Hiding Clowns

[dkoucky]

I had a 180g tank that leaked and lost about half the reef about a month ago. I purchased a 230 and the contents of a 150 to set up my new reef. Everything is doing very well, but for some reasons the clowns that came with the new contents have decided to make their home in the far corner of the tank where they can't be seen. I have tried to guide them to one of the anemones preferably the carpet, but also the rose and frogspawn where my last clowns lived but they will have nothing to do with it and always return to the far corner. Any suggestions? They are having a hard time getting food there and are not one of the focal points of the tank as I would like.

Thanks!
DanielK

 

[fsu1dolfan]

I wonder if they are still just trying to get use to the new home. Could you place some rock in the spot that they are occupying? Clowns are tough to move around....my little guy freaked out with my new MP10 a couple of months ago. He was hiding alot and barely would come out. Now he is better but it did take some time.

 

[dkoucky]

Area I would like them to live (sorry lights are off right now, putting some final touches on new LED system)

Where they are living

I even drew a map

 

[fsu1dolfan]

lol - It's funny you have a map because i just read about someone doing something kind like this. They actually tape a real picture of the same type of clownfish being hosted by the same kind of anemone onto the tank glass next to the anemone in your tank.

 

[MoneyPit]

Do you know where the clowns were living/hosting before you acquired them ? I just wonder if they would even host. Maybe you could move the anemone to that area and try to get them to host. Once they do you can move the anemone back up front and they will follow. My clowns chose to move to the corner when I took their anemone away from them, plus my trigger chased them. Eventually they found and started to host my duncan coral, I guess because it was nearby. I moved the duncan to the other side of the tank, and they moved with it. Good Luck !!!

 

[Tabasco1]

I love the map! +1 to the picture of clowns hosting, I have heard of people having success with that. How long has the new system been up and they have been in their new home? Is there another fish that might be agressive toward them?

 

[dkoucky]

They have been in there 2-3 weeks, there is nothing too aggressive in the tank certainly not like a trigger. They were hosted but their anemone died and they continued to live around the same rock. I have been working with the LED's so their day/night schedule might have them scared. Moving the anemone instead of them seems like a good idea, although I am not too sure how well the carpet will like it in the dark corner.

 

[dkoucky]

The pictures really work??? I thought it was a joke.

 

[fsu1dolfan]

The pictures really work??? I thought it was a joke.

LOL no the picture thing is not a joke. Your map was funny though...but seriously google this "picture on glass of anemone trick for clown" check out all the threads out there that have had it work!!

 

[Tabasco1]

Nope not a joke! haha. 2-3 weeks isn't THAT long, especially if you are tinkering with the lighting schedule. They are probably just not settled in. Can you move the anemone closer to them, but not behind the rock? Kindof coax them out?

 

[dkoucky]

Well I am going snipe hunting...

 

[Tabasco1]

Ha! Elusive little suckers. Good luck! I love snipe. Lightly sauteed in butter... Yum.

Oh and hope the picture works!

 

[fsu1dolfan]

Keep us posted and let us know if the picture trick worked. Good luck!!

 

[BobMc]

Not sure if this is applicable, but I have a pair of Maroons like that. They stayed in the back corner of the tank away from the BTA for months. I took down that small tank and added them to my larger tank. After a month or so the female is now hosting in the anemone. Their white stripes are turning yellow as well (maybe a hetero GSM spawn as they were not sold as GSM.) I was gonna suggest that maybe they are just young, but then I remembered you said they were hosting before. So, um, nvm :crossedlips:

 

[dkoucky]

I woke up this morning fully expecting them to be living in their new anemone. But no luck today, LED's are now fully functional so maybe now they have a regular time schedule they will start being a little more friendly. I will keep the picture up for a few more days as well.

 

[xmetalfan99]

Like I was told yesterday, they will go in eventually. I tried the picture trick and it did not work for me. I know of others who have had great success with it. Maybe our clowns are just special.