yesterday to give the fish more things to do and exercise. That did put them to sleep early lol.

Don't know what else to do...

 

[stagefright13]

Baby busted thru divider: I cleaned my lens btw... Poor thing needs light. I feel bad.

 

[stagefright13]

Latest update the nem went all the way to the bottom of the tank to the sand. The fish store had practically NO lights on it... Even tho they had pendants on the coral tank. I'm sure as it can take more light it will move up. It is a bit under the overflow even to kinda shade itself a bit.

The Clowns for the most part are leaving it alone now. They are really getting fun in the powerheads and wearing themselves down. The baby is intent on beating down the 500 gph nozzle. It's like anything else. Where do puppies and baby fish get their energy from!?? Hopefully that keeps their interest for a while.

The Nem is all bubbled up and open now. And is getting a slight tinge of tan. Crossing my fingers. Hope it will be ok. Gonna feed it in a couple days. At least it doesn't look all stringy now.

Sorry no pic my batteries are dead

 

[stagefright13]

I would feel bad about pulling the Clowns out of their home. Dunno If I want to do that if the bleached nem may die anyway. But the Nem has moved halfway up the rock at this point and planted it's foot. So at this point that amount of light is ok. It may move a little higher is my expectation.

It tanned somewhat when it was by the sand. But only on one side lol. I have no way of knowing if it will even make it. But am trying.

I thought of moving the clowns to a piped in tank and throwing some of the rock in there... But I can't do that for another week. I would have to get another tank for that. At LEAST a 20 gallon long maybe...