Will Clowns protect anemone from Angels?

[sn00p123]

Hi All,

I currently have a 500g (FOWLR with some softies) that has clowns, damsels, firefish, anthias, few tangs and a Bicolor and Flame angel (total of 33 fish all within 2-3 inches). Amongst the inhabitants is a LTA hosting 2 Oscellaris and a GSP colony hosting one Frenatus. Neither of the dwarfs bother the LTA or each other.

I am considering adding a couple of BTAs and a large angel to the mix (Imperator, Regal or Majestic). In your experience which of these angels is most safe with Anemones? Also, would hosting clowns fend of any threat to the anemone? Would a more aggressive clown like a Maroon keep a larger angel at bay?

Thank you for your time!

 

[kabe87]

I have a 110g "reef tank"

I have an angel imperator and maroon clown with a bta. So far the clown has been kicking everyone out of his territory. hope it helps

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Also, would hosting clowns fend of any threat to the anemone? Would a more aggressive clown like a Maroon keep a larger angel at bay? Thank you for your time!

yes , yes and you're welcome

 

[sn00p123]

Hi Kabe, Gary,

Given that I cant really know for sure if any clown would definitely host in the BTAs I plan on adding, which of these 3 (Emp, Regal, Maj) would you say are most anemone safe? I also have some mushrooms, Palys and GSP, do you foresee any problems here?

 

[sn00p123]

Also having looked at this chart http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1661153&page=6 it seems that most of these are more safe than not? atleast when it comes to corals. Doesnt say much abt anemones though

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Why can't you know for sure if a clown will host with your BTA?

Maroon, Tomato and/or Clarkii will host for sure- no Barry White needed!

 

[ct_vol]

no Barry White needed!

Lmao :lol:

My GSM's keep my Regal on one side of the tank...

 

[OrionN]

Gary got a Emperor, ct_vol got a Regal and I got a Majestic Angel (in my 450 gal reef tank in the past) in our reef tank.
My Majestic angel was a model fish, did not bother clam or significant problem to any of the coral or polyps. I wish he took after my polyps but he did not. I had him in since juvenile color change to an adult in my tank. I will add a Majestic into my tank in the near future.
IMO Majestic and Regal are the most beautiful and graceful mid size angels one can keep in a reef tank.

 

[bobby415]

Hi i have a pair of gfm and the female attacks my tang..they fight every now and then.

 

[Altezza01]

My clowns won't let anything including myself go around THEIR 8 anemones

 

[sn00p123]

Hi guys,
Thanks for all the responses. I guess I do know the clown will host for sure now

One more thing though, my oscellaris pair host the LTA and my Tomato makes a journey 4 ft across the tank from his GSP colony to try his luck with the LTA everyday (The Oscellaris were among the first tankmates). The Osc hold their ground and dont give the Tomato a chance, the larger of the two Osc and the Tomato are about the same size. However occasionally, say once in a couple of days, my Bicolor will nip the Tomatos GSP mat when its not fully opened ie. dawn.

1) How come my Tomato doesnt defend its GSP host? Is this not a serious relationship? is this just 'make do' until her true love ie. anemone shows up? heard abt Tomatos being aggressive, but she doesnt seem to care abt her host GSP and doesnt protect it at all

2) Given that the clowns will defend anemones from larger angels (as per your posts), what is your suggested order of introduction? anemone before the angel or vice versa? The Tomato is already in the tank

Also, agree on the Majestics and Regals being very beautiful, but my LFS has a couple of adult emperors with really rich color (we dont see that very often here) that have caught my eye

Thanks again for your inputs

 

[OrionN]

The affinity for clowns for their natural hosts are very strong while non natural host bonds are weak. That is why you see the Tomato fail to defend the GSP.

IME, once you see the relationship between Clowns and their natural host, you will not settle for anything else. My Onyx pair are rarely 2 inches from my Gigantea.

 

[Toddrtrex]

My old pair of Clarkiis were a bit different. While they would attack me, they let a Blueface angel nip at an S. haddoni, to the point where I had to separate them.

 

[mkoop]

Very cool. Very good information to know.

 

[DrPat]

Regals are reef safe, other angels and butterflys will nip tentacles.Agressive clowns [ clarki complex] usually defend their host anenomes.