Haddoni Help! Calling all experts!

[a-T-m]

I picked up my first carpet anemone the other day for my ocellaris pair, a brute of a haddoni. He's giant, green, sticky....pretty much awesome.

My clowns have been giving him some good attention, but not the kind that i want; this isn't a "hot to get my clowns to host" thread. I know it takes time, it took time with my maroon and BTA, my perculas and sebae, and now the occs and haddoni.

They spend most of their time now swimming near him, and brushing against the 'nem. BUT they also nip at the tentacles and dive into his mouth and worm their head around (specifically the female, my black ocellaris). It worries me a bit because I know how that carpets and generally more difficult to keep and sensitive than other anemones.

Is there any way that i can get the clowns to stop nipping at tentacles and diving into the mouth? I'm worried that it'll stress the big fella out and lead to bad things. OR is this just a normal, no biggie thing, and i shouldn't worry about it?

I'll post some pictures in a little bit, i just got back from work. He's awesome though, a giant, and gave me no problems during acclimation. Thanks for all the help and advice in advance!

 

[Mikeygo1]

I don't know what to tell you my Clowns killed my Carpet anemone the same way. I tryed everything I could think of, and after 2 weeks of lost tentacles and robing it's food I took him out but it was to late it never came back.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I am a bit surprised that your O's are doing this, but that overall behavior isn't all that common, but it usually happens with saddlebacks (( A. polymnus )).

I personally have never seen any damage done to the anemone from this behavior, but would keep a very close eye on it. If you notice that the mouth starts to stay open, I would try to find a way to keep the clown away from the anemone.

Should note, that I had a female saddleback that would do this all the time. One time she stayed in the mouth for 5-10 minutes. When she came out her face was all messed up and lost one eye. 2 weeks later (( after out of the blue darting around the tank for a couple of minutes, then laying on her side )) she was no longer with me.

 

[elegance coral]

Well....Todd should come down from his high and help you out soon. LOL.

Until then, I'll share my experience. My haddoni has hosted several species without issue. I added a trio of large saddle backs, and had to separate them from the anemone. The large female would dive completely inside the anemone and stress it out pretty bad. I removed the clowns and the anemone recovered. Basically, I would say it is very possible for clowns to stress a newly introduced anemone to death. I would keep an eye on things, and if you notice the anemone getting overly stressed, separate them.

 

[a-T-m]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the info and advice. The mouth isn't gaping from this or the other stress; it opens at times but quickly closes back up after. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on anything that happens between the clowns and anemone.

Todd- I'll keep an eye on the female. But, personally, I'd rather have to replace the clown than my haddoni.

Pics will be up later!

 

[elegance coral]

LOL. Todd, you must not be feeling to bad. You beat me to it. Maybe it's time to push that little button again. LOL.

Seriously. I hope you get better soon.

 

[Toddrtrex]

LOL. Todd, you must not be feeling to bad. You beat me to it. Maybe it's time to push that little button again. LOL.

Seriously. I hope you get better soon.

Thanks a lot. As long as I don't move I feel half way decent, it is the moving part that hurts. And they took away that little button, just left me with pills.

 

[a-T-m]

Just an update:

The clowns are still nipping and mouth diving so i've decided to replace them. I'm not sure which path to take though, should i go with a true perc pair or a saddleback? I know the saddleback is the natural host, but they host rough, and i don't want to take a risk with my haddoni.

 

[elegance coral]

I would leave the haddoni without any clowns for a while. After its had several months to recover, then get a pair of clowns. I agree, saddle backs are rough. Perculas are usually okay. You may think about clarkii as well.

 

[Chelle's Ocean]

Any pics?? I would like to see what yours looks like. Mine has been growing- and when he stretches out he is enormous! But I haven't had any luck with my clowns hosting him. They hovered over him for 3 days, bouncing up and down, but never actually committed to hosting...they were eventually moved out to their own tank due to hosting in the frogspawn/hammer.

 

[a-T-m]

I would leave the haddoni without any clowns for a while. After its had several months to recover, then get a pair of clowns. I agree, saddle backs are rough. Perculas are usually okay. You may think about clarkii as well.

I'm going to wait a bit before i replace them, but the anemone isn't damaged or in a bad state at all. This was just me freaking out and reacting before it got worse. He's got a small dime sized patch without tentacles, and his mouth is closed and looking good.

Any pics?? I would like to see what yours looks like. Mine has been growing- and when he stretches out he is enormous! But I haven't had any luck with my clowns hosting him. They hovered over him for 3 days, bouncing up and down, but never actually committed to hosting...they were eventually moved out to their own tank due to hosting in the frogspawn/hammer.

I like to think that i have a huge haddoni; so i'll post some pics later. I'm going to replace the occy pair with some onyx percs.

Funny story, i removed the black occy female but couldn't get the reg occ male out. And as soon as his lady is gone, the male clown was being quite polite towards his host. Regardless, he's still gotta go since he made me mad! :fun2:

 

[Chelle's Ocean]

:fun2: Any pics yet?? How is it doing lately?

 

[a-T-m]

The clowns kept getting worse so i got rid of them and picked up a big female sorta onyx perc and a lil baby perc. They've been ignoring the nem which is good, because it gives him time to fully heal. i'll post a pic later today

 

[E.intheC]

The clowns kept getting worse so i got rid of them and picked up a big female sorta onyx perc and a lil baby perc. They've been ignoring the nem which is good, because it gives him time to fully heal. i'll post a pic later today

that's good to hear (that the clowns are ignoring the haddoni for now). Seems like you're handling it in the best way possible.

I wish I had read this thread before I purchased my saddlebacks though, lol..
they are already jumping in the large brain coral that I have.. getting rough but it's not terrible. Yet.

Hopefully they won't do any "anemone mouth dives" though