Mixing clowns

[Stephen73ta]

Would it be ok if I introduced a black saddle back to my 58 that already has a pair of ocellaris? I heard that they are territorial especially if there is an anemone. I just added a white bubble tip a few weeks ago and the clowns haven't hosted in it. Any input would be great!

 

[velvetelvis]

If your bubbletip is white, it might well be bleached (missing zooxanthellae and therefore in danger of starving). In that case it's better for it not to host any clowns at this point, as this might stress it even more.

Keeping more than one species of clownfish in your tank, and more than one pair of that species, is asking for trouble. Be patient with your ocellaris. They may eventually go into the anemone, especially after it regains health.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Agree with the above.

Also, a week isn't all that long for the clowns not to be hosted -- it could take weeks, months, etc.

And considering that your anemone is most likely bleached, it might be a good thing that the clowns aren't being hosted by it --- could just add stress.

 

[Stephen73ta]

I'm not worried about the anemone. I bought it white and it's doing great. I'm not worried about the clowns hosting in the anemone also, I just have the chance to get one from a friend and wanted to hear some thoughts.

 

[timjoemak]

I don't think that there is a white anemone? Is there??!! >< Normally a white anemone means its bleached..

 

[Toddrtrex]

I don't think that there is a white anemone? Is there??!! >< Normally a white anemone means its bleached..

As far as hosting anemones go, white isn't good and does mean bleached.

There are cold water (( non photosynthetic )) that are white.

 

[Stephen73ta]

haha. well i don't know I'm not that knowledgeable when it comes to anenomes . I've actually had him for more then a few weeks, more like 6. If I bought it bleaching wouldn't it be dead by now? He's been eating and loves being right on top of the rock in strong current with MH lighting. I can post a pic tomorrow when the lights are on.

 

[Toddrtrex]

haha. well i don't know I'm not that knowledgeable when it comes to anenomes . I've actually had him for more then a few weeks, more like 6. If I bought it bleaching wouldn't it be dead by now? He's been eating and loves being right on top of the rock in strong current with MH lighting. I can post a pic tomorrow when the lights are on.

No, they can stay alive for a long time before actually being died/decomposing.

Did you ever acclimated it to your lights?

 

[Stephen73ta]

It was under the same lights as the fish store. I've been feeding him mysis, cyclopes and brine shrimp. Is that sufficient? What should I do? I don't want to lose him.

 

[Toddrtrex]

It was under the same lights as the fish store. I've been feeding him mysis, cyclopes and brine shrimp. Is that sufficient? What should I do? I don't want to lose him.

I would leave out the brine shrimp -- unless they are gut loaded, there isn't much value to them.

Has it gotten lighter under your care, or darker? (( darker would be good )).

What are your current water parameters? (( with numbers ))

 

[cherubfish pair]

How could the anemone regain its zooxanthellae if there's none in the tank?

 

[velvetelvis]

I'm not sure, but maybe they regenerate zooxanthellae in their tissues as they gain strength and health? Or maybe the zooxanthellae multiply?

I've never heard of zooxanthellae being present in a tank (aside, of course, from being in the tissues of a cnidarian). That's interesting. How does it work?

ETA: Maybe the anemone is a Condylactis (non-clown-hosting species) rather than a BTA. I've seen light-colored condys.

 

[Firedog1962]

I had one that split and one of them bleached out. He stayed like that for over 4 months and gradually regained his color and is now doing great. Hank in there, they are pretty hardy

 

[cherubfish pair]

Wait a minute....I remember reading something about the zooxanthellae being the same as some type of dinoflagellate that can also live singularly and are common throughout the oceans.

 

[Stephen73ta]

I couldn't get a pick of the anemone he was in between two rocks. Here's the clowns though. They are getting along great!

 

[davocean]

Well, I fear you may learn the hard way, or clowns are going to learn hard that you maybe should have listened to what you heard about mixing clowns, especially as they mature.
3 is not a magic number!

 

[velvetelvis]

+1 *sigh*

 

[aquaph8]

Your anemone is hiding behind the rocks cause its bleached and its hiding from the light. If your gonna learn anything you gotta listen. +2 sigh

 

[TCT]

I advise against putting 2 different species together, especially in a 58 gal system.

 

[usmcpfc]

this guy remindsme of my brother ask all soprts of questions and never listens and goes and does what he asked anyways but hey good luck on the diffrent clown speicies they look good