how do you get tank rasied clown fish to host?
- Thread starter mdefo25
- Start date
velvetelvis
Active member
Put an anemone in with them, and wait. 
Seriously, that's really all you can do. People will make suggestions like taping a picture of a clownfish being hosted to the outside of the glass, or putting the clownfishes and the anemone together in a smaller container, or scaring the clowns into the anemone, but these are anecdotal at best and dangerous to the clowns (as in the last two examples) at worst. Clownfish are going to do what they're going to do, and on their own schedule.
But take heart; CB clowns are just as likely to take to an anemone as their WC relatives. I have two CB black ocellaris who have been hosted by two anemones by this point. In each case it took a week or more for them to get the idea, but when they did...presto! And for the record, IMO it doesn't matter whether the anemone is a natural host for them in the wild or not. My clowns are happily paired up with a rose bubble tip anemone, just like they were in the store.
Seriously, that's really all you can do. People will make suggestions like taping a picture of a clownfish being hosted to the outside of the glass, or putting the clownfishes and the anemone together in a smaller container, or scaring the clowns into the anemone, but these are anecdotal at best and dangerous to the clowns (as in the last two examples) at worst. Clownfish are going to do what they're going to do, and on their own schedule.
But take heart; CB clowns are just as likely to take to an anemone as their WC relatives. I have two CB black ocellaris who have been hosted by two anemones by this point. In each case it took a week or more for them to get the idea, but when they did...presto! And for the record, IMO it doesn't matter whether the anemone is a natural host for them in the wild or not. My clowns are happily paired up with a rose bubble tip anemone, just like they were in the store.
scrambler1880
New member
I have had three separate sets of clowns
2 Black and White Ocellaris
2 true percs
2 snowflakes
all were/are captive bred and all took to the anem eventually... my latest are the two snowflakes and it has taken them months but within the last week are finally showing an interest in my RBTA
2 Black and White Ocellaris
2 true percs
2 snowflakes
all were/are captive bred and all took to the anem eventually... my latest are the two snowflakes and it has taken them months but within the last week are finally showing an interest in my RBTA
I put a flower pot in the tank first, the CB hosted it because its a nice cave. Then after a few weeks i put a BTA in there. They hosted the BTA instantly. The plus side is my BTA loves the flower pot and I can move it around the tank easily. The pot doesn't look natural at all but you can glue some rocks to it or something. I personally like the small flower pot in there.
edit: some pictures, ignore mess I did a water change earlier and didn't wipe the sides.
An older picture. at night they sleep in the pot
edit: some pictures, ignore mess I did a water change earlier and didn't wipe the sides.
An older picture. at night they sleep in the pot
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jonnybravo22
New member
my experience: true perculas and gigantea anemone.
had the clowns for about a year and a half and they had been "hosted" by the return pipe in the tank. so for the first couple of weeks after introducing the anemone the clowns ignored it. giganteas are natural host anemones for percs so i was annoyed that they wouldnt go in, so i tried taping pictures (didn't help in my case), but i knew forcing them was not a good idea.
instead, i figured i could just make their current hosting spot less comfortable and see if they decided to move on their own.
i redirected a powerhead to the return line and eventually they moved away from there. then i noticed the male getting closer to the anemone day by day, and touching it and leaving. a few days later i looked an he was dacing around in the anemone and i was really excited. the female took another 2 weeks to join him, but they all went in on their own timing. and since i think all threads are better with pics, here they are:
had the clowns for about a year and a half and they had been "hosted" by the return pipe in the tank. so for the first couple of weeks after introducing the anemone the clowns ignored it. giganteas are natural host anemones for percs so i was annoyed that they wouldnt go in, so i tried taping pictures (didn't help in my case), but i knew forcing them was not a good idea.
instead, i figured i could just make their current hosting spot less comfortable and see if they decided to move on their own.
i redirected a powerhead to the return line and eventually they moved away from there. then i noticed the male getting closer to the anemone day by day, and touching it and leaving. a few days later i looked an he was dacing around in the anemone and i was really excited. the female took another 2 weeks to join him, but they all went in on their own timing. and since i think all threads are better with pics, here they are:
velvetelvis
Active member
Sfork, that's an ingenious idea for placing a BTA. 
SwampyBill
New member
+1 on having patience. It's always a crapshoot if clownsfish will accept an anemone. Over the years, I've had some that took to the anemone within minutes, others weeks. The b/w ocellaris pair I have now didn't go in their sebae 'home' for 6 months, but went into an LTA within 10 minutes after I added it to the mix. I love me some clowns... Good luck with yours! btw, gorgeous clowns & blue carpet, Johnny.
Good luck with yours! btw, gorgeous clowns & blue carpet, Johnny.
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BairdimusPrime
New member
just wait, mine took six months to host but they do!
