Oscellaris clowns
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Shooter7
New member
I have a pair of ocellaris and now a pair (after the split) of RBTA's and they still haven't hosted in either of the anemones. They'll hover above them occasionally, but I have yet to see one actually touch the anemone. Otherwise, my ocellaris are pretty hardy, eat about anything, and have been great to have around.
catastrofe
New member
RBTA = Rose Bubble Tip Anemone.
Ah- I see.
I thought i read somewhere that you are only supposed to have a pair of clowns of the same type?
Can you have multiple types and different amounts?
I would really like to have more than 2 oscellaris. Maybe 2 black and white ones?
Is this possible without killing the others?
I thought i read somewhere that you are only supposed to have a pair of clowns of the same type?
Can you have multiple types and different amounts?
I would really like to have more than 2 oscellaris. Maybe 2 black and white ones?
Is this possible without killing the others?
The pair of ocellaris that I got from George (griss) host in either my green star polyps, the xenia, or one of my leathers... They won't even go near my RBTA. I've read that tank raised clowns are usually slow to accept an anemone - if they ever do. So, it may take time or it may never happen...
ScruffyRubicon
New member
I bought three Tank Raise True Percs from Joebuckmaster just a few weeks ago and the all three went straight to an RBTA. The next morning the larger two went to a LTA on the other side of the tank. They have stayed there ever since. The tank they were being raised in had no anemones.
This was the fastest I have ever seen clowns take to any host. Not sure why.
This was the fastest I have ever seen clowns take to any host. Not sure why.
Shooter7
New member
Mine just always look like, "um, I think we're supposed to do something with that funky looking creature down there, but I can't think of exactly what it is so I guess we'll just hover above it for now and wait til something comes to us". 
Now mind you, when I had my one ocellaris by himself in my 26 gal, he hosted in my frogspawn - even came out and bit me one day because I got too close with my hand in there. When I moved him and the frogspawn to the 120g tank, though, he never again went to the frogspawn and has pretty much just free swam ever since. At night, he will sometimes jam himself between the heads of my candy cane coral.
Now mind you, when I had my one ocellaris by himself in my 26 gal, he hosted in my frogspawn - even came out and bit me one day because I got too close with my hand in there. When I moved him and the frogspawn to the 120g tank, though, he never again went to the frogspawn and has pretty much just free swam ever since. At night, he will sometimes jam himself between the heads of my candy cane coral.
superfirefly
New member
What are your tank specs and how long has your tank been setup.
With anemones I would always recommend MH or T5 lighting. Some will say a BTA can be kept with PC lighting. I had my GBTA under PCs for a few months and it really started going down hill. When I made the upgrade to MH it was a night and day difference in the anemone. Within a few weeks it had started to color back up and it regained some of the size that it had when I first brought it home.
When I purchased my clown, I found one that was already hosting a GBTA, looked very healthy and would take food. When I brought him home, he dove straight into my GBTA and has been there ever since.
With anemones I would always recommend MH or T5 lighting. Some will say a BTA can be kept with PC lighting. I had my GBTA under PCs for a few months and it really started going down hill. When I made the upgrade to MH it was a night and day difference in the anemone. Within a few weeks it had started to color back up and it regained some of the size that it had when I first brought it home.
When I purchased my clown, I found one that was already hosting a GBTA, looked very healthy and would take food. When I brought him home, he dove straight into my GBTA and has been there ever since.
superfirefly
New member
Oh yeah, I almost fogot make sure to BTA proof your tank. Such as cover all your intakes no matter how inaccessible they seem (Guilty on this one. Nearly lost mine to a powerhead that I thought there was no way it could get to.) I have also heard of problems with them getting sucked into overflows. I am not sure how to get around this since I do not have overflows on my tank.
Superfirefly makes the point exactly... I think that clowns that are wild caught are usually already hosting in an anemone, so they will often host in an anemone in the captive tank faster. Clowns that are tank raised seemed to be more hit and miss... Some will take to an anemone and some may not. There are probably a number of factors that contribute to this, including what is in your tank already. There is only 1 other fish in my 55g (a smallish falco's hawkfish which doesn't bother the clowns), so the clowns probably don't feel threatened and won't seek refuge in the RBTA. If I added a bigger more aggressive fish to the tank, its likely they would dive into it for protection.
saltyunderground
In Memoriam
My captive bred ocellaris pair started out in a 24g nano with a small terra cotta flower pot to host in. We did this for about a month or so. They we moved the clowns and the pot into my 135g tank. I placed the pot directly under my RTBA. Within 24 hours they hosted in the anemone and I removed the pot. You can try training them like this.
I highly recommend captive bred clowns. There really is not a good reason to take clowns out of the ocean any more unless you just have to have a breed that is not available as captive bred.
I highly recommend captive bred clowns. There really is not a good reason to take clowns out of the ocean any more unless you just have to have a breed that is not available as captive bred.
saltyunderground
In Memoriam
You're better off buying clowns who are hosting in an anemone at the store. There are stores where you can find them this way. I doubt it will work to move an anemone in the store. They don't like being moved and will shrivel up.
It is simply not true that captive bred clownfish are reluctant to host in anemones. Don't believe everything you read. Reasons to buy captive bred include:
1. not removing another fish from its ocean home.
2. Captive bred are relatively disease free. Unless they caught a parasite at the store you buy from, they are disease free. No Brook, no Ich, no nothing. In other words, they are very hardy and they, well, live.
3. Captive bred are accustomed to captive living. This makes for a happier fish. They have known nothing but aquarium life.
1. not removing another fish from its ocean home.
2. Captive bred are relatively disease free. Unless they caught a parasite at the store you buy from, they are disease free. No Brook, no Ich, no nothing. In other words, they are very hardy and they, well, live.
3. Captive bred are accustomed to captive living. This makes for a happier fish. They have known nothing but aquarium life.
