How I got My Clowns to Host my BTA

[alanbates12]

Ok so there was no science to this but I was able to get my two clowns to host my bubble tip today. This is what I did. First my fish had been out of my tank for almost 8 weeks because of the ich. Before I took them out they would not go near my anemone, think they had a thing for the cleaning magnet. So this is what I did. Took a small plastic bowl, something t just a little bigger than my anemone, and put a few small holes in the bottom. This was to let water in and air out. After acclimating the fish I placed them in the plastic bowl and put the lid on loosely just to keep them from jumping out. Then in the water I turned the bowl upside down over my BTA and took the lid off. The bowl was just a little bigger than the anemone so It covered their way out. First I tried the male only but he wanted nothing to do with it. Then I put both in together and the female dove in after a couple of minutes. I can watch them for hours playing, Good Luck


<a href="http://s921.photobucket.com/albums/ad59/rab1212/?action=view&current=IMAG0037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i921.photobucket.com/albums/ad59/rab1212/IMAG0037.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Impossible]

Thanks! ive been wondering a way to help the clowns figure things out. A couple questions tho my PBTA is still moving around my tank trying to find a nice spot, will it host em if its not stationary? And also i just got it and its pretty small so will my clowns still be hosted by it even tho its only the size of one of them?

 

[alanbates12]

Someone else I’m sure can give you a better answer than me but I’ve seen clowns hosting a small anemone. Before I tried anything I’d make sure my anemone has stayed in the same spot for a few days. You don’t want to stress him to bad. This is only my opinion.

 

[Impossible]

Sounds smart to me, thanks for the answer!

 

[alanbates12]

Is this your first anemone? You said he is moving around a lot. My question is how old is your tank? How much water flow do you have?

 

[bues0022]

While this may have worked for you, with your fish and your BTA, people need to take caution with this method. I never think it's a good idea to force a fish so close to an anemone. Bubble-tips do not have an extremely potent sting, but if one were to try this method with, say, a haddoni - they could likely end up with an expensive anemone meal. I truly think it's best to just put the fish in the tank and let them figure it out. Forcing a pairing (even if the pairing is "natural" in the wild) can still end in disaster.

 

[alanbates12]

Thanks for the info. The type of fish your talking about I guess is also a clown? Never mind I looked it up and it's a type of anemone. These guys sure look happy. I'm just glad it worked.

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[bues0022]

Yes, in my previous statement, "any fish" should read "any clownfish". I believe Todd posted about this exact procedure within the past day or two. He doesn't believe it's worth the risk, and I agree with him.

 

[alanbates12]

Again it worked for me and may not work for others but thanks for the info.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Yes, in my previous statement, "any fish" should read "any clownfish". I believe Todd posted about this exact procedure within the past day or two. He doesn't believe it's worth the risk, and I agree with him.

Yep, and I think it is a very bad idea -- and not something that anyone should attempt.


The OP got very lucky, could have very well ended up with an expensive meal for your anemone.

 

[alanbates12]

Toddrtrex, Symbiosis describes the special relationship between clownfish and sea anemones. They are the only fish that do not get stung by the tentacles of the sea anemone. Clownfish have a slimy mucus covering that protects them from the sea anemone. However, if this covering is wiped off of a clownfish, it will get stung and possibly be killed when it returns home to the anemone. So I understand this but my question is how does the slim coat get wiped off. And thanks for the info.

 

[alanbates12]

Something I got form another post that I think is great info:
The mot fascinating feature of the clownfish-anemone symbiosis is the clownfishâ₉„¢s immunity to the anemoneâ₉„¢s stinging tentacles. Immunity is not built-in but they seem to know instinctively how to acquire it. The anemoneâ₉„¢s tentacles, which are covered with a mucuous, contain a substance which inhibits one tentacle from stinging another or itself. While the clownfish is not fully immune to the sting, it can withstand the contact for short periods before being paralyzed. So the clownfish begins to coat its body with the immune chemical by rubbing its chin to the mucuous repeatedly gradually coating the entire surface of the body, rubbing against the stinging tentacles for longer periods on each successive contact. This acclimation process takes about an hour and at the end the clownfish is fully immune to the anemoneâ₉„¢s tentacles and can spend unlimited time swimming or lying among them. At night the clownfish actually sleeps within the folds of the anemone. If the clownfish is separated from its host anemone for more than few hours, it starts losing immunity and will have to go though the entire acclimation process all over again.

 

[bues0022]

Alanbates12- Todd has, (if I'm remembering correctly) over 12 years of first-hand experience with keeping anemones and clownfish. While the theory you have posted sounds great, there are many here that have first-hand witnessed a clownfish dying as a result of their hopefull host anemone. I don't think citing any other posts to Todd will enhance his knowledge, as he likely surpasses practical experience than the entity whom you are citing. It will behoove you to know your audience and who is giving advice in here. Todd is an excellent source of excellent information - much better practical knowledge than the reference-book-sounding theory above. We definitely don't want him thinking his insight isn't welcome and take another break from us in here

The problem with your method compared to the information you cite is the time factor. You didn't give the fish a great exit strategy. If the fish became startled, disoriented, it can easily swim accidentally into the anemone before the proper acclimation has taken place. Furthermore, for some combinations of clownfish/anemone, this process can take much longer (or never potentially) if the combination is not "natural". It's all good in theory, but in practice, listen to Todd.

 

[alanbates12]

Wow not trying to insult anyones intelligence. But you can only know by what someone post. If you'll read at the beginning of my thread I said there is no science to my method. It just worked for me. I'm only citing something that may be helpful to someone reading this thread. If someone has that much knowledge it's good to post the pros and cons. I try to take anyones advice into consideration but just because I can see you've had lots of post that does not mean anything to me. So in short if your against something please post some good reason. Also I'm posting this thread to try to learn so you of much knowledge can help people out that read through this post. So Todd if I insulted you that was not my intention but I only was trying to get an answerer to your post and it was meant for anyone that reads through this thread. Bottom line is that it helped me to understand a process so thats what I'm trying to pass on. Not ment to be an insult, bues0022

 

[kduen]

There is no way I would force my clowns anywhere near my anemone (my avatar). I have seen first hand what happens when a fish that is not "immune" happens to get startled and dive into the anemone it's not pretty and there is nothing that you can do about it. So while it might have worked for you with a BTA offering this up as an idea to get your clowns to be hosted by a anemone is only asking for trouble. Say someone who is very new to anemone world reads this and figures "well it worked for him I guess I can try the same thing with my Haddoni" That individual is going to be pretty upset that he just fed his anemone a $25-$300 snack/snacks.

 

[alanbates12]

Thanks man good info. Really cool picture. What type of carpet is that, a Haddoni? Super cool.

 

[kduen]

Yes it's a Haddoni and for what it's worth most of my questions, concerns have been answered by Todd. Extremely knowledgeable and will almost always share a personal experience (with pics) when giving out advise.

 

[alanbates12]

I'm sure he is and have looked at his home page. Lots of cool stuff. I'll look forward to reading some of his post.

 

[alanbates12]

Yep, and I think it is a very bad idea -- and not something that anyone should attempt.


The OP got very lucky, could have very well ended up with an expensive meal for your anemone.

still curious how the clown losses his slime coat making him vulnerable to the anemone.

 

[Creetin]

Its not his slime to lose its the anemone's slime that will rinse off the clown. Like putting on lotion, If you take a shower after you put it on it will be washed off.