Will Torch Coral Host Clownfish

I am still a noob with coral.

What ends up killing the coral? Is it the constant agitation which forces the polyps to retract, therefore not enough light? Or is the clown keeping food away preventing capture?

My torch has nice extension and is still dividing but because of this thread I have nearly convinced myself that it is receding......

I think that having a reef tank will eventually make you lose your mind, LOL!!
 
Guys, the pink torch coral is hosted by the wild caught percula clownfish right now. The clownfish is basically living there, won't go elsewhere. It is so interesting to see how they respond to each other. The torch coral stays open all the time, and the clownfish just lays on it.

I have another pair grade A Picasso clownfish that could care less on the torch coral.

I have noticed many differences between WC Percula and Picasso Clown, especially the movement, behavior and color. WC Percula is way more active and playful and has way more vibrant and deeper color than the Picasso.
 
I had a Percula host to a large hairy mushroom for about a year. The mushroom was starting to get massive and I read mushrooms will eat fish if they get the opportunity so I removed it! :D
 
My LFS indicated to me that if the Torch is large enough, you should be ok. If the Torch is smaller, then there is a good chance they will beat it up.

I have a pair of mated Ocellaris Clowns going into my DT tomorrow, so I will keep you posted on how things work out.

I bought the Torch because I love the look, and also because I didn't want a BTA moving around my tank if it got unhappy...stinging other corals that may get in its path.
 
I had a tank bred clown that eventually started hanging out in my torch. It took a couple years though. It was a good sized torch, three good sized heads and a number of smaller ones. No harm whatsoever in my experience.
 
Torch coral won't have much to say in the matter. Clowns will either view it as an acceptable, though not natural, host or they won't. I've never had clowns use coral as a host anemone substitute, but don't doubt they can.
 
the mated pair of clowns i had killed every lps coral i have had . six month to a year after they started hosting the corals would start receding and die after 4 years the female died now the male hangs out in my Xenias
 
Old thread but this just started in my tank I have 2 CB ocellaris clown fish that have been in the tank for about a week. The small one just started to host in the torch, the medium is interested and also goes in sometimes but not as much. Its a 5 head torch and is always very happy and healthy. The torch is the center piece of the tank right now so i don't want to have it die off on me. But at the same time, its really cool to see the clown going in and out of the torch.
 
Yeah, mine spends lights out in my torch and daylight in my duncan. Doesn't seem to affect either very much.
 
Update from my last post in May 2016.

My 2 clowns are still hosting in the Torch coral. I think they are starting to kill it, it does not open all the way up anymore and I don't see the fans coming out to gather food anymore. I am not sure what to do here, if I keep the clowns away from the Torch I am sure they will get very stressed which could cause other issues.
 
laguest said:
Update from my last post in May 2016.

My 2 clowns are still hosting in the Torch coral. I think they are starting to kill it, it does not open all the way up anymore and I don't see the fans coming out to gather food anymore. I am not sure what to do here, if I keep the clowns away from the Torch I am sure they will get very stressed which could cause other issues.
Click to expand...

Sorry I have the date this started wrong, it was not May 2016, it started April 2017
 
I have seen clowns host a number of things, leaders, Duncan's, torch, elegance, and lord knows what ever else. Mine essentially hosted my return line for years in my tank, then one day I was trying to catch one of them and they swam to the center of the tank and jumped right in my anemone, like it was natural. Only took 4 years.......crazy fish. :lol:

Corey
 
Going to bump this thread rather than starting a new one...

Just took the reef plunge after having a FOWLR for 3 1/2 years. First coral is a toxic green 3-headed torch - has been looking like a beautiful head of broccoli when the lights are on since I put it in about 3 weeks ago...

HOWEVER,

I have a bounded pair of Black Ice clowns that are using it as a host a now one of the heads looks like they have rubbed the polyps off it (they are just kind of hanging there rather than looking firmly attached.

Is this how they kill them?
 
Yup. Just repeated physical contact eventually wears the coral out and/or weakens it.

That said, I've known clowns that hosted in corals for years with no damage. I've also known clowns that killed (appropriate) anemones. It's pretty situational and I don't think anyone can predict the outcome, regardless of the species of host.
 
der_wille_zur_macht said:
Ha!

This is part of the fun. Just keep telling yourself that.

Try moving the coral, or adding some more, or adding an appropriate hosting anemone.
Click to expand...

I will add some more - but I'm building an SPS dominant (if you're gonna take the plunge, take the plunge, right?)

Was just being very deliberate (see my signature)...nems aren't in the picture but another torch may be in the very near future...
 
SPS are easier than you'd think. All you really need is stability of parameters, light, and flow. Light and flow are easy, just get the right equipment. Stability is what trips most people up, but often it's because they're introducing the variation, versus the tank itself varying. Understand the important nutrients (Ca, alk, N, P, and possibly Mg depending on stocking and water changes) and how they're kept stable, and you're golden. Don't dose or remove anything without being able to measure, and without understanding an appropriate dosing or removal rate to get your target. Test, adjust, repeat, and eventually you'll learn the patterns your tank needs.
 
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