The Symbiotic Relationship between Clownfish and Anemones

[OrionN]

Natural host of Maroon clownfish is BTA, E. quadricolor.

 

[Tom Stevens]

 

[Roytrolls247]

I have two juvenile clowns I bought as a pair two months ago I just brought home a small RBTA last night. what is a good way to introduce the clowns to the nem?

 

[OrionN]

I would just put them in your tank. No specific way to "introduce the clowns" to the anemone. If they have a natural relationship, they will find each other.
What species of clowns? Not all clowns are hosted by BTA in the wild.

 

[thought]

Great write up, I really want my clowns to host in my BTA but they don’t care atm. They spawn regularly but completely ignore the BTAs.... smh.
Will try placing a photo of clowns hosting against the glass soon, see if that works. Will be easier than catching them and placing them with anemone in a container.

 

[High Plains Reefer]

Ok so I have a Sherman and a Colorado sunburst in the same tank probably about 18-24 inches apart is this ok? the only reason I ask is that my Colorado sunburst never seem to thrive but the Sherman on the other hand seem very happy. I had someone offer me a Chicago sunburst also and I'm wondering if I could add it or am I already pushing it? BTW the tank is a lagoon style 150g Rubbermaid stock tank

 

[OrionN]

Just a few pictures of my various clowns and anemones.

 

[ClownWrangler]

I think there may be a little more to the symbiotic relationship. Yes, the clowns and anemones do protect each other, but watching my cinnamon clowns and purple LTA, I noticed something interesting. It kept slamming itself against the anemone like it was fluffing a pillow and every now and again it would jerk like it got stung. I think it was deliberately trying to get stung. Is it possible that clowns actually get a "high" from this?

 

[Frostblitz20]

sadly my clowns rather host GSP over my nem..

 

[Adrift]

Should the clown or anemone be added first?

 

[Rtaylor]

Should the clown or anemone be added first?

If it’s a new tank, it’s best to wait a while before adding an anemone (6-12 months). The order you add them isn’t critical. It might be somewhat better to add the anemone first so the clowns don’t find a substitute as a host (coral, powerhead, etc.). Most clowns eventually take to an anemone (especially if it’s a natural host) eventually. Added 2 clarkii’s on Sunday to a tank with 4 haddoni, 1 malu, and a baby gig. They literally went into the haddoni immediately and haven’t left for more than a few seconds at a time.

 

[lubeck]

Does a bta host an orange storm naturally

 

[Shark Wu]

Looks happy they are...

 

[firehawk922]

I have a pair in the my tank for almost 7 months i they look like they will mate one will pick on the rock under my toadstol both will twitch but then one leaves. Are they not old enough?

 

[Raul-7]

Bump; keep this awesome thread going. The clownfish-anemone relationship is a beautiful example of a mutual symbiotic relationship.

 

[lubeck]

 

[garygb]

Bump; keep this awesome thread going. The clownfish-anemone relationship is a beautiful example of a mutual symbiotic relationship.

The two H. magnifica, started off as one in November 2000. So 23 years I've had the anemones. There was one other split, years ago, and I sold that clone. The CB percs came along in 2011 for the female and 2012 for the little male.