Sand dwelling anemone as host for percula

[davocean]

Bob Fenner needs to update his site content too. Great resources though.

I don't think there is a source or list that does not require some updating, in fact I wish they would update the list stickied above here in the areas we all know need corrections, but it does seem the Fauntin and Allen book is the most accurate at this time.
I finally broke down and bought the book since they blocked my saved links

 

[OrionN]

Dave,
You are right on with your ID. Sometime a single picture can be misleading.

 

[davocean]

Dave,
You are right on with your ID. Sometime a single picture can be misleading.

Agree, and I'll also add that that particular crispa made a number of changes visually over the years I kept it, depending on lighting and flow given, health.
That was my first real long term success w/ that species way back when, and that gave me a lengthy observation of it's changes along that period.
Many pics I have do not even look like the same anemone
Same crispa under better lighting.

 

[ThRoewer]

The issue with published information in such a narrow field like this (host and anemonefish pairings) is, that even if incorrect, errors easily make it into other publications and get spread into mainstream publications.
Additionally complicating the issue is the fact that anemonefish have just host preferences, but no strict rejection criteria for non-preferential hosts. I've seen all kinds of anemonefish accepting anemones in captivity that were not their preferred hosts in the wild.
The whole point of the preferences is to make sure that juveniles rather settle in an anemone that is occupied by its own species instead of going into an anemone where they are likely to encounter a hostile species and perish.
It is also noteworthy that recent research has shown that the host anemone preference might be to some degree imprinted on the larva while still inside the egg.
All that explains why anemonefish might be quite willing to accept other than their natural hosts in captivity.

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[ThRoewer]

As for the size of crispas - if they are happy they will get large rather quickly.
Magnificas and giganteas are far easier to be contained in size via the amount you feed them.

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[zooman72]

I've seen all kinds of anemonefish accepting anemones in captivity that were not their preferred hosts in the wild.

It happens quite a bit in the wild, as I have seen a few videos of clownfish (or anemonefish as some prefer) "being hosted by" (or simply living amongst) long tentacle plate corals and Euphyllia corals for example...

 

[OrionN]

Well, I got wild caught A. percula (the same one) that used Malu, Haddoni, Gigantea, Maagnifica as hosts depends on where I put him. I think the relationship of this type isn't very rigid. This make sense because a clown fish without anemone in the wild does not last too long. Choosy clownfish will likely be at a huge disadvantage and not survived. However, not choosy enough, the clown fish may get eaten by the possible host also.
I am not at all certain that clowns get imprinted while in egg or early after hatch. They are much more adaptable than that as evidence by my wild caught Percula.

 

[davocean]

I think they just have a very strong instinct to find or accept a host and will take on whatever seems to suit them if they are not provided a natural host, though a natural host is accepted much faster.
I have had some clowns that flat out refused a hadonni after many months.
I also have had clowns lose their black color upon receiving a non natural host and have seen other nem/clown keepers have the same experience, picasso/ percula to BTA to be specific, and upon removal of BTA's that black color came back.