How do I get my clowns to host my nem?

[ZCCRX]

I have a beautiful BTA and a pair of clowns that have been in the same tank together for over a year. I have never seen the clowns show any interest in the BTA. Is there any way to get them in there?

 

[potterjon]

No not really. What kind of clowns are they?

 

[ZCCRX]

They are ocellaris clowns.

 

[captsluggo]

One of my 2 occelaris just decided to let an RBTA host it tonight, after 10 weeks of showing no interest at all. The other of the pair is in their usual spot.
Of course I'm happy to see it snuggled up in the tentacles looking right at home. You just never know for sure.
Recently at the LFS, I saw a pair of real small occs. with a sign that said "Wild caught Clownfish, These Clowns know what an Anemone is". You just never know for sure.
Captsluggo

 

[MyTank]

Get a h. magnifica, mine took to it in minutes. Just kidding, most of mine find their way to it at their own pace.

 

[Remicade]

i had a GSM take 2 weeks to find my RBTA. i removed the GSM and added a pair of snowcasso's and it took 2 weeks for one to find the nem. the other snow wants to jump in but the one hosting is being stingy. my snow actually went into the nem during a water change. you could try lowering your water and see if it will find the nem looking for a hiding spot. another trick to do is get a net and corral the fish to move near the nem hoping they might run into it and like it. i dont recommend this cause it might stress the clowns.

here is a trick i learned. at lights out, shine a flashlight into the nem. the clowns might follow the light into the nem.

 

[ZCCRX]

I'll try that flashlight thing. Doesn't sound any more ridiculous than me standing in front of my fish tank holding a laptop up to the glass while playing vid's of clowns hosting anemones, (which I may or may not have already done), lol.

 

[Fezzik]

If you have a laser. They like to follow that as well. A laser to have them chase into the anenome. When I moved my tank, I had a pair black clowns that would host in a RBTA I had. I decided to try putting them in the same bag and see. Well low and behold when they came out of the box to go back into the tank they were hosted inside it. And they will not leave it at all now.

 

[E.intheC]

i'll try that flashlight thing. Doesn't sound any more ridiculous than me standing in front of my fish tank holding a laptop up to the glass while playing vid's of clowns hosting anemones, (which i may or may not have already done), lol.

...lol

 

[lloydkeller]

give it time it will happen took mine about a month

 

[StillerNat]

it took my one snowcasso about 5 days to move in a RBTA. still waiting for the other one to be "allowed" in the nem. hehe

 

[Myteemouse]

I have heard multiple success stories with actually printing a picture out of a clown in whatever you want it to host in the tank.
Tape the pic to the tank buy the nem.. and wait.. Believe it or not.. I've heard it works.

 

[Fretfreak13]

You can also try to chase them in with a net. I heard that works to, but never tried it. Don't have the lights to support a nem yet.

 

[reefdogg1107]

I have heard multiple success stories with actually printing a picture out of a clown in whatever you want it to host in the tank.
Tape the pic to the tank buy the nem.. and wait.. Believe it or not.. I've heard it works.

I second this! I have seen it work twice personally. Don't just use 1 pic though, plaster the tank with pics!

 

[Toddrtrex]

You can also try to chase them in with a net. I heard that works to, but never tried it. Don't have the lights to support a nem yet.

I personally wouldn't recommend that. Depending on the anemone, chasing a clown into when (( when it isn't ready )) could end with the clown being eaten.

 

[hogben]

I think the picture works to scare them into the anemone. Not necessarily because of the content of the picture, but something taped to the glass changes their environment enough to force them to look for shelter.

 

[motoxmann]

I've heard good things about the picture trick as well. I didn't have any luck with that or the flashlight trick, and finally gave up. A couple weeks ago I woke up to find both of my occ's in the RBTA, and now they wont leave it. The clowns and the nem were in the tank together for 11 months before they showed the slightest interest

 

[surfthreeeleven]

+4 on printing a pic and leaving it on the glass by the nem... Worked for me like a charm just a few weeks ago... Try to find a pic of perc clowns in a nem if you can...

Also, LOL on the computer video!! I hadn't thought of that but I think its funny & great you tried it....

 

[CockyBrock]

I just recently added a RBTA into my tank w/my 2 Tomatos....and within 4 hours, the larger one jumped right into the nem...and I come home today to find it beaten up and the smaller one is in the nem...so you never know...

Sad thing is I'm going to have to get rid of them b/c they're about the same size and all they do is fight....so I'm not sure they'll ever pair up...

Also, has anyone had any experience with their clowns losing/fading their color...it appears that the smaller Tomato is getting lighter while it's in the RBTA...

 

[pimpman75]

I say just wait it out because not all clowns like anenomones. Kinda like how we dont like every house or room we see! lol