Methods to aid BTA/Ocellaris hosting
- Thread starter g_langley
- Start date
shifty51008
12-5 Chiefs record
Time. It took mine over 6 months before they went into my bta's. Sence bta's are not a natural host anemone for ocy clowns they may or may not go into the anemone, that is up to the fish not you. If you want them to go into an anemone fairly fast then get a natural host anemone for ocy's like a gig, rittri, ect. Trade your clown for a clown that matches up with your bta like a maroon.
The biggest thing is never force a clown into an anemone, this can hurt or kill the clown, although some anemones have a lighter sting than others.
The biggest thing is never force a clown into an anemone, this can hurt or kill the clown, although some anemones have a lighter sting than others.
This is a trick that I have used about a hundred times. Maybe more than that actually. It's very not natural and I'm sure that there will be people that will get a little bent out of whack about it, but it works and will continue to work for the rest of the clown fish's life.
Take your anemone (if it isn't new and is already attached in the tank you will have to decided what to do then) and after acclimating it, don't put the anemone directly into the tank.. Instead, float a plastic strainer bowl inside the tank and put the anemone in the strainer. They usually readily attach to the strainer and I've never had a problem.
Put your clowns in the strainer with the anemone. Lift the strainer up so that the clown fish are "forced" to interact with the anemone. I will usually leave it this way for 30 seconds or so at a time. Then lower the strainer again and see if they stay in the anemone or swim away from it. If they swim away, raise the strainer again and force the interaction again. Wait for 30 seconds again or so and lower it back down.
Some times it works first try. Most of the time it takes 3 or 4 times, but it works eventually every time. Usually over the span of a few minutes. I used to raise clowns and I did it to all of them. Worked everytime.
Take your anemone (if it isn't new and is already attached in the tank you will have to decided what to do then) and after acclimating it, don't put the anemone directly into the tank.. Instead, float a plastic strainer bowl inside the tank and put the anemone in the strainer. They usually readily attach to the strainer and I've never had a problem.
Put your clowns in the strainer with the anemone. Lift the strainer up so that the clown fish are "forced" to interact with the anemone. I will usually leave it this way for 30 seconds or so at a time. Then lower the strainer again and see if they stay in the anemone or swim away from it. If they swim away, raise the strainer again and force the interaction again. Wait for 30 seconds again or so and lower it back down.
Some times it works first try. Most of the time it takes 3 or 4 times, but it works eventually every time. Usually over the span of a few minutes. I used to raise clowns and I did it to all of them. Worked everytime.
ThRoewer
New member
While that method works for healthy clowns, I would be very careful with it if the clowns are new and/or have possibly stripped of their slime coat (like for example during a copper or other treatment).
Clownfish without intact slime coat will be stung and may get eaten, especially if you are dealing with a more stingy and sticky anemone than BTA. And don't think a bottle of slime coat restorer may fix this - clowns have a special kind of slime to protect them.
In general I would get the right anemone for my clowns or the right clowns for my anemone.
Clownfish without intact slime coat will be stung and may get eaten, especially if you are dealing with a more stingy and sticky anemone than BTA. And don't think a bottle of slime coat restorer may fix this - clowns have a special kind of slime to protect them.
In general I would get the right anemone for my clowns or the right clowns for my anemone.
shifty51008
12-5 Chiefs record
Good way to hurt or kill a clownfish, you should never have to force a clown into an anemone if you properly get the right anemone for the clown you have.
Would you like to be forced into a position you dont wanna be in?
ThRoewer
New member
I tried something similar with my percula pair #2. I put them into the basket where I temporarily hold my 3 malu and 2 small crispa, but they rather decided to swim out of there quickly and be without anemone.
I only did this because my pair #4 had accepted those before I moved them to a different tank with a gig. And for jumping into gigs percula don't need any encouragement
I only did this because my pair #4 had accepted those before I moved them to a different tank with a gig. And for jumping into gigs percula don't need any encouragement
shifty51008
12-5 Chiefs record
What makes you think they are both better off? Just curious
That's how symbiotic relationships work, both parties benefit. You're right.. Technically since I don't speak "clownfish" I suppose I can't claim with 1000% certainty that they both are better off. However, I think the clown is happier or it wouldn't stay in the anemone. In one of my tanks they have about 250 gallons that doesnt have anemones in it, yet they stay in the 1 gallon of the tank that does... The anemone gets fed by the clown fish. In the wild, I suppose the anemone serves as protection for the clown fish also.
As far as "How would I like it if I were forced to do something?" Well let me count the ways, I probably still wouldn't shower had my mom not made me do it when I was 4. I probably wouldn't eat 90% of the food I eat today had someone not "made me" try it.
Again, I'm not saying it's the best way, the right way, or the only way, I'm just saying it's a way that I've been using for a long, long, long time....and it works.
I wasn't trying to debate it.
Dkuhlmann
New member
I'm getting to this point after about 6 or 7 months my Percula pair still doesn't look at my 4 BTA's. My buddy has a long 6" diameter clear tube I think I'm going to give a try to slide them down to the anemone. There is a video of this with some skunk clowns and it was awesome to watch. Just Google it. I think he put like 17 baby skunks in.
ThRoewer
New member
Good luck, but be prepared that they don't like it too much.
Most of my percula were quite particular about what anemone they wanted. My first pair even tried the BTA I had offered them but decided it wasn't what they wanted and rather stayed in a flowerpot. When they needed a bit "anemone action" they rather went into my green star polyps than to one of the anemones I tried. Only when I offered them a gig they juped right in.
Most of my percula were quite particular about what anemone they wanted. My first pair even tried the BTA I had offered them but decided it wasn't what they wanted and rather stayed in a flowerpot. When they needed a bit "anemone action" they rather went into my green star polyps than to one of the anemones I tried. Only when I offered them a gig they juped right in.
DubiousMaximus
New member
Its the anemone that must accept the clowns, not the otherway around, from my experience. Can feed the fish in the area of the anemone or put the anemone near the clows home and feed ~ wait ~ feed ~
Someone mentioned finding the natural host for the clowns...but failed to say which species. The stckies have listed; bta, carpets & ritteri as hosts for your clown species.
My guess, ritteri bc they like to 'cup' or stretch out like a table or resemble a bowl when happy! At least this is what my ritteri do during midday. I used their favorite food and gave it to the anemone to hold on to, like a carrot at the end of a stick, it worked on pink skunks anyway
Someone mentioned finding the natural host for the clowns...but failed to say which species. The stckies have listed; bta, carpets & ritteri as hosts for your clown species.
My guess, ritteri bc they like to 'cup' or stretch out like a table or resemble a bowl when happy! At least this is what my ritteri do during midday. I used their favorite food and gave it to the anemone to hold on to, like a carrot at the end of a stick, it worked on pink skunks anyway
Dkuhlmann
New member
I just have reservations about getting a gig do to the fact that they eat fish. I keep fighting with myself over this and still haven't made up my mind to getting a gig or not. I do like my fish and plan on getting a few more. But I also want a pair of clowns being hosted in an anemone which my Perculas don't even look at the 4 BTA's that I have. The clowns that are natural to BTA's are aggressive, yellow stripe maroon clowns are actually my favorite in the "looks" department.
ThRoewer
New member
Anemones have absolutely no say in this.
It's solely up to the clowns to accept an anemone or not.
The specialization for certain anemones is most likely to ensure that a juvenile that is settling down finds a member of its species and doesn't run into a different species that may just eat them.
Another factor may be in evolution history.
I don't think gigs are the evil fish killer as some paint them here. I see some of my fish getting scary close right on top of the gig to steal food during feeding time but they take care not to touch the tentacles.
davocean
Active member
First off you should never force clowns into nems, it could kill them.
Second, the clown is who decides on accepting a host.
Natural host nem/clown matches are best for having success in achieving symbiotic relationship.
All nems can be fish eaters, but usually when this happens it is due to weak fish or not enough tank space.
Second, the clown is who decides on accepting a host.
Natural host nem/clown matches are best for having success in achieving symbiotic relationship.
All nems can be fish eaters, but usually when this happens it is due to weak fish or not enough tank space.
davocean
Active member
To me this is no different than saying you have driven a car w/out wearing your seat belt hundreds of times.
I'm sure many have, but it only takes one bad experience to ruin your day.
Agree to disagree.
davocean
Active member
So are you suggesting there is no possible chance of it ending badly?
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