Getting Tank Raised Clowns to Host

[kingfisherfleshy]

Hey guys, I have some ORA extreme misbars.

I am still in the process of adding fish/corals to my tank (set up almost a year, but stocking done right is slow)

It is still pretty open coral wise, so I am thinking about adding a RBTA (rainbow or rose).

Because these clowns arent hosing ANYTHING...I was thinking for starters that I would put the nem in some sort of clear bottle with holes punched in it. I will add the clowns to the same bottle, and keep them that way for a week before opening the bottle and letting the nem go else where.

Think this is a good idea?

How have you gotten tank raised clowns to host?

 

[Tabasco1]

Hmmm, how big of a bottle? I don't know about that.

I had a tank raised maroon clown for 4 years and finally was able to get a nem for it. I believe it was a long tentacled? I am not sure now, but within a week he was hosting it and then never really strayed too far from it.

I would not try to force anything and see if they will host it naturally before trying anything. I have also heard that they might need to be "taught" and that you can tape a picture of a clown hosting in a nem for them to see how it is done. :)

Good luck with that!

 

[BigFeesh]

Bottle? I wouldnt force it . If the clowns stay in an area put the anem there even though it might move. My platinums (tank raised) sleep near the return line in my 29 gallon biocube and when I put my torch near them they jumped in it. When I moved it away they stopped. I think if they accept the anem in there area they will host IMHO

 

[geckoman2003]

+1 on the not forcing them to do it.
I got my gbta about two weeks after my pair of occs. They were supper scared of it and refused to even look at it. After two weeks of waiting for them to do it, I held some mysis shrimp in my fingures as close as I could get it to the gbta. My misbar female came in first for a bite and was stung by the nem. She shot off like bullet from a gun, and stayed away the rest of the night. When I turned on the light the next day she was hosting it, but quickly exited it like she had just been busted with her hand in the cookie jar. Over the next few days she would snick down to it until someone seen her. Then a nother quick exit. My male picasso had intrest but was way to chicken to give it a try. Then overnight she intised him into it. Now 2.5 weeks after adding the gbta they trio can't be apart.

 

[geckoman2003]

I have seen damsels learn to host before. They do this by getting repeated stings on their tail fin. They seem to build up some immunity to the sting. Maybe this is the same for clowns.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

I would do it like the do it in LFS's...many of the m keep anemones in small clear plastic containers so that they cant put their foot down on a rock and make them impossible to remove from a tank when sold.

Its not really forcing, but if the clowns are in close proximity I think that sooner or later they would go into it and get the idea.

I have seen damsels learn to host before. They do this by getting repeated stings on their tail fin. They seem to build up some immunity to the sting. Maybe this is the same for clowns.

All fish need to build up an immunity to the sting of their anemone before they can fully host. Apparently they build up their slime coat accordingly.

 

[geckoman2003]

I would do it like the do it in LFS's...many of the m keep anemones in small clear plastic containers so that they cant put their foot down on a rock and make them impossible to remove from a tank when sold.

Its not really forcing, but if the clowns are in close proximity I think that sooner or later they would go into it and get the idea.

Ok now I am following you. You mean using a cup filled with sand to ancor the nem to. Gotcha! That would work. However, the nem may still move out of it ,if it doesnt like something like light or water movement.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Well I wouldnt necessarily fill it with sand. Clear plastic cup. In tank. Holes punched for water movement/waste etc...add clown fish...add top...there would be room inside this container for the nem, and clowns to move around, it would just encourage them. If it didnt work in a couple days, both would be released into the tank.

Its just going to be hard to get clowns that host to the front upper right corner of my tank into a nem in the middle of a six foot tank I think.

Gecko, do you have any clones? I am looking for a nem and I am located in central wisconsin. Would rather do some driving than have to pay for shipping.

 

[Rockadile]

what I would do is try feeding the nem and not so much the fish. the fish would then go to the nems area to feed and maybe get the idea.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

what I would do is try feeding the nem and not so much the fish. the fish would then go to the nems area to feed and maybe get the idea.

The only thing I dont like about this is that clowns stealing food from the anemone is already an issue for many people...I dont want to get them in there by encouraging this behavior.

 

[Tabasco1]

I would do it like the do it in LFS's...many of the m keep anemones in small clear plastic containers so that they cant put their foot down on a rock and make them impossible to remove from a tank when sold.

Its not really forcing, but if the clowns are in close proximity I think that sooner or later they would go into it and get the idea.



All fish need to build up an immunity to the sting of their anemone before they can fully host. Apparently they build up their slime coat accordingly.

Yep, all fish need to build up an immunity to the sting, including clowns. Which is one of the reasons I wouldn't try to force it. If the clown gets spooked and dives for cover in the nem before it has developed it's slime coat, could be fatal.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Valid point Tobasco...I just dont want to put a nem in the tank if I cant get the clowns into it. I will feel like a right fool wasting space that could have been SPS otherwise.

 

[JR's Reef]

A small basket would work the best. You can use a magfloat or sumthing like to hold the basket to the side at the top of the tank until your ready to release them to there home. I forget where I got my baskets from I know sunlight suppy carries some I think

 

[geckoman2003]

Valid point Tobasco...I just dont want to put a nem in the tank if I cant get the clowns into it. I will feel like a right fool wasting space that could have been SPS otherwise.

Do you have hospital tank? You could try putting the clowns in with the nem in a smaller tank before introducing to your main tank. This is a good idea anyway.

I don't have any clones as of yet. My gbta is still new, but if it drops one you are first on my list. If you are in Wisconsin and don't mind driving, why not go to Foster and smiths outlet store in Rinelander (or where ever it is), or what about some of the kick but stores in Chicago.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

A small basket would work the best. You can use a magfloat or sumthing like to hold the basket to the side at the top of the tank until your ready to release them to there home. I forget where I got my baskets from I know sunlight suppy carries some I think

Not a bad idea, I will look into this...and probably go this route. I could then put the clowns in the basket. Leaves the top open for easy feeding.

Do you have hospital tank? You could try putting the clowns in with the nem in a smaller tank before introducing to your main tank. This is a good idea anyway.

I don't have any clones as of yet. My gbta is still new, but if it drops one you are first on my list. If you are in Wisconsin and don't mind driving, why not go to Foster and smiths outlet store in Rinelander (or where ever it is), or what about some of the kick but stores in Chicago.

I have two QT's but right now they are both being pushed to the limit in the process of getting all of my fish into DT. In addition to that, I use cupramine in the QT, so inverts going into those tanks is a no go.

I would be sketched about putting a nem into a different tank, different conditions, different lighting etc...I think that this is just more stress than it is worth.

BTA's split like nobodys business...and I dont want to go to fosters to pay $100 for a BTA that after it split in my tank I would sell for $30 tops. I dont think I could look someone in the eye and charge more. In addition to that, they rarely have cool anemone's available in their retail store, and same story, low quality high price.

Divers den gets some cool ones, but as I mentioned, price is unrealistic.

I find that LFS's at least in Wisconsin, are also lower quality than online/hobbyist/frag swap stuff, and charge more.

This is why I am looking for a hobbyist nem.

 

[CJO]

I have seen damsels learn to host before. They do this by getting repeated stings on their tail fin. They seem to build up some immunity to the sting. Maybe this is the same for clowns.

Never heard of this before, but clowns are a type of damsel, so I guess it's possible!

CJ

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Im not certain if all members of Pomacentridae can host anemones...but there are definitely a lot. I have only ever seen domino's in nems as far as damselfish are concerned.

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Bump...gotta know before I pull the trigger on one of these! ha

 

[kingfisherfleshy]

Got my clowns to host by adding them to an acclimation box with an acclimated BTA...they were driven off by my clarkiis however once added to the main tank who are now inhabiting that anemone.