ClnfshAnmF6

FAQs about the Clownfishes & Anemones, Hosts 6

Related Articles: Clownfishes, Clownfish & Anemone Compatibility By James Gasta, Maroon Clowns, Anemones,

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Anemone Success
Doing what it takes to keep Anemones healthy long-term

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Looking for a suitable host! Clowns Hey Crew, Thanks to all of your help both directly and through other postings on your web site, my tank is looking better than it ever has! I've had saltwater aquariums for about 6-7 years now and over the course, I've had several types of clownfish. Unfortunately, I've never been able to get a pair that had any interest in an anemone. I just bought a pair of tank-raised, juvenile, mis-barred Perculas and would like any suggestions as to what anemone would be the most likely candidate and if there are any tricks to teach them to host in it. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Will <Posted... but a bunch to read through. I'd try a tank-cloned Entacmaea... and add, at least temporarily, a third "whipping boy" Amphiprionine/clown... not necessarily the same species. This will 'drive' the current clowns... Bob Fenner>

Raggedy Clownies... stung introductions Hey there! <Hi Tina> First off, thanks for providing this immense resource. I have learned so much from your site...I am a newbie to the saltwater hobby and couldn't have started without you! <Welcome> I have a 90 gallon reef tank that is about 2 1/2 months old. I run a DandD skimmer in the sump. <Hee... I read this at first as a "Dandy" product...> I use filter fiber to help pull particles out of the stream but don't use charcoal. There are about 90 pounds of live rock in the tank. Tank parameters are great: SPG 1.0024, <One decimal place off...> ammonia 0, nitrates and nitrites are 0, temperature 78. I have two false percula clownfish (juveniles) and 1 yellow Coris wrasse so far. I feed the fish pellets, Mysis shrimp, and brine shrimp. <Mmm, not too much of this last...> I also have a T. crocea, a sea urchin, emerald crab, many hermits and snails, 2 peppermint shrimp and a coral banded cleaner shrimp. Corals include xenia, elegance, candy cane, and very small frog spawn frag. So that's the inventory so far. The xenia is pulsing like mad, so I don't think water quality is an issue. My problem is that the clownfish have back fins that are looking ragged, and are slowly getting worse. They seem to be eroding away! I noticed this morning the pectoral fins are starting to look bad too. I don't think this is clownfish disease or another parasite, by all accounts these diseases move quickly and would have killed them by now. <Yes> I should note that they were in a quarantine tank for 3 weeks before I added them to the main tank, and I noticed a slight raggedness to the fins even then. I suspect a bacterial infection but I don't know how to treat it. Any suggestions? Your help is greatly appreciated, I don't want to lose the little cuties. Tina Henry in Connecticut <I fully suspect that your Clownfishes have been trying to establish relations with one of the Euphylliids... the Frogspawn or Elegance... with not much "stinging" success... Either the cooperating parties (the Euphyllia hopefully) will "partner up" and your clowns will heal... or they may be consumed or too damaged by coming in contact with the Catalaphyllia... I would somehow screen this last (maybe with a plastic "berry box" inverted over it... to keep the Clowns away... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/clnfshanmfaq5.htm and the linked files above... and maybe re the olde family name Caryophylliidae re Compatibility... or the search tool (linked on the left shared border on the root and all subwebs re "Ask the Crew A Question" re "Clowns, Hosts, Disease" and read the cached views. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Clownfish Behavior 10/30/07 Hi all, I had two quick questions regarding two 2" Perculas in my 65gal. 1. They both are trying to host a Mushroom (its about 4" across), and since they began that a few days ago, it hasn't properly opened. Any suggestions on this, are there any other corals that serve clowns better that I could get? 2. Also, they both have taken to hanging around a flat bottomed cave in my LR, and lay on it day and night for the most part, but still come out to eat and swim around occasionally, and to bug the mushroom. I haven't seen any eggs in there, is behavior normal? Thanks, Dan <<Dan: The Perculas are irritating the mushroom. That said, mushrooms are hardy and there is probably no long term impact. Perculas will also host in a Frogspawn, and Hammer Coral (members of the genus Euphyllia). Because your clowns are the same size, it seems doubtful that they are breeding. Females are usually larger than the males. They might like the cave because it reminds them of the protection they would get from an anemone. Many clowns that don't host tend to swim at the top of the tank and sleep next to powerheads. I think its more natural that yours are hanging out around the cave. Best of luck, Roy>>

Clownfish And Atlantic Flower Anemones? -- 10/10/07 Hi- <<Hello>> I've had a species tank set up for a little while now with live rock, sand, macroalgae, and mangroves. <<Neat!>> A week or so ago I added 3 Florida rock flower anemones (each around 3-3.5"). <<Hmm, likely Epicystis crucifer...some I've seen are quite striking>> A few days ago I got caught up in the purchase of a true percula clownfish that I fell in love with over the weekend. <<Mmm, you do realize there are no Clownfish indigenous to the Atlantic Ocean? He seems happy in the tank- however, I'm wondering now if it's a bad idea to keep him in this tank with these anemones. He is about 1-1.5" and very healthy and active, but I don't want him to get stung and eaten if he decides to play house with my hungry hungry hippos... er, anemones. <<Ha!>> Do I have reason for worry, or should he be okay? <<Mmm, hard to say. It is probably no riskier than placing Clownfishes with Atlantic Condylactis Anemones...I have heard of the two taking up with each other just fine...I have also heard tales of the Condy eating the Clownfish...but what the percentages of one versus the other are I have no idea. Soooo...I guess what I'm saying is, it's a bit of a crapshoot and the decision to play is up to you>> Thanks, V <<Wish I could give a more definitive answer. Regards, EricR>>

Missing Clownfish -- Anemone in a New Tank -- 9/24/07 Hello, <Hello, Brenda here> Your site has proven to be invaluable and I have searched it for days just for fun. I am brand new to this so bear with me. I have a 65 gallon tank with 62lbs of LR. I have 3 peppermint shrimp, 3 yellowtail blue damsels and 2 false percula clownfish and 1 LTA. <Your tank should be a minimum of 6 months old for an anemone. One year old is best.> Yesterday, after ridding my tank of a couple seemingly destructive crabs, I noticed one of my clownfish had mysteriously disappeared; mind you this was in the middle of the day. I figured well maybe it didn't like me poking around and went hiding. After several hours it was still missing. I looked behind the tank, behind the rocks and it is nowhere to be found. The other clownfish was as normal as can be and it seemed to care less about me poking around, didn't even swim away. The damsels of course immediately go into hiding. When I woke up today both clownfish were missing. <Have you checked your overflow box and sump? It may have died and your clean up crew may have taken care of it. What are your water parameters? Were all of your fish quarantined? Were the damsels being aggressive towards the clownfish? > At first I thought ALL the fish were gone because I couldn't find the damsels either until I moved the rock around. They were hiding a little more effectively than usual. I am afraid there is a very sneaky predator in my tank that I cannot identify. <It is possible.> Do you have any ideas? <Try looking at night with a flashlight for predators.> Now there are an unknown number of crabs, maybe 2 starfish, a very small sea cucumber, and maybe 2 hermit crabs that hitch-hiked on the live rock when I bought it. Any ideas, and how do I progress from here? <Crabs have been known to attack fish.> I don't want to add more fish knowing that there is something out there. You don't think it is the anemone do you? <Not likely unless the clownfish were ill.> Attached is a photo of my tank, and the anemone. <Hope this helps! Brenda>

Yellow polyps + Percula clown? -- 07/18/07 Hi there! I have a 30g reef. 2 Percula clowns, one skunk cleaner, one small colony of yellow polyps, and one small colony of green star polyps. Recently the smaller of the two perculas has taken residence in the yellow polyps. <Happens> He has developed three black spots, and one of his eyes is a little bit darker then the other. The bigger clown is perfectly fine. Can the polyps be effecting him? <Possibly, yes... and can/could mal-affect the water quality period... Effect all more indirectly> Parameters = Ammonia=0 'trites=0 'trates=0-5 temp=78 salinity=1.025 phos=0 calcium=425-450 <Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/polypcompfaqs.htm and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Coral Host for Clown 7/17/07 Hi WWM, <Hi Mike, Mich here.> I am looking to add a second fish to my system, since I added my firefish a couple months ago. My tank is 36 gallons with a 5.5 gallon refugium underneath my tank, and with 45 pounds of live rock. I was considering adding a Percula Clown, either orange or black. My tank is not very suited for an? anemone, the lighting is T5HO and the tank is 7 months old. <I would highly recommend avoiding an anemone. Your system is much too small and these animals can be real problems in my opinion. These lovely creatures really do best in a species tank with an aquarist dedicated to their care.> I have a trumpet coral, and some mushrooms (frilly and hairy). What type of coral could the clown possible host off of, or just use as a safe haven or home? <There really is no need for the clown to have a host in captivity. Some clowns will host in other corals, but some clowns won't host in the anemone they are supposed to host in. All depends on the individual fish. More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clownfis.htm > I was looking to put it on the opposite side of the tank, since my firefish has his rock or hole he normally spends his time around, and I don't want any aggression happening. Any suggestions <Clowns will sometimes host in other corals, the families Trachyphylliidae and Caryophylliidae are quite common, but again this really is unessential in captivity.> Thanks <Welcome! Mich> Mike

Crab ID and Clown/Anemone Question -- 07/03/07 Crew, Sorry to lump two different subjects in the same e-mail, but thought it would save you some time. I purchased 65lbs or live rock (50 lbs Fiji/Marshall and 15lbs Florida) about 5 months ago. In the last week or so, I noticed two crabs that hitchhiked in. My face is pressed against the glass every night, so I'm really surprised I haven't seen these crabs until recently (although my tank is 110g). I have attached pictures. I'm pretty sure the first picture is of a sponge crab, genus Schizophrys. It is pretty small and is covered with pieces of orange sponge. The second two pictures are of the same crab. It's hard to get a good shot of it, but it is pretty small (maybe 1/2") and relatively flat with hairy legs. It's claws are pretty small. I've searched the web and WWM but can't find a picture that looks like either of these crabs. My closest guess on the second is the Schizophrys aspera. <Appears to be...> Should I remove these? <Mmm, not yet> Currently, I don't have much in the way of fishes or inverts. One gold banded maroon clown, one BTA, two cleaner shrimp, a pretty good sized clean-up crew, and a sailfin tang in QT. I intend to stick with smallish fish (but not tiny) and some soft corals. When I bought my clown, he was loving life in a BTA. Since I've had him, though, he's spent much of his life in a hospital tank while my display went fallow for 4+ weeks. I recently introduced him back into the tank and he shows no interest in my BTA. <Takes time...> My BTA is tucked under a rock at the bottom of the tank, but definitely visible, flowing, calling out to his friend, but the clown seems totally uninterested. I find this strange since he was in a BTA when I purchased him. I would love for them to have a hot, lovely relations. Do clowns find anemones by scent, sight, some combination of the two, or none of the two? <Good question... I don't know... perhaps a bit of both... It is known that the fish DO communicate with the Anemones chemically> Are clowns fickle, or can it take weeks or longer for the clown to settle in and accept a BTA? As always, your thoughts are appreciated. Andy <Welcome. Bob Fenner>

A suggested corr. <Hexacorallians of the World> 7/2/07 Dear Bob, Thanks for finding that! It is people like you who keep us honest. <Always glad to add my dos centavos> Hexacorallians of the World is built exclusively from the published literature -- nothing is original with me except for what I have published. <It is a wonderful tool. I thank you for your efforts> When I went into the guts of the database to search for the source of this record (I employ undergraduates, mostly, to enter data, and they sometimes select the wrong name), I could not understand the logic of that particular part of it. My systems administrator is on vacation at the moment -- as soon as he returns I will track down the source of this record and get back to you on it (and correct it if it does not accurately reflect the publication). Sincerely, Daphne <Real good... BTW, do you collect corrections to you and (Gerald) Allen's "Clownfish and Anemone" tome? There are a sprinkling of errors, disagreements for instance with the posted known symbionts there and your URL. Cheers, Bob Fenner, WetWebMedia> Daphne G. Fautin Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Curator, Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center University of Kansas website www.nhm.ku.edu/~inverts

Suitable clown -- 06/28/07 Hi, In my 130 gallon tank, among others, I've kept a pair of Ocellaris and E. quadricolor for over 2 months, but Ocellaris would not host the anemone. <Happens... maybe later> So I've been thinking of adding another clown that would be more likely to host the anemone. <... better not to mix clown species...> Which clown would you recommend for that? (after reading those comments on FAQ, I am afraid to buy the readily available Clarkii's and Tomato's) Thanks, Andrius <Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm See the chart re naturally occurring relations? These are better bets. And read the linked files above re Clownfish and Anemones. Bob Fenner>

Will a Clown Host in Button Polyps? Maybe 06/08/2007 Dear Crew <Hello Tuscan, Mich with you tonight.> First let me start by saying how much you have helped me with my freshwater tanks. Without your wonderful website I don't know where I'd be. <Glad you have enjoyed the website and found it helpful.> I was hoping for your advice with a question that I have concerning a saltwater tank. I am hoping to start a 20 gal. long saltwater aquarium with a pair of tank bred ocellaris clowns, 2 skunk cleaner shrimp, and possibly 1 tank bred neon goby. I realize that clownfish don't need a host anemone but I would still like to see them hosting something. I also realize that anemones are difficult to keep for even an expert so I was thinking I would get a coral instead. I have read "Clownfishes" by Joyce Wilkerson and was ready to choose frogspawn as a surrogate host but then I walked past some button polyps and became increasingly interested in them, but I have been unable to find any information on clownfish hosting them. My question is simple, would a tank bred ocellaris clownfish host button polyps or should I get frogspawn instead? <A difficult question to answer. Kind of like offering a hungry vegetarian a steak or lobster dinner, you never really know what they might pick or the meal may be outright refused. My guess is the clown would be more likely to host in the frogspawn. But if you really like the button polyps give it a try. You might get lucky. In the same respect some clowns don't host in captivity, so even if you placed the frogspawn or anemone for that matter, it doesn't mean the clown will form a symbiotic relation with it. It is hit or miss, even more so with captive bred clowns as many have not observed this behavior.> Sorry for such a long letter and thank you for your input. <No worries! Hope this helps. Mich> Sincerely, Tuscan Thompson

Re: Tank Upgrade, Critter ID and Clownfish Question. 5/24/07 Hi Justin and all at WetWebMedia its Ben here from the UK, I hope you have had a good Easter and haven't eaten too many chocolate eggs. Am not sure if you recall me saying that I am looking to upgrade my 45litre tank to a 3ft 100litre tank at the end of the month and after looking at the FAQs about upgrading I thought I would just run past you how I plan to make the change. I think I am going to set the new tank up in its new space and fill it up with about 60 litres of bought salt water and leave it overnight to warm the water to as close to the main tank as possible. How does this sound so far? My next question is in regards to substrate. I currently have 20lbs of CaribSea live sand in my main tank and am wondering if it is worth buying another pack of the same sand to place in the new tank or should I just buy plain marine sand and then seed it with the established substrate? <Either one...> How much would I need to add to the new tank? <Posted... read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/setup/index.htm scroll down to the greenish line... on Marine Substrates> Once the water in the new tank is at the same temperature as the main tank I intend to start adding water from the old tank to fill it up, before doing this would it be best to add all of the live rock or is it best to fill the water up and then add everything all at once? <... also posted... Please learn to/use the indices, search tool> My LFS has said that it is best to add everything all at once, they have also recommended that I purchase SeaChem stability and SeaChem prime to add to the new tank for the first few days, does this seem ok? <Sure> Once everything has been added to the new tank I would like to purchase more live rock, I think I will gradually add 1 small piece every 1-2weeks just so that it will hopefully keep any spikes to a minimum. I think those are the only questions that I have regarding the tank move, if I have missed anything important out please let me know. <Just reading... there is much ancillary/related material you will encounter by investigating thus.> I feel I should mention that I am going to be using the same AquaMedic BioStar flotor from the main tank so hopefully the bacteria will still be present. My next subject (sorry about this) is in regards to a naming a creature that I have found on my live rock, Am not sure if you remember me saying about this creature in my first emails (it resided directly below my leather toadstool) I have hopefully attached a picture of it for your perusal, at present it does not seem to be causing a problem, am fact I quite like the little guy, under actinics the tentacles? fluoresce a nice green colour. <Mmm, looks to me like a Zoanthid> Lastly I have one other question for my own interest really, its nothing serious its quite amusing I think, have you ever known a clownfish to host a feather duster? <Yes> As mine has decided that he likes to sleep and wriggle inside the head of my white feather duster, he loves it. Is there an explanation for this behaviour or do I just have a really friendly clownfish :). Again I have attached some photos for you to see. <Are close symbionts in the wild... or consumed... with Actinarians... look for substitutes in captivity> I thank you again for all of the help that you have given me over the last 6 months and I hope you can help again. All the best to you all Ben Sandford
<Be chatting, reading... Bob Fenner>

Clownfish disease - Brook? 5/12/07 Hi Bob, <Kari> I got a new pair of true perc clownfish last Thursday (5/4/07). <... these appear to be wild-caught (as opposed to tank bred and reared) specimens...> On the following Tuesday (5/8/07), I noticed the male has this strange lesion on the upper half of his body (see photos attached). He was swimming, eating, and breathing fine though. I wasn't sure what it was (could be a sting from the frogspawn they hosted to? <Yes> Could the female be nipping him? <Not likely from this appearance> Could be a disease?). I thought I'd wait to see if conditions worsened. <Maybe> Today, Friday (5/11/07), I noticed the female had 3 spots on her as well. See attached photos. However, they are both still swimming, acting, breathing, and eating normally. <For now> I'm concerned it is Brooklynellosis, but from what I read, it sounds like if it was, the fish would be breathing hard, lethargic, and the male would be dead (or close to it) since its been 3 days. <Sometimes takes a while to "take hold"> I had a hard time finding photos online of various marine diseases. Does this look like anything to you? <Does appear these two are "breaking down"... not able to discern if this is subsequent from capture/holding/shipping, the interaction you mention with the Euphylliid in your tank (likely), or parasitic at this point> The areas in question are white, swollen (or bumpy), and sometimes have a stringer coming out of it (looks like flesh). Thanks! Kari <... Am in the process of re-sorting the 15 Clownfish Disease FAQs files... into quite a few categories... for ease of review by browsers... First, you are to be admonished for buying non-captive produced stock here, secondly... no quarantine? (You'll learn, are learning), lastly, a referral to WWM: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clndisfaqs.htm and the linked files above, so you can make up your own mind re how to proceed here. Bob Fenner>

Re: Clownfish disease - Brook? 5/13/07 Thanks for getting back to me. <Welcome> You mentioned below that this might likely be an interaction with the Euphylliid in our tank (the frogspawn they are "hosting" to). This morning I woke up and the female now has torn pectoral and the back half of her caudal fin is really thin and has a hole in it (see attached). I am beginning to think this might be a bacterial infection <Rare as first order courses of disease...> instead of Brook, or could this still be a result of the frogspawn? <Oh yes. Associations with "usual" Actinarian hosts as well as other cnidarians takes some time, effort to develop... the Euphylliid is very likely stinging, burning the heck out of the clowns presently> They are still acting normal, for now. The LFS I bought from said they quarantine their fish for 2 weeks. Sigh. I know now not to trust and always best to do it myself. <Yes> I will set up a hospital tank today. I still can't tell though if I should treat for Brook w/ formalin or with an antibiotic though. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for your time. Kari

Maroon Clownfish Beating up LTA -- 5/6/07 Well I have a 36 gal that is my second tank. It houses a Maroon Clown 2 years old, a large long tentacle anemone, (home to the clown), And a banded coral shrimp. Nitrite, nitrate, ammonia are all at zero. PH 8.3, Salinity 1.023. <Salinity is a bit low for an anemone. I recommend gradually bringing it up to 1.026.> Well the last few times I have done water changes afterward the clown gets crazy and starts ramming the anemone all over the tank and into the live rock. <Ouch!> The anemone will close up and turn a sort of green color and he just doesn't look good. Eventually this will cease but it seams like the clown is getting worse and worse each time. My question is, is this normal or is he going to kill my anemone soon? <Quite possible! Maroons are well known for abusing an anemone. It is recommended that the anemone be at least 3 times larger than the clownfish. How long have you had the anemone? Is it healthy? I suggest separating the anemone from the clownfish until it gets much larger. I would also increase the feedings to get it to grow faster.> Please help. Thanks for a great page <You're welcome! Brenda>

Can a clownfish be too big for an anemone? Yes. -- 4/28/07 I recently purchased a RBTA <Rose Bubble Tip Anemone?> that is about the size of a golf ball. It appears to be doing well in my tank, and my very small F.P. <False Percula?> clown has taken up residence. I also have a larger G.M. <can't figure this one out -- something Maroon?> clown (approx 1 1/2"-1 3/4") in my tank. The G.M. clown (Cletus) has never been aggressive to the F.P. clown (no name), and even allows him to be the main resident of the anemone. Cletus does however feel the need to at least visit the anemone every time he swims by. He will lay down in it or "wallow around" for a minute or two and then leave. He is about the same size as the anemone head, and the term "bull in a china cabinet" is fitting. Is this damaging to the anemone? <Yes, this can be damaging.> How can I tell if the anemone is being stressed? <If it does not fully extend as normal, or does not continue to appear to do well. You may need to separate them until the anemone grow more and has a chance to settle in. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marclnbehfaqs.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/btadisfaq2.htm Also, please don't abbreviate except for easily recognized terms, or at least spell it out once. I still can't figure out what a G.M. clown is. Cheers, Alex>

Anemones and Clown Fish.. host/symbiont def.s 3/16/2007 Bob and Crew, Not a question, more of a comment brought on by my ADD. In the Clown Fish/Anemone Relationship, the Anemone is the Host and the Clown Fish is the symbiont. It just drive me crazy to read that "My Clown Hosted the BTA". Thanks for letting me vent Roy <Heeeee! Okay! BobF>

Clown fish Digging to China -- 03/09/07 I did a Search of the data base, and saw very little mention of my problem. <Hello, Brandon here tonight.> I have a yellow striped maroon clown, and a BTA in a 125g tank.<Hope you matched the clown to the anemone.> I have 5 inches of sand, and the tank is reef on right and reef on left, open in the middle. <Sounds like a nice set up.> This is where the clown and BTA occupy. My problem is, the clown has dug a hole, to the bottom of the tank (Glass), and keeps pushing the BTA into the hole. <If you want to keep the anemone you need to take the clown out pronto.> I'm not sure if the BTA is happy there, <They like to go where they want, without an over amorous Clown Fish shoving them to and fro.> and if he wasn't, it would be hard for him to move to a spot he likes better, due to the Clown pushing him to and fro. <Yes it would be.> Is this normal behavior? <Not really, it does happen in aquariums though.> If I add a male clown of a smaller size (the one I have now looks to be female (larger and dark maroon)), would that pre-occupy her?<No, please see above, Re: Get the Clown out now.> Can I place large base rock under the BTA? or from your experience, would the clown just push the BTA to another sandy spot? <Take the Clown out, and give the BTA a chance to settle down where it likes. After a few weeks, try reintroducing the Clown. If it is still harassing the BTA, then take the Clown back to the store, and try another one, or move the clown to a separate tank, and enjoy your Clown less Anemone. The truth is, in captivity Clown Fish tend to do more harm than good.> Hope you have a suggestion. <Please see above. Brandon.> Scotty

SICK maroon clown, please help. 2/23/07 Hello: <Hi there> I just realized both of my maroon clown fishes are sick. They eat ok and all, but there are white stuff growing on them. It is not ICK. I have ick in the tank, but that is not what this is. I have photo of their spots. The spots only appears under the pectoral fin. If the fishes hold the pect fin to their body, you will not see anything. <Appears to be a "reaction" to something... your pix are very blurry... but this looks like aggregated "slime"... from... toxicity due to?> There are 2 other fishes in that same tank, but they are not showing those spots at all. The white spots are too big to be ick. It almost look like the spot came from underneath their skin. <Yes> If you have seen this, please help. Yili
<Have you put chemicals of some sort in this system? Bob Fenner>

Re: SICK maroon clown, please help.... and host beh. 2/24/07 I really appreciate the answer. I am not very good at taking photos, those 2 pictures were the best of the 40+ pics I took. <Mmm, take a read through the manual you got with the camera... I carry mine along on trips... and am continuously surprised (and delighted) to learn here> I have not added any chemical in the water at all. The only change in that tank is the removal of their RBTA. <Ahh!> The light was not good for the anemone in that tank and I moved it to my other tank. I put a trumpet coral in there. The clowns are hosting in it, <Another ahhhh!> I was wondering if that is what's bothering them. <Very likely so... one, the two "blame" each other for the loss of "their" Entacmaea... next, a more toxic substitute is working them woe...> I will observe them for a couple of days, I started to soak their food in garlic juice. <... not efficacious> If things look worse, I will get them out and medicate them. I have the medication called proze pro, <Prazi... also not useful here> I think if what ills them is parasitic or fungi in nature, the meds will heal them. Have a nice day. Yili <I'd move one or both to wherever the RBTA is, or fix the previous system and return it to them... Bob Fenner>

Clownfish No Need for Anemone. - 02/21/07 Hello I am a 15 year old just starting my own tank. <Hi Ryan, welcome to the briny world, Mich here with you.> It's a 29-gallon salt-water tank. I successfully cycled the tank with 5 pieces of live rock getting plenty of growth. I also have 4 hermit crabs and two snails. I just picked up a Chromis and a yellow belly damsel at the LFS this weekend and they seem to be doing great. If these two stay healthy for another week or so I would like to purchase another fish. Which FINALLY brings me to my question. I have read up on clown fish and would like to get one for my tank. But as this being my first tank I would like to steer away from the anemone. My question is will the clown fish still be content/happy in this tank without an anemone. <Most certainly. There is no need for an anemone.> The only reason I ask is because I don't want to have a stressed out fish because it doesn't have proper living situations in my tank. <Many clownfish are captive breed, meaning they have never lived in the wild and most likely have never seen an anemone. This would be an excellent choice for your tank and should be relatively easy to find.> Thanks again. <You're welcome! -Mich> -Ryan
Re: Clownfish No Need for Anemone. 2/22/07 <Hi Ryan, Mich here.> Thank you very much, and to be honest I was hoping that was your answer because I really want a clown. :] <You're welcome!> Sorry to nag but just one more question, for the two fish in my tank currently I am feeding them brine shrimp and some pellets brine at night pellets in the morning. Anyways both foods tell me to feed them at least 3 times a day. Is this like the "rise and repeat" on the back of the shampoo bottles, or is 3 daily feedings really necessary? <Depends on the fish, not the food. I would recommend something besides brine shrimp, which isn't very nutritious. Many like New Life Spectrum brand food, some folks even make their own food! But as a general rule small frequent feedings are preferred to large single feedings. Three times a day is not unreasonable, just use a very small quantity. More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/feeding.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/Progressive_Recipe/Progressive_Recipe.htm > Thanks again and sorry to be such a nag. <No worries, not a nag,> Ryan <Cheers! -Mich>

Double anemone hosting 2/19/07 Hi WWM Crew! I have been using your site for a while since i am fairly new to the hobby, but i have one question that i can't find an answer to on this site. I have a rose BTA and just a regular brown BTA. i just barely got what the LFS said was a mated pair of Maroon Clowns. They are gorgeous! Well, after one day, the female started snooping around in the Rose BTA and after about 10 minutes just fell in love with it! Then she let the male in and they were so cute hosting together in the Rose BTA. Well, the next day I woke up and everything was cool, i went to work and came back, and the Rose BTA was a shriveled up from going to the bathroom, and they were hosting the other regular brown BTA. I thought to myself, oh how cool! They are hosting both anemones! i thought that they might get into some sort of cycle and go from one to the other, but when the Rose BTA bubbled up again she couldn't make up her mind, she went back and forth and just went from one to the other. It looks like she finally decided on the regular brown BTA, since i think that its a little bigger and she fits more inside of it, but now the male wont host in it with her, he hosts the Rose BTA by himself! Is this bad? Will they still like each other and maybe some day have babies? Or will they avoid each other and just host their own anemone's? Also, i just set up a new 175 gallon reef tank, i have a sump and lots of Rios going through making good current, its been a week cycling, i put in some bio-Spira, about 100 pounds of cured live rock, some rubble from another well established decease free tank, and some water from the same tank. I have a current lighting system with three 150 watt metal halides and those other fluorescent lights. About three days after adding the water, gravel and live rock, i came home one day to find that half of the live rock and the top of the sand was all covered in this brown/ maroon covered algae! it was everywhere! what is this stuff? how do i get rid of it? I think that its a type of algae, will it go away, turn into another type of algae? or is this just part of cycling? My ammonia after one week tests 0 ppm, nitrites are 0 ppm and nitrates are about 15 ppm and ph is about 8.2- 8.4. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for your help! Chris. <<Chris: I have 2 species of clowns that regularly move back and forth between 3 anemones. Usually, however, each clown has its favorite anemone to sleep in. If they have mated in the past, they are likely to mate again. If you want to learn more about breeding Clowns, take a look at these WWM pages http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clnfshbrdfaqs.htm I suggest you consider buying Clownfishes by Joyce D Wilkerson. Regarding your new 175 tank, the brown stuff is most likely diatoms and the reddish stuff is most like Cyano algae. Both are common in new tanks. As your water parameters stabilize, they should minimize. Cyano tends to build up in areas of low flow. If you haven't added one already, you should now consider getting a cleanup crew for the tank. I mostly use different types of snails and Asterina starfish. Best of luck, Roy>>

Clown Hosting 2/14/07 Hi <Hello.> First let me say I love your site and I have found some very useful info there. <Great.> I recently was given some new fish to add to my tank, one of which is a beautiful maroon clownfish. My question is I wanted to get a bubble-tipped anemone for him. What is the best way to introduce the two? If I buy one will the fish just naturally go to it? Thank you for your help! <There are no guarantees that the animal will take to the anemone, especially if it one that was reared in captivity. Only time...patience will tell.> Egan Koenig
<Adam J.>

Clownfish in danger? 2/12/07 Hello Crew, <Lisa> I have a specific issue (by way of a story) that I would like to present to Bob Fenner (if possible) who had addressed the member below (I cut and pasted his email as a reference so allow me to apologize ahead of time for such a lengthy message). By the way, Bob, for Valentine's Day my husband is gifting me your book, which I requested months ago. <Heeee! How romantic!> I cannot wait to read it cover to cover...... <Am sure you will enjoy, gain by its perusal> Anyway, I had an unfortunate incident with a small Puffer Fish munching on and subsequently killing my big, beautiful Long Tentacle Anemone. <Yikes... happens all too often... twixt Puffers, Actinarians> My Seabay Clown, Sassy, has had several small LTA's and one Seabay Anemone who all eventually passed due to poor quality lighting. <Ditto> After investing heavily in a really nice metal halide set-up I felt secure to purchase the lovely LTA (the poor creatures demise already stated). When I removed the poor, dead, slimy thing my devastated Seabay was still clinging to it and had to be flicked away with my finger. She then went into a phase of grieving that made it the third saddest animal/death incident I have ever witnessed (the first two not fish related). Sassy started to wildly circle the area where the LTA had been rooted. She then started to nuzzle into the crushed coral as though it was still there. Thinking of a distraction I decided to feed her and the rest of the tank. The poor clown was grabbing up the food, not eating any of it, but rather dropping it off to one of the my cleaner shrimp. She then started to nuzzle up against the same shrimp (which, of course was thrilling to the shrimp, but sad to witness nevertheless). I had never seen her respond this way to any of the other anemone deaths and felt that this fish was sufficiently stressed and that I needed to take some action. I went immediately to my LFS to see if they had any new long tentacle anemones. They only had a small one that didn't look too healthy and I wasn't going to see another LTA turn to mush in my tank! However, the ATLANTIC Anemone looked marvelous and for only ten dollars I thought it was worth an experiment. <Mmm... well... can work> After all, the poor Seabay is feeding and rubbing up against a shrimp!.....So I purchased the Atlantic Anemone. Upon placing it in the tank Sassy swam up right away, circling it and defensively chasing off the other fish. When I put food in the tank she also fed it. I thought she was going to dive in but she only hovered over, taking little nips at the ends of the tentacles then quickly swimming off. She then started picking up small pieces of crushed coral from the base of the creature in her mouth and carrying it in a circle around a big piece of live rock, then dropping it down next to the Anemone exactly where she had picked it up. She began fanning away crushed coral from its base in quick swishing motions of her tail (exactly what she did for the previous creature). She almost dove in a few times and then stopped. <Yes... there is a sort of known, "fixed action pattern" for Amphiprionines/Clowns "getting acquainted" with intended host Anemones> I observed that she was rather obsessed with the thing and thought it would be interesting to see how the drama unfolded over the next several days. I had read that the clown fish can sometimes be fooled into crossing over to the different species and thought that this might happen with my very needy fish. Sure enough, when I looked in the tank after "lights out" Sassy was snuggled into her new companion. Several weeks later, the two seem to be inseparable, although I notice at night, she sleeps next to it, not actually in it. All that being said, I felt very disturbed (and moved to write in) after reading the trials of Randy (below). Bob, you seem to be in agreement so here's my question..... Did I just "luck out" with the pairing of these two or will this relationship (at some point) turn ugly? <Not likely to turn... but become more firmly established> Also, I don't actually know if this Atlantic Anemone is a Condylactis. Could it be a different, more harmless species that I need not worry about? Please give me your thoughts. Thanks, Lisa <Would like to see a photo before rendering an opinion... Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner> Condylactis and Captive Clowns Greetings Bob, Anthony and crew. I am writing not with a question, but to share some observations I have made regarding captive born clowns and Condylactis anemones. I am hoping to clear some confusion some readers might have about the notion that captive bred clownfish will take on almost anything as a host, and that Condylactis being cheap and easy to care for would make a good host. In general, Condylactis do not host clownfish. In aquariums, Condylactis anemones can be a threat to clownfish. Clownfish can be an equal threat to Condylactis anemones. I have attempted to keep two separate Condylactis anemones with my captive reared maroon clown, with the same results each time... a dead anemone. (Resist the urge to comment here and read on.) <Oops, okay> I have witnessed my maroon clown take each anemone as a surrogate, a somewhat commonplace among captive clowns from what my research shows. In close observation of this relationship, it is easy to see that this is by no means a symbiotic affair. My clownfish eager for a safe host, instantly warms up to the Condylactis. The Condylactis however, shows no shared emotions for the clown. The anemone withdrawals tentacles touched by the clown, and exhibits a general dislike of the clowns affection. Over the course of a few days my clown becomes aggravated and forceful toward the anemone. The anemone responds to the pushing and poking by becoming more withdrawn, closing up for hours. The clown persists on any given chance that the anemone is open. After a few days I find a limp, deflated Condylactis with a torn foot on the bottom of my tank. This is the second time this has happened to me. The first time the anemone was torn closer to the outside ring of tentacles. I would like to note that in both instances the anemones were on live rock surfaces that may have had sharp areas, so I am sure that the clown did not bite or otherwise intentionally kill the anemone. The tear wounds were rather long unlike a fish bite or a hermit claw, and consistent with having been rubbed against a somewhat sharp surface. I theorize that some Condylactis may take a kill or be killed attitude towards this abuse, and this could explain the reports of clownfish being eaten by Condylactis anemones. After my experiences I would have to disagree with Joyce Wilkerson's suggestion that a Condylactis may be an acceptable surrogate for Clownfishes. If readers must witness fish swimming through their Condylactis anemone without being devoured, I suggest they ignore clownfish altogether and go for a diamond blenny. Otherwise, forget keeping the Condylactis and get a tank raised bubble tip. That is assuming of course one has the proper equipment to care for it. If anyone disbelieves what I have observed, I am sure I can repeat this behavior and document it, though I would rather not risk another anemone. To sum it all up, Condylactis + Clownfish = Bad Idea. Readers be warned. -Randy <Thank you for your input. Bob Fenner>

Re: Clownfish in danger? attention Bob Fenner 2/12/07 Hello Bob, I attached a photo of the Atlantic Anemone (hope this file size is not too big/small. If the size is unacceptable please let me know and I will resize and resend). So? Condylactis or other? <Is a Condy> Thanks for putting my mind at ease! <Welcome... the example, old FAQ you sent was re a Maroon/Premnas... much more "mean"...> Lisa BTW - Gifting of any aquarium items for Valentine's Day is VERY romantic (according this fish crazy person, anyway!) <Ahhh! BobF>