whats your favorite LPS coral for ocellaris to host?

rwb500

rwb500

Active member
I have a group of tank bred black ocellaris. their parents are wild caught, and they (the offspring) hosted my RBTA quite readily. I am planning on selling the RBTA and buying a coral that they might host instead. What are your favorite corals for this purpose? I would not like any softies (allelopathy concerns) so LPS only please.
 
I would prefer the anemone and you may not get a lot of opinions on this. I don't think most folks look for LPS that will host their clowns with that in mind, it just happens. Just curious why would you want to take the clowns anemone if they are happy with it?
 
hey Sport, take a look at my other thread in this forum if you are curious. I am worried about the ever present risk of the RBTA moving and killing corals or getting killed in a powerhead. Also, an ocellaris does not naturally host the RBTA anyway. so whats the difference, really. I do not view the clowns as being happier because they have something to host. It really seems more like an addiction to me. But of course fish probably have neither of these mental states.

wonderz and bluefrye, thanks. I think I'll have to get some frogspawn, and maybe the similar corals as well.
 
I do not have an anemone in my tank that is hosting my true percula's, but the male has movedinto my Torch Coral and loves it. The female has moved into the Duncans right next to it. They both sleep in their new found happy places. They are too silly...but they are happy. I really like the both of them. Pretty awesome.
 
rwb500, personally I'd keep the RBTA and sell its clones while enjoying having the clowns host in it.

I've seen black & whites hang out in pink star polyps/anthelia before.
 
rwb500 said:
Also, an ocellaris does not naturally host the RBTA anyway. so whats the difference, really. I do not view the clowns as being happier because they have something to host. It really seems more like an addiction to me. But of course fish probably have neither of these mental states.
Click to expand...

Not an "addiction", but an instinct. Having virtually no natural defenses (ocellaris, for example, are poor swimmers), clownfish will seek shelter in a host, even if it's not a natural symbiont for them. It's their best chance of survival in the wild. A host isn't necessary, but I think they do enjoy having one--kind of like my cats don't need to hunt for their food, but they still enjoy stalking and killing moths. :p

Frogspawn and other Euphyllia don't move around, but they are very aggressive towards other corals, and have sweeper tentacles that can deliver a potent sting to "intruders". Make sure you provide plenty of room between your frogspawn and your other corals.
 
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a fish's brain is much more simple than a cat's. who are we to say if the clownfish has evolved to enjoy the anemone, or simply be drawn to it if it is present. to say that a fish has the ability to enjoy something is jumping to a lot of conclusions. the evolutionary significance of the anemone is clear, but the mechanism is not.

i would much rather have a stationary LPS with sweepers than an anemone the size of a dinner plate that can take a walk or ride in the current.
 
I've read about a lot of clowns liking toadstool corals as well. I agree with you on the anemone. I have a smaller tank full of corals and would hate to have a nem start walking.
 
I wish mine would just host something. I have two huge lta's like 15-20" across. They never go near them. Frustrating!
 
rwb500 said:
a fish's brain is much more simple than a cat's. who are we to say if the clownfish has evolved to enjoy the anemone, or simply be drawn to it if it is present. to say that a fish has the ability to enjoy something is jumping to a lot of conclusions. the evolutionary significance of the anemone is clear, but the mechanism is not.

i would much rather have a stationary LPS with sweepers than an anemone the size of a dinner plate that can take a walk or ride in the current.
Click to expand...

My point was more that a cat's hunting activity and a clownfish's going into a host anemone (or coral) are both instinctive behaviors that continue even in captivity. I don't know if "enjoy" is the right word, either--since clownfish rely on anemones for protection and survival in the wild, I think it would be accurate to say that they're more "comfortable" (in terms of being less nervous, at least in the case of some species) with a host of some sort present. I just thought "addiction" was an odd way to refer to a clownfish's reliance on an anemone. No offense intended. I can see why you'd rather not have an anemone in your tank, especially if you have a lot of nice corals...at least a frogspawn can't blunder across your prized SPS. ;)
 
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none taken man, i enjoyed the discussion. good point about the cat. its a common mistake to attribute emotions to fish that realistically probably do not exist (i did it with addiction) so its just a point i wanted to make for everyone who might read this.
 
No problem. :) Good luck finding a nice frogspawn. I see bigger colonies offered on the sale forum periodically--you might want to check there.
 
My clownfish fell in love with my large feather duster and had absolutely nothing to do with my BTA. He really doesn't like it when it goes in it's tube though, my clown will stalk it and wait for it to come back out !! Kinda cute, he will swim real fast over to it and wiggle all over it !!!
 
Over all the clown fish is going to choose it's host, not you. yes, you can try to influence it by putting corals or nem's in the tank, but when all is said and done, it's the clown's choice. i had a buddy put a rbta in his tank only to watch the clown host his powerhead. it's all about where they feel comfortable. as for the unatural nature of yours hosting an rbta, my gsm hosts a condy, and i would never take it from her.


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Hammer corals work well:

IMG_1677.jpg
 
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