Clown fish and corals

[GMH320]

If a clown fish doesn't have a host anemone, will it take up home in a softie such as a finger leather or colt. The guy at the LFS said that it will bother the corals to the point that they no longer open and die.

 

[chris_h]

The guy was right. If you have a reef get an anemone if you want a clown.

 

[MEC]

I have to partly disagree here. My Tomatoe liked the Xenia that I have. And before that He lived in my Hairy mushrooms. Neither one seemed to mind. However My former LFS said that many LPS corals would be adversly affected. Plate corals come to mind right away. I think most softies would be OK though, I would advise against the amemonie, unless you have a well established and well lighted reef.....Mike

 

[chris_h]

I had a tomato clown that was living in a open brain. THe open brain wouldent open up so I moved it into a differnt tank. Then the clown moved into a bubble coral. THe bubble coral stung it but it was to stupid to realize. It was damageing the bubble coral for 2 mounths before the bubble coral stung its eyes so bad it got popeye. In the end, both the clown and the bubble coral died. Now I have a bubble anemone in every tank i own that has clowns.

 

[bigtank]

You can keep a clown without an anemone, but they are happier with an anemone IMO. My maroon loves his bubble tip. Before I got the bubble tip, he was more temperamental and seemed to sulk.

I think anemones are easy to keep if you provide for the specific needs of the species in question. All host anemones need bright lighting, and IMO they need to eat.

IMHO

 

[AnotherGoldenTeapot]

I have a clown happily (for some years now) living in a tounge coral.

 

[Clownkeeper]

Greg,
I have a False pac. clown and he has tanken up residance in my Bubble Coral. Coral is of nice size and doesnt seem to mind at all that my male and female use it as it is a host anemone. No damage to the tissue..
Hope this helps.. Oh they have been using it for a host for 8 months..

Troy

 

[McReef1]

My tank-raised perc (the female of a pair) keeps bugging my goniopora to the point that it only opens about 20-45% of normal. Sounds like an anenome would help!

For the better part of 6 months this did not happen. She just started doing it a month ago.