Percula just won't come down

[killiemcgee]

I've had my percula for almost 3 months now and it never strays from the top 2 inches or so of the tank. The only time it even shows any desire to do so is when i'm spot feeding other things in the tank and it ventures down to pick up scraps. But, i'm not asking this question in regards to a problem per se. I've come to a cross roads when i've decided to go ahead and put an anemone in my tank. I had been against it for the longest time due to the concern of it wanding around the tank stinging my other corals. However, i've gotten to the point where not only would i like to have a nice anenome in my tank, but it would like to see my clown out in the open more.
Here's my problem. I like BTA's a lot, probably my favorite. It also doesn't hurt that they are generally the easier anenome to keep and tend to stay put from what i've read. But i also know that they aren't a natural host for perculas.

If anyone has any recomendations i would love to hear them.

 

[busterb]

My clowns do the same thing. I'v had them for about 2 months now. they hang out at the far upper side of the tank. Wondering if they will ever come down.

 

[greeksalad]

I too have the exact same problem, i also have a percula and it never leaves the top section of the tank.
killiemcgee if your thinking of buying an anemone just to get the clown down, be careful i have two different species of anemone in my tank and the Percula doesnt go in either it still hangs at the top.
Im considering replacing my clown with a different species

 

[Jamie1210]

Hard to say, it's a hit or miss ... I bought my anemone before I bought my true perc, and she started hosting within 24 hours.

 

[kellynguyen]

Im having the same problem, i just bought my clown yesterday and i was very worried about this... since not only does he stay up there but swims really fast, it looks stressed or is this how they usually swim, i guess i never noticed at the LFS when they were in groups.. i dont know what to do, plus my tank is very new, it already cycled of couse, its been set up for 1 month and i was thinking too if adding an anemone would help... will the anemone hurt any zooathys?? i have a colony (9 or 10 tiny babies)

 

[3mm3]

I bought my percula 1.5 yrs ago and for the first couple of months he hung out at the top of the tank. Now he is all over the place hosting in the hammer coral and bubble coral.

 

[MentalDragon]

My true perc did that for about 4 months.. I don't have an anemone so I figured it was for that reason...

Now it hosts under my Crocea Clam's Mantle. Kinda cool if you ask me.

 

[edwing206]

keelly you should wait longer until your tank is mature enough

 

[reverendmaynard]

There are plenty of corals that are much easier to keep and don't move around that a clown will host in.

Toadstools are very hardy, inexpensive, and many clowns will host in them. Not all, but even an anemone is hit-or-miss.

 

[sundevil_brian]

i was having the same problem. i just baught a true perc yesturday and all it did was stay at the top corner of my tank out of sight.

well wile browsing around rc a wile back i remember someone saying that if you put a pic of a clown hosting on your tank (pic facing inside of course) that your clown would host. well i was kinda sceptical but i really didn't have anything to lose.
within an HOUR! my clown had started to host a xenia that was in the tank.

so if your having the same problem i'd def give it a shot.

 

[kellynguyen]

I'll have to try something like that, but i guess i have to wait a little longer to put some type of coral in there so wont kill it, i added a watchman goby and a fire shrimp, and it seems like the clown feel a little better, he is swimming more but doesnt wat to eat yet, im worry... i dont want him to starve, i was trying to feed him formula one flakes, and i guess he doesnt like that, so i tried mysis shrimp, and he will take a small bite, and thats it, not much interes for food.... can anyone recomend any thing else, or do you think he will eventually get REALLY hungry and start eating??
Thank you all for your help

 

[greeksalad]

Amazing just a few days after my original post saying that my clown wont go in either of my two species of anemone. i woke up yesterday morning and there it was sitting in my bubble tip, so maybe patience is the key.
Kelly how long has the clown been in your tank for without eating, clowns are usually quite piggish im sure it will eat soon.

 

[kellynguyen]

lets see... ummm he has been there for 4 days, and trust me he is not crazy at all about food... i dont know if i should break up the food in tiny pices or the shrimp in small pieces, i even tried turning the pump off so that it wont blow the food away and maybe give him time to eat, but the shrimp and snails eat before him im worried..... i dont want him to starve, and actually he looks happy, he swims all over the tank now, but wont eat! Help!!!!!!!

 

[greeksalad]

My only suggestion maybe try baby brine shrimp

 

[lildraken]

my percula and yellow tang likes commercial food better than mysis or formula one (although he eats all) I think he really enjoys "marine S"... it's a slow sinking pelleted food by Hikari. Although they eat other foods I offer, they greedily eat the pellets.
I used to have two perculas that sorta just aimlessly swam around the tank with nothing to do. Then I bought a BTA and they hosted it within 15 minutes. It was neat to watch them sort of "come to life" with their new discovery nipping at the tentacles and chasing each other through them.