Tricks for creating the symbiotic relationship.....

[Captain Nemo]

Ok so I just got a RBTA for my 2 ocellaris clowns. Haven't had one since I got these. Are there any tricks anyone knows of that can speed the process along? Should I get rid of my ocellaris and get some perculas? Should I tape a pic of the clown and anemone together to the tank???? Let me know.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I have heard of taking a photo of clowns and a anemone hosting and placing it on the glass will help. Not too sure though. There are tons of photos on the web as you know.

 

[SaltWaterDave]

You can try the pic, but it's really hit or miss. I had a single OC clown for 2 years and it never hosted anything in my tank. Then one day out of the blue it started hosting a patch of Anthelia. Now it's in there 24/7 and even sleeps in it. Not sure what made it decide to host.

 

[cdness]

My OC clowns found the RBTA in less than 2 hours... They didn't know what it was at first but were in it hosting within two hours.

 

[ToXIc]

drop the pellets into the nem.. the only trick that worked...

 

[boehm742]

Patience is what youll need.

 

[nuff40]

Agree with boehm742, patience. have two onyx that hosted nothing but pumps, heaters, etc. got xenia growing wild and they finally decided to host that once it started growing onto the back panel of the nano tank and the colony was over 10" across. now they have been moved to a 46g bowfront and have returned to hosting pumps, heaters, etc...ignore the xenia altogether. Anemone coming in the future, but will not hold my breath on hosting.....imho if the clowns are tank bred, and several generations of such, they may still have the instinct to host, but it doesn't "kick in" quickly...of course, they may also be looking for an anemone that is larger than a small colony of anything.....(the xenia was over 10" across before they hosted it and had invaded part of their hosting teritory)...pure guesswork on my part, but.........there it is.

 

[Ostentum]

I have used this technique in the past, has worked for about 1/2 the people that I know have tried it. Clowns are kinda like monkeys, they like shiny things, lights, lazers, people etc. I waited till the lights were out, then took a single bulb LED flashlight put it on the clown then moved it to the anemone, and did this over and over, not too quickly though. After a few mins he started following the light down to the anemone. Bbbaaaammmmm. Clown in RBTA.

 

[Captain Nemo]

Thanks for the input guys!! I will try some of these!

 

[Captain Nemo]

So I taped up the pic of the clown in a RBTA to the tank. Hope it works!!

 

[cichlidtx]

So I taped up the pic of the clown in a RBTA to the tank. Hope it works!!

Do you have an update if this worked for you. I have 2 RBTA's and neither of my two B/W clowns have touched them. I'm willing to give this a try.

Thanks

 

[hypnoj]

yup, keep us posted on the taped pic idea, I wonder if it really works.

 

[PR_Reefers]

I would leave them in a separate tank say a 10g with just the nem!! they will have to eventually host something once they do put them back in the main tank... at least that's what I would fwiw... or try the same philosophy using one of those breeding cages that you can hang on to the side of the tank however imo this would be more stressful to them since they would probably try to reach the rest of the tank.

 

[Hyprviperx]

some good ideas here im glad Captain posted this thread im currently in the same situation... appreciate it Cap

 

[Captain Nemo]

ok so here is the pic update, I taped the pic and left it in place the whole time. its a big pictrue, had a RBTA and the oce clowns and all. still no success. I even hung it where the would see it. One of them decided a couple days ago to try carpet surfing for a new hobby and it didnt bode well for him. So now I am on the prowl for 2 new clowns, my other one is being donated to the hospitals tank. Hope for better luck with new ones.

 

[Rockadile]

feed the nem and entice the clowns to investigate it. I would consider the taping a pic to the side of the tank more of a snipe hunt.

really though the best advice on here is from the person that said patience. It may never happen. New clowns wont magically make it faster either, in fact it could take longer. I will say I have had the best luck with maroons when it comes to this. Nems are like little magnets to maroon clowns.

 

[Saltgator]

Babies and young ones were the hardest for me to have them host. Usualy they found the frogspawn, not the RBTA. I took the frogspawn and moved it closer each day until it was within 6 inches or so. After they kept calm in the new area, I feed the tank and in the middle of the frenzy, I moved the frogspawn to a corner. Not knowing where it went, they aimed for the RBTA. Never left it since. This has worked 4 times, but might be my luck.