Clowns stealing from RBTA

[SlvrSurfRidr]

New to this forum, thought I could get some help ... I've got a mated pair of Black Misbar ORA clowns. The female is pretty aggressive, and steals from the RBTA EVERYTIME I try to feed it. It's starting to stress the RBTA out, what do I do?! thought about sequestering the clown(s) for a couple weeks to give the RBTA a chance to recover. Any other thoughts??

 

[EMUReef]

New to this forum, thought I could get some help ... I've got a mated pair of Black Misbar ORA clowns. The female is pretty aggressive, and steals from the RBTA EVERYTIME I try to feed it. It's starting to stress the RBTA out, what do I do?! thought about sequestering the clown(s) for a couple weeks to give the RBTA a chance to recover. Any other thoughts??

wow thats wierd, my clarkii actually fed the nem first the other day it was interesting to see, other than that i got nothing for you.

 

[blumarlin]

Just shoo her away w/ your hand or hold a net near the nem until it is finished feeding. After 3 yrs my clarki still takes food from my nems.

 

[gotoneon]

That is really odd. Try feeding your clowns really heavy until they stop eating then feeding your nem. My Clarki feeds his BTA before she eats, the food does not always make it or stay in the nem but Shhe deffidently puts the effort in. She even keeps an eye out to make sure no other fish swim within 10 inches while the nem is injesting the food. If you have good lights the reality is your nem porbably needs far less food then you think to stay healthy. One good chunk of food per week should do the trick.

 

[SlvrSurfRidr]

Just shoo her away w/ your hand or hold a net near the nem until it is finished feeding. After 3 yrs my clarki still takes food from my nems.

This is actually the method I've been working with. I can shoo them away, the nem will take the food ... but after 15-20 minutes, if I pull the net away the clown will circle back in and work the food away from the RBTA It's amazing ... maybe I need to just get rid of the RBTA or the clowns?!

 

[blumarlin]

I have never had my nems take 15-20 to consume their food. Usually w/in 1-2 minutes at the most (and that seems like an eternity to me while I'm keeping the clarki away).
I should has asked a few more questions. How long has your tank been up & running? How long have the clowns & the nem been in there?

 

[SlvrSurfRidr]

yeah, my RBTA never used to take that long either. Tank has been running over 2 years, RBTA almost 2, clowns about 9months. Params are fine, but like I said ... think the RBTA got stressed and split. Now neither half is doing well. I think the only way to stop this is to get a containment enclosure to keep the clowns in for awhile. Bummer, but these nems are dying in here!!

 

[monkeybiz]

you can take a tupperware container with holes drilled in it to cover the rbta while it eats. that will keep any fish and shrimp away until it's able to finish.

 

[SlvrSurfRidr]

you can take a tupperware container with holes drilled in it to cover the rbta while it eats. that will keep any fish and shrimp away until it's able to finish.

great thought, but my RBTA's are in strange spots that tupperware won't readily fit over.

 

[WDLV]

Feed the fish first then feed the nem a boatload of tiny pieces of food. The idea being that the clown will be both full and overwhelmed by the amount of food added. The nem is bound to get some of it. Also, smaller pieces are easier to digest and are less likely to be spit out undigested.