They won't move...

[zma21]

I bough a pair of juvinile occelaris clowns yesterday and they haven't moved from the front right corner yet.

I have a maxi jet 1200 and a mj 600(with hydor) which i have pointed in at least 5 different directions by now and the clowns still wont move.

I have a condy anemone for them to possibly host in but it's completely on the other side of the tank.

Is this normal? Will they eventually move? It looks like they constantly stay in the spot that has high flow.

 

[slukach]

Mine were the same way when I brought them home. Give it a little while and then they will start to feel more comfortable and move around.

 

[cschweitzer]

First, a condy anem is an atlantic water anemone. These are not proper for hosting ANY anemone...it is pretty sad that stores still even sell atlantic anems, as most people think that it is a good host for clowns. This is false. In fact, atlantic anems are more likely to eat your clowns than host them.

Second, clowns will not always host in something. I've had a pair of picasso percs since June '06 that have not left the top left corner of my tank right by the overflow box. I have a BTA(Bubble tip anemone, E. quadricolor) that is easily five times their size that they will not go near.

 

[Slakker]

Actually...E. Quadricolor is not a natural host to A. Percula or A. Ocellaris.

It is true that Condylactis species of anemone rarely host clowns, but it does happen, although some have woken up in the morning to find their clowns eaten by the condy.

 

[cschweitzer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9220599#post9220599 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
Actually...E. Quadricolor is not a natural host to A. Percula or A. Ocellaris.

It is true that Condylactis species of anemone rarely host clowns, but it does happen, although some have woken up in the morning to find their clowns eaten by the condy.

You are absolutely correct!! I'm very sorry for posting incorrect info and I have since editted the post.

Here is a complete mapping of natural symbionts and a good reference.
http://rareclownfish.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188 Although the BTA is not a natural host, it is a great choice for hosting them in an aquarium. They are relatively hardy anemones, they will not eat your clownfish(and will usually leave all the other fish in a tank alone), they require less feeding than many anems, they require less lighting than many anems, they will readily host any clownfish, most clownfish will readily host them, including most perculas and occellaris.

Also, I'm not saying condys will not host clowns(clowns will host in about anything and if you get a peaceful condy, it should do fine). It is just a risk I would not be willing to take. Many people buy condys because of the price tag(usually 5-10) and are told that it is a clown-hosting anemone. I would recommend to anyone who has an atlantic anemone to get rid of it for a more manageable, less agressive pacific anemone. Yes, a pacific carpet can still eat a tang and can still eat clowns, an atlantic carpet is much more inclined to do so. Same with a FL condy in comparison to a sebae or LTA.

 

[cschweitzer]

Trust me when I say, as a beginner, you would probably not want to put any of the natural host anems(H. magnifica, S. gigantea, or S. mertensii) for ocellaris into your tank at this period. They are very high maintanace and many, many people have problems with them. If you want a carpet, S. haddoni are considered the hardiest and most manageable carpets, but again, not a natural symbiont.

 

[zma21]

I didn't buy the condy only for the clowns to host. I mainly bought it for looks and hardiness.

 

[GSMguy]

seriooously take out condy drop in BTA

 

[aquaruki]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9220492#post9220492 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cschweitzer
First, a condy anem is an atlantic water anemone. These are not proper for hosting ANY anemone...it is pretty sad that stores still even sell atlantic anems, as most people think that it is a good host for clowns. This is false. In fact, atlantic anems are more likely to eat your clowns than host them.

I agree. I think atlantic anemones should be avoided. Mine ate my clowns...

 

[Slakker]

Avoided in situations where they might end up playing host to some unsuspecting anemonefish or young damsels, anyway. I don't see any reason to avoid them altogether.

 

[cschweitzer]

If you bought the condy for looks, keep it in a species only tank or keep it with large fish that cannot be eaten by it. They are cool anems, just serve very little purpose in a community reef tank.