Anemone Hosting for Dummies.

[richardhmc]

Apparently my pair of picasso clowns did not read that book because they don't seem to see the big comfy rbta as a home.

Normally, I wouldn't care that they did not host the anemone but I discovered that they sleep all the way at the front upper left corner of the tank!, right underneath the water level. Why they chose to sleep an inch below the water line, I have no clue. I just don't want them to jump out at night so I'd prefer them to sleep in the anemone at the bottom of the tank.

Is there any way to "encourage" them to host? Or is it just letting nature take its course and it is their decision?

Thanks!

 

[THEDLO]

itll happen dont worry....took my pair almost over a month to read that memo. if they're hosting anything else (mine found a frogspawn) move it far from them, and give it time.

 

[fcamargo6thave]

its been 8 months and my clowns never come close to none of my anenomes. sorry i cant help u either but i am beginning to think they will never host an anenome

 

[THEDLO]

its been 8 months and my clowns never come close to none of my anenomes. sorry i can help u either but i am beginning to think they will never host an anenome

are they compatible tho?

 

[fcamargo6thave]

yea they are, I researched the subject before buying the clowns and anenomes. Still no luck hopefully Rich has better luck then me

 

[THEDLO]

yea they are, I researched the subject before buying the clowns and anenomes. Still no luck hopefully Rich has better luck then me

i guess its more hit or miss then i thought.

 

[aznt1217]

Actually guys... you can train your clowns to host.

I've done it twice... this sounds absolutely retarded but it worked for me. In 2 weeks they started hosting--- my clown now hosts a hairy mushroom because I have no anemone.

Method one: Print out this picture... or something like it and tape it onto your tank.

Method 2. I had my clown follow food into the anemone. So when you feed the anemone make sure your clown sees it.

Method 3. Patiently wait lol<-- couldn't be bothered with this one.

 

[THEDLO]

method one....is that a funny? lol
method two sound great! never would have thunk it.

 

[DHaut]

i've heard the food thing - use a turkey baster and squirt food near your nem. they'll eventually learn that that's the feeding post and host it.

 

[cthoughts1]

What I've done is used a net (without causing too much stress to the tank mates) and slowly pushed/steered the clowns towards the anemone.. Eventually they rub up against the anemone for the first time and they "find" it. They'll curiously lurk around the anemone for a couple of days and eventually begin hosting it. This method has worked the two times I've tried it. The second thing you can do is put them in a small tank with the anemone and let them find it on their own (should take a few days at most) and then move them all back to the DT together.

 

[dagreatbadfinger]

ive had my clowns and a bta for over a year and they dont even go near it :/

 

[jaa1456]

Haha, My clowns actually pushed the BTA out of the corner they call home. Mine sleep at the top of the water as well. I couldn't believe they pushed the anenome away like that.

 

[THEDLO]

What I've done is used a net (without causing too much stress to the tank mates) and slowly pushed/steered the clowns towards the anemone.. Eventually they rub up against the anemone for the first time and they "find" it. They'll curiously lurk around the anemone for a couple of days and eventually begin hosting it. This method has worked the two times I've tried it. The second thing you can do is put them in a small tank with the anemone and let them find it on their own (should take a few days at most) and then move them all back to the DT together.

i love that last idea! sounds like id be perfect cause thats all they'd see

 

[cthoughts1]

Thedlo, this actually worked for me within the last two weeks. I got a pair of clowns from a friend and they never hosted the bta he had for about a year and a half. I put them in a 6 gallon fluval edge with a bta and it's like they found heaven. They've even been doing the mating dance and cleaning a clam shell I opened and placed next to them.

 

[THEDLO]

Thedlo, this actually worked for me within the last two weeks. I got a pair of clowns from a friend and they never hosted the bta he had for about a year and a half. I put them in a 6 gallon fluval edge with a bta and it's like they found heaven. They've even been doing the mating dance and cleaning a clam shell I opened and placed next to them.

SOMEONES GOING TO BE A PARENT VERY SOON! lol mine are still working on the dance, hopefully they will move to the next step and make the kiddies! i cant wait to see how they come out, the male is a naked clown and the female is regular so im hoping for lots of variations.

 

[jdnumis]

I was always afraid of buying a RBTA because the LFS told me that they move and they will move right into a powerhead. If that is not the case, I will def purchase one so that my 2 clowns can host!!

 

[THEDLO]

I was always afraid of buying a RBTA because the LFS told me that they move and they will move right into a powerhead. If that is not the case, I will def purchase one so that my 2 clowns can host!!

all my power heads r hi in my tank so it couldnt reach them by accident

 

[cthoughts1]

Gochiguy, on rare occassions they do get too close to the powerhead and get sucked up, but normally you can see the direction they are moving in and all you have to do is relocate them or the powerhead before they get too close. I have 2 gbtas and an rbta right under an mp40wes, and none of them has gotten sucked up. Then in the fluval edge I have an rbta which started getting too close to my nano powerhead when I first got it, all i did was move the rbta to a different place and in a week it settled in and I haven't had that problem since.

 

[jdnumis]

Don't they sting other coral really bad also? That was another reason why I was hesitant to get one.

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[THEDLO]

Don't they sting other coral really bad also? That was another reason why I was hesitant to get one.

Thanks for the advice guys

what i did is i moved all my coral to the sand (i know not every one can do this since some things are attached to the rocks), and let the anemone decide where it wanted to be, waited a day or so and then moved everything back when it stayed put. once its fond a suitable spot, it wont walk as long as nothing changes in that spot (e.g. water flow, and lights.)