how long can it take for hosting

S

sunnypanda

New member
I have only had my black and white clown fish for 5 days and she has not found a place to host yet. Forgive me if these are newbie questions, I tried to research and haven't found the info I was looking for. How long could it typically take for a clown fish to host something? I do not have any corals or anemones in my tank yet (will be added soon). Is it possible that she may never host anything?
 
I am not sure that is why I am asking the question........... As I said before I am extremly new when it comes to salt water fish and clown fish in general. I thought that a clown fish could host to anything, atleast that is what I have read from other forums but perhaps that is rare?
 
Some people will say that their clowns are hosted by a powerhead or a heater -- basically meaning they hang out there. IMO, I would not consider that being hosted. I would only consider them being hosted when a coral or anemone is involved.
 
Gotcha :) I think that is why I was confused because I had read stories of clown fish hosting to power heads? Wierd if you ask me.
 
Something to remember...

The clown does not 'host' anything. It's a term that seems to be incorrectly used quite often. The clown can be hosted, meaning that the thing that the clown takes to (i.e. coral, anemone, magfloat, powerhead, snail, etc) is considered the 'host'. If that makes sense.

I think I've used the word 'host' enough for one day. Sorry for the sidetrack.
 
Thanks, that is exactly the answer I was looking for :) I haven't seen my clown fish hosted yet, but then again it has only been 5 days since we got her.
 
Yeap.. Mine 'really like' my powerhead right now. I have an anemone in the tank and it's flying solo. Soon, hopefully, it will be 'hosted' by the 2 clownfish. Sometimes it takes a really long time, sometimes it doesn't take that long.
 
it can be first day, night, it can take a month... sometimes it doesnt happen, just keep your parameters right and they will see him
 
my clown took 2 weeks to host in a big green star polyp rock I had.. then 3 months later I moved and 3 days after I hosted it gave up the GSP and moved to my RBTA which I never thought he would
 
i have a pair of black and white clowns that are captived breed. took the introduction on my pink margin wrasse to spook them into the anemone. other wise they had no idea what it was. just give it time.
 
When I bought my anemone there where two Clowns hosting in it. So I bought the anemone and the two clowns. Once I put them all in my tank, the clowns will have nothing to do with the anemone.
 
When you do get the appropo item to host your clown, at night, spotlight the item you want the clown to host in. Keep the rest of the tank dark. Clowns hate the dark and will go to the highlighted coral. Do not let the clown get chummy with frogspawns, duncans and the like- nothing with a calcerous (sp) base because the coral will eventually die from the rubbing-it rips them apart inside. Bubble polyps, green star polyps, mushrooms, leathers or a nem is best.
 
I will have to try that :) Thanks for the great info. I do not have an appropriate host yet, but will be getting one soon for her. Does anyone know know of what a good aneomone or coral would be for a b/w occelaris?
 
Go here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm

There is a table of compatability. Most of the ones they reference can get quite large. I suspect a bubble or a long tenacle will be sufficient tho.
Green bubble tips are much less expensive than the rose bubble.
Long tenacles are only around $30 or less too.

In the wild, clowns use nems as a host to keep from getting eaten because clowns are horrible swimmers. Sometimes in captivity, it may take awhile for them to find a host if they are feeling secure. So, give it time. Wetwebmedia is an excellent place to learn about nems and everything else about livestock.


In addition, you can go to this page and scroll down to the bottom and look at their bubble polyps. My B/W is hosted by one of these and it is about 5 inches across, easy to keep, much easier than a nem! Much like a frilly mushroom.
http://caribbeanfishandmore.com/Pages/Corals/Rics and Mushrooms.htm
 
Last edited:
My Tom Clown took about 6 months before it grew fond of the snail shell pile for the hermits. At that point, I can estimate he was roughly 1 year old. I think my clown is more of a cave-dwelling type and digging huge pits to bury himself in the sand.

DW302
 
My sister had problems with her clowns hosting her nem for 6 months.

I printed out a picture of clowns in an anemone and taped it to the tank. The next morning the were in the Anemone. They just needed role models.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14523069#post14523069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SKNNYPGGY
My sister had problems with her clowns hosting her nem for 6 months.

I printed out a picture of clowns in an anemone and taped it to the tank. The next morning the were in the Anemone. They just needed role models.
Click to expand...

you are kidding right?
 
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