New to clowns- input please

[Romewhip]

I've inherited an adult tomato clown. She was in danger of being eaten by a shark, and has a healed scar on the side of her head- possibly from escaping the cat shark.

I don't have an anemone, I do have a large yuma mushroom that she would like to host her- and which isn't really liking her. I'm in the process of moving tanks, so she's going from QT to a 50g DT. I don't want to rush getting a nem, but she definitely would like one. What species are ideal for tomato clowns? It'll be a few months before she gets one, the new tank is part new rock and part established rock. Thanks!

 

[CockyBrock]

Bubble tips are perfect for tomatos...and they're very hardy and easy to care for...and cheap too!

 

[WDLV]

BTAs are great for the reasons already stated. More so than an anemone, a mate will make her happier.

 

[elegance coral]

BTAs are great for the reasons already stated. More so than an anemone, a mate will make her happier.

While I have no proof to back it up, I do totally agree.

 

[Romewhip]

Thanks for the input. She was previously offered mates, and rejected them all, despite them being considerably smaller. Maybe when the tank is settled more I can try again. She is in with some damsels, a pacific dwarf angel, and some firefish. She doesn't like the humbug damsel at all, but has sort of paired up with a Fiji Blue Devil. He doesn't like the humbug either, so they are a good team. She spends a good deal of time snuggling and laying on the yuma mushroom, eventually it gets mad and closes up. This makes her agitated, hence my reasoning she'd like an anemone.

 

[Finsky]

I have a breeding pair of Cinamon clowns living in a 21 month old red rose bubble tip. I also have an eight month old red rose bubble tip and four green bubble tip anemones put in the tank over the last two months. All are staying approximately where I prepared live rock for them and also they are eating well.

A large female Cinamon and her mate host in the right end of the five foot take in the older red rose and a 10 inch green and smaller green.

A pair of Clarkiis host in the left end in the eight month old red rose and two greens.

I had the Clarkiis hosting way back when in a Sabae anemone and the male died. I went to Petco and bought a smaller sized Clarkii and they have been togeather now for three years.

My point being I have always put an anemone in with a pair of clowns and this seems to have worked.

I have lost a goniopora due to my Clarkiis moving from a long tentacled anemone which they deemed inadequate.

I would try a five or six inch bubble tip and see whether your female takes to it. I would think it might be successful. Then you could try a smaller tomato although not too small as they might have a little lover's quarrel when getting to know each other. I really think the anemones can work magic with clowns.

 

[AgeDynasty]

BTA are the way to go with tomato clowns.

 

[Romewhip]

Thanks all- i'll get her an anemone when the tank is ready and then try a mate for her once she's happy in her nem.

 

[WDLV]

IMHO, if you've had difficulties pairing her in the past I would recommend putting her in a quarrantine tank with the new male so that they are both out of their element and they can establish territories and dominance in a neutral environment. An anemone (or anemone substitute) often just makes them more aggressive.

 

[Romewhip]

I've never tried pairing her, I haven't had her that long, but she was tried before with her previous owner. i don't know if she had a nem or not, I know she didn't have one right before coming to me. She still doesn't... but she likes her mushroom a lot. It's also letting her rough it up more now.