Encouraging clownfish into anemones

[falesdk]

So I keep hearing about the flashlight trick and putting pics on the side of the tank to encourage the clowns to fall in love with anemones.

The flashlight trick seems to be self explanatory, and yet I seek more details, I would assume after dark, but how long to leave the flashlight on? turn it on exactly as lights go off?

With the picture thing, same kind of anemone and clownfish? Does the kind of clownfish matter? Does the type of anemone matter?

I'm just thinking that my anemone seems to be well acclimatized to my tank, and it wouldn't hurt to try and encourage the clowns (although I realize that given any tricks/efforts on my part they may never like the anemone). Any other tried and true methods to encourage the clowns?

Thanks!

 

[ekr]

the photo work on my maroon, but it took like 3 days before he start to host it.

 

[Dragonlady]

What type of anemone and clown do you have? There must be a good reason why some clowns avoid hosts that they do not host in the wild. Also, I do not advise mushroom polyps with host anemones.

 

[falesdk]

Green bubble tip anemone and false percula clowns. I realize they aren't naturally occurring together, but its not unheard of in captivity. I realize that the odds are they won't end up together, it just can't hurt to do a little encouraging.

And yes I know shrooms and anemones dont generally go together, however their on the opposite side of the tank, and I'm willing to remove if the anemone decides to move. or if I see any signs of decline which could be chemical warfare.

I was really kind of looking for more details on the aforementioned flashlight trick and picture trick.

Thanks!