how to get clowns to take?

[killinit123]

so I just got a nice blue/green carpet nem about a week ago. my clowns still haven't went to it yet. in fact they seem to have little to no interest in it at all. is this normal? and will they eventually host it? is there anything I can do to speed the process up or help them host? any info would be appreciated thanks.

 

[toothybugs]

Just give it time. It's not uncommon to take a little while. Also, have you checked to see that your clowns and nems are natural symbiots? If not that could be a factor as well.

 

[killinit123]

I have not checked myself but I did ask my LFS owner and she told me that they would

 

[killinit123]

is there certain clowns that will only host carpet nems? if so do you know which ones?

 

[SwampyBill]

What type of clownfish are they?

 

[KCFITZ78]

see this sticky thread ---> http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2375473

 

[Kaman8]

I just bought a carpet and it is in the tank for 6 days now. The third day my pair of Clownfishes has jumped in the carpet. Sometimes it will be fast and sometimes it will take longer. I have a bubble tip for 2 months and the clowns didn't even look at it. Are your clowns tank bred or wild caught?

 

[davocean]

Tank bred or wild does not matter, what matters is having a natural host match.
What type of clowns do you have?

 

[killinit123]

both are ocellaris one is about 3 years old the other I just got recently they have established their dominance with each other and from what I have noticed are paired. the older one is the standard and the other is darker with more black coloration throughout. the older clown looks like the pic that kaman8 posted, the other is just like it as well just has more of a black color dominance.

 

[davocean]

So natural hosts for occs are mag, gig, or mertensi.
Guessing you may have a hadonni, and if so they may not take to it, or it may take a long time as it is not a natural host nem.

 

[killinit123]

the nem I have is exactly the same as the one posted in kaman8's pic except it is more of a green color I am not very familiar with nems I got this one because I had store credit, im guessing I should have done more research now though. thanks for all the input though I appreciate it

 

[davocean]

Post pic for positive ID, but green hadonni is pretty common and most LFS will carry those before the other more difficult natural hosts I mentioned.

 

[killinit123]

I will try and get a pic up later today im not exactly sure how to post pics I have never been able to do it

 

[davocean]

I use photobucket, makes it easy, free photo storage/backup of pics.

 

[killinit123]

ill have to try that didn't have time last night

 

[spenc]

I taped a pic of a clown on the tank, and in 2 days they set their territory I removed the pic. all is good for one but only one still trying to set the pecking order