Getting CB clowns to host anemones

[L8 2 RISE]

I've had my ORA domino pair in my 160 with an RBTA for about 2 months now and they just won't host with it. Do you all think putting the clowns and anemone into a large breeder box that I have would help them "get to know each other"? Any other suggestions?

 

[Toddrtrex]

IMO, putting the clowns and anemone in a confined space together is a very risky move -- if the clowns aren't ready to be hosted, and touch the anemone they could get stung, and at worse get eaten. Granted the risk is lower with an E. Quadricolor, compared to with an S. Haddoni, but not a risk I would be willing to take.

IME, the best thing it time.

 

[bues0022]

I also do not believe, and have not seen any strong evidence that a CB clown is any more or less apt to be hosted by an anemone than a wild caught specimen. I've seen captive bred B&W Ocellaris swim directly into an RBTA upon introducing into the tank, and a wild-caught choose a powerhead as its host when an BTA is a mere 6 inches away. Of course the opposite is true too, which is why I believe they are both equally likely or not to choose to be hosted.

*making sure you have a natural clownfish/host nem combo is a way to stack the odds in your favor though.

 

[jt_milstead]

My Picassos have had the Malu for months, and havent had any interest. In my wifes tank she has a pair of tank bread/raised blackfoots that hosted within 2 days...

 

[MelloW33]

You just have to let it ride and hope that they eventually take to it. I'd imagine your dominos are small(since they are new from ORA) and it might take them a while in a 160.

Don't juvenile clowns have a thinner slime coat and are more likely to "feel" the anemone sting?