Clowns and anenome...

MERKEY · Oct 23, 2019

We got a RBTA with 2 clowns. After the QT we acclimated the clowns with the anenome we moved them to the DT and the clowns have wanted nothing to do with the anenome for a good week.....

Well I woke up this morning and..........

ONE OF MY DAMSELS IS HOSTING THE ANENOME!!

Not bothered at all if the damsels wont hurt the anenome and my wife thinks it's cute.

However I wanted to check with everyone here and see if any others have had damsels host in their anenomes?

I understand once a damsel makes its claim on something aka a spot in rocks or this anenome he will guard it like a pitbull, we are ok with that and understand what having a damsel intails in the tank. My wife and son love them so I was out voted and know it can cause issues later when adding fish. It's a 75g and has 2 damsels 2 clowns and a flame angel. No one is short of room at the moment haha

nereefpat · Oct 23, 2019

What kind of damsel? Some species do use anemones as hosts.

Bubble tips aren't natural hosts for most of the clowns we keep, so that isn't terribly surprising either.

MERKEY · Oct 23, 2019

It unfortunately is a domino damsel. Yes it will get bigger and is one of the more aggresive species.

At first I had a moment of "we need to get him out before it gets worse or he gets bigger." But I did let the family get it knowing what could be so I'm not worried what will happen when he gets bigger. I guess we are grouped with those that like damsels hahahah

As long as it is not an uncommon thing and the anenome allows it....my wife loves it so.....

pcon · Oct 24, 2019

Domino damsels are one of the few fish which naturally host with bubble tips as juvis. They can even occasionally be seen sharing a bubble tip with maroon clowns in the wild.