fish first or nem?

[Zimmer]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience or insight as to whether I should get the anemone or the clownfish into the tank first to facilitate hosting? I'm going to be getting a BTA and probably either a perc or ocellaris clown, and my tank will be 6 months old by the time either of them goes in. In my mind, I would put the nem in first and make sure it's happy and settled, then when the fish goes in he will conveniently find a little home waiting for him...

 

[Catchoftheday]

I would say Anemone first so it can find it's happy spot

 

[saltyair]

+1 on anemone first. That being said bubble tips are the least of the perc's or ocellaris go to anemone species.

I would suggest an LTA - they are more forgiving over all and ocellaris and percs will be attracted more often.

I would say Anemone first so it can find it's happy spot

 

[SoLiD]

Anemone first. I'd make sure your water parameters are good before getting one. BTA's are one of the easier nems to keep, but a double check will save you heartache and money.

 

[Zimmer]

for some reason i was under the impression that most clowns tend to not host LTA's? i don't remember why... info overload :spin1: lol

either way, i was looking at a BTA because it is a new tank and my understanding is they are the most forgiving to care for - tanks about 4 months along now and doing well so far... i want to get my ATO setup before i add the nem or any other livestock so that's what im waiting on there.

are there any other types of clowns that prefer a BTA? i was looking at percs and ocellaris because they seem to be the most docile, but i'm open to other varieties.

 

[SoLiD]

IME Ocellaris are for the most part the only peaceful type I know of. Even Percs will bite you.

 

[OrionN]

All the clownfish that naturally host by BTA are larger more agrresive clowns. See the Anemone and clownfish FAQ. None of the more docile smaller anemone fishes are naturally hosted by BTA in the wild. In aquariums, it's a crab shoot when it come to non natural hosts.

 

[saltyair]

This is personal experience with setting up aquariums and my own research project.
I set up 4 tanks with mated oc's each with three nems. carpet(Stichodactyla haddoni), bta and LTA.
All mated pairs first went to carpet first some with in min others with in days.

After 1 month I removed the carpet from each tank. 3 out of the 4 mated pairs went to the LTA - the 4th pair did not go to any anemone.

After 30 days I removed the LTA and all 4 pairs did not go to the bta with in one month.

for some reason i was under the impression that most clowns tend to not host LTA's? i don't remember why... info overload :spin1: lol

either way, i was looking at a BTA because it is a new tank and my understanding is they are the most forgiving to care for - tanks about 4 months along now and doing well so far... i want to get my ATO setup before i add the nem or any other livestock so that's what im waiting on there.

are there any other types of clowns that prefer a BTA? i was looking at percs and ocellaris because they seem to be the most docile, but i'm open to other varieties.

 

[AFU]

I would agree and say get the nem in there first so it can settle with out any clowns hosting it. Then once its set I would add clowns. I have always gone this route with nems. I've only kept RBTAs tho.

 

[Zimmer]

Hmm.. I must have been thinking of a different type or something, after doing some reading last night the LTA is looking better and better to me.

I'm assuming due to my tank size that any of the carpet types is probly out of the question? (I am absolutely upgrading next year to a 125, i already have the tank!)

I did read the stickies I swear i just like to get people own personal experiences too!

I have a coral beauty and a blue damsel so potentially a more aggressive clown might be exactly what I need........ It will most likely be the last fish added to the community as well fyi.