Clown Host

[rick2010]

I have seen clownfish host in certain corals as opposed to anemones. I have seen this in a torch coral and a frogspawn. Anyone know of any other coral that will host a clown?

 

[Anonymous]

Well, it's kinda the other way around. The clowns invade the corals which usually causes problems for them. The coral I mean. Mostly because they tend to not extend while the clowns are irritating them. and can receded As far as which corals they will do that with, I've seen them try and host on a mat of GSPs :lol: the clowns aren't particular.

 

[Len]

Clowns will adopt just about any coral in the absence of anemones. I've even seen clowns nestle in non-tentacle LPS like brain corals. It's not a good thing though. Corals, as lawdawg mentions, are often irritated by the clown.

 

[brandonberry]

Aside from their natural host anemones, I've had them host in large frilly mushrooms, elegance corals, sarcophytons, and condylactis anemones. The only thing that seemed to benefit from the clowns is the condylactis anemone. This may have had something to do with the fact that condys do have other natural hosts organisms and aren't as easily irritated. I was really surprised to see the condy go from reasonably healthy and not much growth over about 6 months to doubling in size after about 1 month of being a host for my maroon clown.

 

[rick2010]

This is very interesting. I did not even think that the clownfish might be bothering the coral.
So what are the odds that if I buy a condylactus anemone and a clown that they will form a symbiotic relationship?
There is nothing in the tank right now other than some hermits and peppermint shrimp.

 

[rick2010]

Are tube anemones a good clown host?

The reason I asked about the condy and the tube anemones is because I really like those two types, more so than a bubble tip or a carpet anemone. And I would like the first thing to be a clown with an anemone.

I am pretty new to reefkeeping, and I have kept some soft corals alive in a different tank and have not yet ventured into fish or anemones.

 

[Anonymous]

Are tube anemones a good clown host?

No, they will eat your clown, and anything else that they can sting. Tube Anemones are active hunters, quite different from the hosting type of anemone. Google "tube anemone" and you'll find lots of info.

The reason I asked about the condy and the tube anemones is because I really like those two types, more so than a bubble tip or a carpet anemone. And I would like the first thing to be a clown with an anemone.

Try the condy.

 

[rick2010]

I went to that fish place in Lancaster today and bought An ocellaris clown and a flower anemone. Just put them in and its lights out till morning so I hope their doing well in the morning. The flower Anemone cought my eye and it is green and brown so im pretty excited. I also got a royal gramma today. It so nice to see life in the tank now!

 

[scifi_3d_zoo]

I haven't messed with aneomes in so long I'm not sure if it would work now even though my tank is a 100x better than it used to be. Plus.. aneomes tend to move around a lot. If you have a pretty bare tank.. similar to a fowlr or something you can do it. Otherwise I'd be careful with them b/c they don't do well, and tend to move around and sting other corals. They're very particular about their location.

HOWEVER.. I've found a pretty good solution for myself. My maroon clown has been rubbing the hell out of my polys, lps, etc. for years until I got a big giant finger leather. THe leather totally tolerates him, EVEN putting up with some biting where he bite the tips off some tentacles. Everybody is happy. This type of leather gives him something to swim in and it looks kool too. I'll get a PIC here for ya.