Wild vs Tank Raised Clowns
- Thread starter JoeMomma
- Start date
Tank raised are slightly more expensive than wild caught from what I've seen. They also can take longer, some never, to learn to occupy an anemone. However, they tend to be much healthier and having tank raised animals is definitely the more ecologically friendly path. Both of my clowns, maroons, are tank raised.
Tank raised are generally better specimens because you are less likely to have internal parasites, brook and things like that. They will take to anemones, albeit sometimes they may not as quickly as their wild counterparts. They are also less likely to have issues with being shipped.
For most of the really common clowns like ocellaris, tomatos, maroons and clark's they are bred in such huge quantities that their isn't much reason to buy wild varieties unless you want some of the less common varieties (there are many varieties of clark's clowns but only a couple of them are bred on a large scale)
For most of the really common clowns like ocellaris, tomatos, maroons and clark's they are bred in such huge quantities that their isn't much reason to buy wild varieties unless you want some of the less common varieties (there are many varieties of clark's clowns but only a couple of them are bred on a large scale)
Slakker
Premium Member
This is a common misconception. Captive Bred clowns will host an anemone that hosts their species in the wild nearly immediately. Hosting is just as hit or miss with wild clowns and unnatural anemone choices by the aquarist.
Captive Bred clowns are, if available, the best choice. They're healthier, will be less stressed by captive life, and do not deplete wild populations. (Be sure that they are Captive Bred, the term Tank Raised can sometimes refer to juvenile wild fish that were grown out in captivity.)
BonsaiNut
Premium Member
I'm sure you'll share your evidence for this, given that hosting in the wild is established at the earliest age by smell, and hundreds of people on these boards have complained of problems getting captive raised clowns to host.
Again, please share your evidence instead of just hearsay. Sustainable ornamental fish collection is a critical industry in some developing countries, and has replaced other more damaging industries like coral skeleton collection or food fishing via dynamite. Has there been some evidence that clownfish have become endangered ANYWHERE in the world? Far better in my opinion to show that people can make sustainable use of reef ecologies, than ban their use entirely, so that local peoples do not see any value in protecting them.
GSMguy
New member
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My thoughts on this is that problems people have with TR clowns and hosting is usually a result of poor anemone/clownfish pairing. many of the problems reported are perc and ocellaris not hosting haddoni or BTA both are unnatural anemones for these clownfish. I doubt you would have problems gettting those clowns to host a nice healthy H. Magnifica.
Slakker
Premium Member
I don't disagree that it's an important industry, however, it's my personal belief that the less we take from the reef, the better off it is. With many varieties of Clownfish being bred successfully in captivity, why not leave them on the reef? Maybe the next step in the progression from damaging industries to sustainable or even beneficial industries will be a mariculture program for ornamental fish, or local breeding programs?
As for the hosting issue, my feelings are the same as GSMguy's. Plenty of people on these boards with "proper" fish/anemone match ups (as well as some with odd ones) have reported very quick hosting by CB clowns. In addition, I've seen several "My WC Percula won't host my BTA!" threads. I'm not sure I have ever seen conclusive research on what it is that attracts clowns to appropriate hosts (or how exactly their immunity works, for that matter), though I have read some things about the smell theory, and it's very plausible.
Correct me if I'm wrong, as it's been a while, but was that study done with A. Ocellaris and E. Quadricolor?
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marc price
Active member
how about qualifying your statements, bonsaiNut?
with out getting into a debate with you, i agree with james, tyler and gsmguy.
i've two first hand examples, the first a natural host and the second is not.
ora farm a. polymnus/s. haddoni began hosting the day it was released into the aquarium
ora or proaquatix (not sure), a. nigrips/h. crispa followed by e. quadricolor and currently hosting another sebae anemone. a. nigripes are exclusive to h. magnifica in the wild.
another good advantage is that you know the approx. age of the animal.
with out getting into a debate with you, i agree with james, tyler and gsmguy.
i've two first hand examples, the first a natural host and the second is not.
ora farm a. polymnus/s. haddoni began hosting the day it was released into the aquarium
ora or proaquatix (not sure), a. nigrips/h. crispa followed by e. quadricolor and currently hosting another sebae anemone. a. nigripes are exclusive to h. magnifica in the wild.
another good advantage is that you know the approx. age of the animal.
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Rod Buehler
New member
I also think (and also IME) that TR clowns taking longer to host is a myth. I think it will depend on individual clowns and also like GSM guy stated. IME, I have had wild clowns take much longer to host that my tank raised percs.
I also believe it doesn't matter whether they are tank-raised or will-caught when it comes to hosting anemones. It just depends on the clowns.
I have a pair of Ocellaris (female is wildcaught and male is tankraised) that host my bta. It took about 6 months so don't worry about it reefman13.
I have a pair of tank raised tomatoes that started hosting mushrooms the second day I had them.
I have a pair of Ocellaris (female is wildcaught and male is tankraised) that host my bta. It took about 6 months so don't worry about it reefman13.
I have a pair of tank raised tomatoes that started hosting mushrooms the second day I had them.
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