Anenome hosting

[Miguel]

Hello.

I have two common (occeleralis) clowns the are presumably tank bred and
added an Anenome about 6 months after the clowns entered the tank.

The pet shop sold the Anenome to me as a Long Tentacle Anenome however I
have my doubts about it after reading up online and the description read
make it more likely a Heteractis Crispa. Notably I am no expert so that
could still be wrong but I'm going loosely on information online.

The clowns have never taken to the Anenome in the last 2 months which is
rather disappointing. Another Pet shop owner has suggested that as tank
bred clowns they wouldn't necessarily know to go to the Anenome and may need
some "convincing", for example, another clown that will host and lead the
way. He offered one on "Appro" when he gets stock again to show the way.
If it works, I pay for the clown and if not well I return it. My wife seems
to think I should net them and direct them to the Anenome but that may
stress them.

Any suggestions or is this a lost cause?

Thanx in advance.

Miguel

[Pszemol]

"Miguel" > wrote in message ...
> I have two common (occeleralis) clowns the are presumably tank bred and
> added an Anenome about 6 months after the clowns entered the tank.
>
> The pet shop sold the Anenome to me as a Long Tentacle Anenome however I
> have my doubts about it after reading up online and the description read
> make it more likely a Heteractis Crispa. Notably I am no expert so that
> could still be wrong but I'm going loosely on information online.
>
> The clowns have never taken to the Anenome in the last 2 months which is
> rather disappointing. Another Pet shop owner has suggested that as tank
> bred clowns they wouldn't necessarily know to go to the Anenome and may need
> some "convincing", for example, another clown that will host and lead the
> way. He offered one on "Appro" when he gets stock again to show the way.
> If it works, I pay for the clown and if not well I return it. My wife seems
> to think I should net them and direct them to the Anenome but that may
> stress them.
>
> Any suggestions or is this a lost cause?

I have two tank rised maroon clownfish and they settled an introduced
anemone - it took them about 2 days. I do not know if this behaviour
need to be taught, I would guess this is an instinct. Tank risen
clownfishes hide in many soft corals other then anemone when suitable
anemone is not in the tank. One buddy of mine has clowns sitting in Xenia.
Some clowns seem not to care what is the coral they pick for they home...
Some other pick only particular type of anemone - maybe you have mismatch.

The trick your wife is talking about - I would use it in opposite way.
Try to scare fish with something big, like your hand in the tank -
they should use their instincts to hide in the anemone...
When I submerge my hand in the tank during cleaning, both maroon
clowns first dive into the anemone, scared, than - after a while,
the larger female gets brave and starts emerge from anemone and
attacks my hand. She sticks out her head for a moment, slowly,
then rapidly hits my hand and retreats to the anemone, where safe.
They use anemone as a way of defence so maybe your wifes idea
will work: stressed fish will find an anemone as its refuge.

[Toni]

"Miguel" > wrote in message
...
>
> The clowns have never taken to the Anenome in the last 2 months which is
> rather disappointing. Another Pet shop owner has suggested that as tank
> bred clowns they wouldn't necessarily know to go to the Anenome and may
need
> some "convincing", for example, another clown that will host and lead the
> way. He offered one on "Appro" when he gets stock again to show the way.
> If it works, I pay for the clown and if not well I return it. My wife
seems
> to think I should net them and direct them to the Anenome but that may
> stress them.



I would *not* add another clownfish to your pair- to do so is asking for
aggression problems.

I have heard anecdotal evidence that taping a photo of clownfish in an
anemone to the side of the aquarium near the anemone could help. Sounds
silly but is totally harmless.

Other than that- exchange the anemone for a species that ocellaris will host
in, or trade the clownfish for a species that will accept your particluar
anemone.

http://www.carlosreef.com/AnemoneFAQ.pdf


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/reef.htm

[robin.gordon1]

I had two clowns and both had the run of the tank. one took to a crop of
furry mushrooms and they flurished. it just took to it and without any
provocation at all. the other disappeared a while back after a new delivery
of corals (and a mantis and two or three crabs) so whether the mushrooms
protect it or not I don't know but if they take to something like this then
the clowns don't seem to be the problem.
try another anemone.

Robin

[CheezWiz]

http://www.orafarm.com/clownfish.html


"Miguel" > wrote in message
...
> Hello.
>
> I have two common (occeleralis) clowns the are presumably tank bred and
> added an Anenome about 6 months after the clowns entered the tank.
>
> The pet shop sold the Anenome to me as a Long Tentacle Anenome however I
> have my doubts about it after reading up online and the description read
> make it more likely a Heteractis Crispa. Notably I am no expert so that
> could still be wrong but I'm going loosely on information online.
>
> The clowns have never taken to the Anenome in the last 2 months which is
> rather disappointing. Another Pet shop owner has suggested that as tank
> bred clowns they wouldn't necessarily know to go to the Anenome and may
need
> some "convincing", for example, another clown that will host and lead the
> way. He offered one on "Appro" when he gets stock again to show the way.
> If it works, I pay for the clown and if not well I return it. My wife
seems
> to think I should net them and direct them to the Anenome but that may
> stress them.
>
> Any suggestions or is this a lost cause?
>
> Thanx in advance.
>
> Miguel
>
>

[CheezWiz]

http://www.orafarm.com/species.html

"Miguel" > wrote in message
...
> Hello.
>
> I have two common (occeleralis) clowns the are presumably tank bred and
> added an Anenome about 6 months after the clowns entered the tank.
>
> The pet shop sold the Anenome to me as a Long Tentacle Anenome however I
> have my doubts about it after reading up online and the description read
> make it more likely a Heteractis Crispa. Notably I am no expert so that
> could still be wrong but I'm going loosely on information online.
>
> The clowns have never taken to the Anenome in the last 2 months which is
> rather disappointing. Another Pet shop owner has suggested that as tank
> bred clowns they wouldn't necessarily know to go to the Anenome and may
need
> some "convincing", for example, another clown that will host and lead the
> way. He offered one on "Appro" when he gets stock again to show the way.
> If it works, I pay for the clown and if not well I return it. My wife
seems
> to think I should net them and direct them to the Anenome but that may
> stress them.
>
> Any suggestions or is this a lost cause?
>
> Thanx in advance.
>
> Miguel
>
>

[Don Geddis]

"Miguel" > wrote on Sun, 3 Oct 2004 :
> I have two common (occeleralis) clowns the are presumably tank bred and
> added an Anenome about 6 months after the clowns entered the tank.
> The pet shop sold the Anenome to me as a Long Tentacle Anenome

Those two species aren't found together in nature. Sometimes hobbyists
get lucky, and a clownfish will form an unnatural bonding with the wrong
kind of anemone. But you shouldn't be surprised that an Ocellaris and
a "Long Tentacle" don't match up.

> however I have my doubts about it after reading up online and the
> description read make it more likely a Heteractis Crispa.

Still the wrong kind of anemone for an Ocellaris. Other clownfish species
would have worked with a Crispa, and other anemone species would have worked
with an Ocellaris. You happened to pick a pairing that doesn't usually
work out.

> The clowns have never taken to the Anenome in the last 2 months which is
> rather disappointing.

If you had looked into it more before you started, you might have been able
to make some different choices. Or else been less disappointed.

> Another Pet shop owner has suggested that as tank bred clowns they wouldn't
> necessarily know to go to the Anenome and may need some "convincing", for
> example, another clown that will host and lead the way. He offered one on
> "Appro" when he gets stock again to show the way.

That's possible. They can be taught behavior. But it's a long shot.

> My wife seems to think I should net them and direct them to the Anenome but
> that may stress them.

That's one of the stupidest ideas I've heard in a long time.

Not only is it highly unlikely to help, you already suspect that it's
likely to cause unrelated stress and injury.

You can't force a clownfish to host. You can only encourage it.

-- Don
__________________________________________________ _____________________________
Don Geddis http://reef.geddis.org/
I think there are some things you can only learn by experience. Like, never
put an ice cube down the back of somebody who's shooting a bow and arrow.
-- Deep Thoughts, by Jack Handey [1999]

[kd7ctv]

>> Another Pet shop owner has suggested that as tank bred clowns they
>> wouldn't
>> necessarily know to go to the Anenome and may need some "convincing", for
>> example, another clown that will host and lead the way. He offered one
>> on
>> "Appro" when he gets stock again to show the way.
>
> That's possible. They can be taught behavior. But it's a long shot.
>
>> My wife seems to think I should net them and direct them to the Anenome
>> but
>> that may stress them.
>
> That's one of the stupidest ideas I've heard in a long time.
>
> Not only is it highly unlikely to help, you already suspect that it's
> likely to cause unrelated stress and injury.
>
> You can't force a clownfish to host. You can only encourage it.
>
> -- Don
> __________________________________________________ _____________________________
> Don Geddis

Well that worked for me, I just put the net in the water, and it headed
straight for the anenome, but wouldn't go near it, I played with the net for
a few minutes and the anenome eventually tagged my clown a few times, with
no ill effect, with in a few hours she was feeding the anenome, and sleeps
in it, and defends it. So I guess it isn't that stupid after all....