Git yer butts in a 'Nem!

Whiterabbitrage

Whiterabbitrage

New member
Got a pair of Ocellaris two weeks ago. They are doing well but show no interest in getting hosted. There is a GBTA and a RBTA to choose from plus a duncan and several large (9") mini maxis too. But they show zero interest. I've tried the trick of lighting the anemone with a flashlight when the lights go out. The clowns come to the light, it's true,but not the Nem. I'll keep trying. I know there is no magic bullet to get them hosting. I just wanted some commiseration here!

Anyone have some funny stories about getting their clowns hosted?
 
I had a pair of Picasso clowns way back in the day that took 10 days of flash light. Then I had a pair of tank raised onyx clowns that after actually hanging out in GBTA for the first 3 nights they decided to adopt a brain coral and a frogspawn, and ditched the anemone. Lol
 
BTAs are not natural hosts of ocellaris. BTAs are not even members of the Stichodactylae family to wich all the natural host anemones for ocellaris belong.
Give them a gigantea, mertensii or magnifica and they will be in it within an hour. I had the same issue with one of my percula pairs: they ignored any anemone I offered them (BTA, malu, crispa) for months but when I placed a gigantea into the tank they were in it only a few minutes later.

Though, ocellaris are known to accept BTAs if no better choices are available, it may take a while. It also depends whether they have ever been in an anemone before or not. Clowns that have been in an anemone before are often less reluctant to accept an anemone that isn't their natural host.
 
Dkuhlmann said:
I've never heard of this flashlight trick. Got any links to threads where it's worked?
Click to expand...

I remember just using a Google search for this trick back in the day. It worked a couple times. I prefer it over any other method (small bucket, tube, posting pics of other clowns in anemones, etc)
 
I wasn't aware mini maxis grow past 5 inches. Can you show some pictures of the 9 inch maxi carpets you have? I'd love to see them
 
You know, I have had 3 pairs of ocelleris and 3 pairs of percula bond to a BTA with no problem. The longest it ever took was about a week. Maybe it is the size of the tank. I keep mine in 10 gal tanks; so, they cannot really get far from the anemone. Not that is any help.
 
raythepilot said:
You know, I have had 3 pairs of ocelleris and 3 pairs of percula bond to a BTA with no problem. The longest it ever took was about a week. Maybe it is the size of the tank. I keep mine in 10 gal tanks; so, they cannot really get far from the anemone. Not that is any help.
Click to expand...

My pair of Perculas have been with three anemone's now for a total of over 3-4 months and nada.

Some day's it looks like my Cherub angel will host with the trio. All 3 bta's are on the same large rock and take up about half of it, they are all touching each other so it looks like one large nem.
 
I was hoping they'd be hosted before now as I'm upgrading to a 40 gal this weekend. Maybe the tank change might make a difference?
 
I need to chime in to get some feedback... Sorry in advance for hijacking the thread ... I've had a pair of ocelleris clowns since I started the hobby more than a year and a half ago. In January of this year I purchased a rbta in hopes of it hosting the clowns, but as someone mentioned above, they show no interest whatsoever. I tried the flashlight trick but nothing. I upgraded my tank and waited to transfer the anemone last to see where the clowns hang out before placing it in. Once I noticed where they made their home, I placed the anemone in that area. As of today they swim around, under and over it, but do not go in. It's frustrating. I'm thinking of getting different clowns. What do u guys think?
 
ajreefer721 said:
I need to chime in to get some feedback... Sorry in advance for hijacking the thread ... I've had a pair of ocelleris clowns since I started the hobby more than a year and a half ago. In January of this year I purchased a rbta in hopes of it hosting the clowns, but as someone mentioned above, they show no interest whatsoever. I tried the flashlight trick but nothing. I upgraded my tank and waited to transfer the anemone last to see where the clowns hang out before placing it in. Once I noticed where they made their home, I placed the anemone in that area. As of today they swim around, under and over it, but do not go in. It's frustrating. I'm thinking of getting different clowns. What do u guys think?
Click to expand...

If you had the clowns for that long and only want to trade them to see symbiosis, I would get them a natural host like Hereactis Magnifica or Stichodactyla Gigantea. No need to sell the clowns.
 
Yea your right. I've been thinking of selling my Rbta's anyway. I'm going to start looking for a gigantea soon and hope for the best!
 
I had a similar problem till I got them there natural host (magnificent anemone), they were in the mag in 10 mins lol.
 
My upgrade will happen this weekend to the 40 b and I've got 3 bta's 2 lava and 1 sunshine my true perculas won't touch them and they have been with at least one for about 5 months, doesn't look like they are going in or are going to go in the bta's. My bta's are all on one rock that is at one end of the tank. The perc's feed at that end of the tank but sleep at the other, they actually spend all day at the end with the nems.

So my thoughts on the upgrade are to make a different arrangement but might take time as they are attached well to this rock and almost seem to be one nem . so if I leave them how they are and nothing happens I'll be looking to get a nem that they will use as a host. What would my best bet for a hosting nem be in my 40 b that won't grow huge. Yes I know that if I don't directly feed it will limit the growth. I also want a nem that won't eat all of my fish. Might be easier to sell my pair of clowns (very nice matched pair) and get a different breed of clown. But that brings other issues, I'm really wanting this to be a peaceful tank

Current fish:
pair true Perculas
1 hector's goby
1 Cherub Angel

Intended purchase:
Yellow watchman goby with shrimp
McCosker's wrasse

Then maybe one or two others I haven't decided on

I'd like your input on best way to go
 
I may just wait a while I really like my clowns and BTA's

This pair of clowns is pretty well matched in appearance and design so they would be hard to replace, besides they are less than a year old and will be a while before they actually want to breed. So ya I'll wait.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

BigEZ77
Urgent Help Requested - Wrasses Won't Come Out - CB Blue Tang Arriving Today (NO QT)
Replies
8
Views
563
rrrrob
rrrrob
xLennie
Which bubble tip anemone should I get?
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
xLennie
xLennie
vlangel
75g Lurking danger and Leafy Seadragons
8 9 10
Replies
182
Views
8K
vlangel
vlangel
Reefing102
Let the Cipro begin…
Replies
16
Views
1K
Omri
O
psness
DIY Refugium in a Penguin 375
Replies
3
Views
670
Reefing102
Reefing102
Back
Top