Suicidal Percs?

[jiml77]

I have a pair of perc clowns that have been in the tank for several years that live in an anemnone. The anemnone moved behind the rocks a week ago and the clowns have not come out to eat since. Are they dumb enough to starve or will they they come out when they get really hungry?

 

[cubera]

Check behind your tank to make sure they didn't jump out

 

[jiml77]

Nope did not jump, I can see them in the back. They just stay with their anenome.

 

[delphinus]

I think they'll get hungry enough to come out eventually. Can you shoot food into the back where they are with a turkey baster or something like that?

The only thing I'd be a bit worried about is if the anemone is getting enough light back there. I've had a bubble-tip once wander into the back of my reef over the years (the reason it wandered was due to overcrowding). It emerged about a week or two later, almost completely bleached out and half its original size. It took months for it to regain it's original size and colour after that. A less strong specimen might not have survived at all.

 

[Rich-n-poor]

how big of a tank is it ? The percs could be feeding naturally off the production of the reef i.e. pods ect.

I dont always feed my percs sometimes for days and they are always healthy and growing

Personally I'd just leave them alone I doubt anything is dumb enough to starve to death it is a basic primal urge in all beings to feed
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Mercedes Simplex

 

[Rich-n-poor]

I forgot to ask do you have a cat ? My percs were so interactive they would come to the top when I would feed. My cat would lay on the hood because it liked the warmth on occassion they would come up when she was there and she would have perc hor d'orves

Good thing I like this cat or I would have had feline patte' myself

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Mercedes Benz CLS Class

 

[jiml77]

Thanks again for replies! My tank is 100 gallons and well established. Probably enough food if they search.

Do have a cat, but he could not get to the fish. Never has climbed on it either.

I guess I will just wait them out. It looks like I will need to dig out the anenome if it does not reappear soon. I think it is getting some light as I can see it through the rocks.