Corals and clowns

[darkjedv]

Hi!

I've been doing some research and found that its not good news to have an anemone in the same tank as corals. I'd like to find a coral that my two percula clown fish could adapt as their home and has the same qualities of an anemone that they would like. I thought a torch coral might work. What coral/clown fish combination would you suggest?

Thanks,

Jed

[Reefneck]

Nothing is a guranteed host but Frogspawn is generally accepted in the absence of an anemone IF the clowns accept anything at all.

Also Hairy Mushrooms are good. I have some hosting in both.

I also have anemones in all my tanks but that's another story.

Best of luck with yours.

[CollegeReefer]

Anemone as you read can cause problems if they don't like where they are and start moving. The sting of the anemone may kill the corls it runs over to get to a new home. I have a condi which is suppose to be one of the worst to keep in the tank because they like to move but he/she has stayed put and my porclein crab is now hosting it. Now i have seen clowns host all sorts of things. Mag floats, powerheads, anthealia, hairy mushrooms, frogspawn, and well i am sure there are more but that is what i have seen in other tanks.

[Damon]

I've always had the best luck (in my short time with anemones) in putting them in before the clowns and corals. Not always possible but if not try to create an ideal area for the anemone (lighting, current) and I always feed my new anemones once I place them. Helps keep them put.

[Bear]

I have heard and read many a times that percs are hard to get to host just about ne thing. All I have experience with is clarkii, or those close to that like tomatos, and bubble tip anemones.

When ever I do this I just buy them all at the same time, both clownfish (small at the time) and the anemone. I have the anem put in the same bag as the fish and when I go to put them in the tank I make sure that at least one of the fish is actually in the anem when Im moving it.

From there at least one will stay there b/c it feels protected and then over a week or so the other gets invited in and all is good.


I personally wouldn't worry about hurting the corals, just keep the anem in an open area and feed it.

[Heymybigfish]

Originally Posted by darkjedv

Hi!

I've been doing some research and found that its not good news to have an anemone in the same tank as corals. I'd like to find a coral that my two percula clown fish could adapt as their home and has the same qualities of an anemone that they would like. I thought a torch coral might work. What coral/clown fish combination would you suggest?

Thanks,

Jed

my 2 clowns will almost NEVER leave my branching hammer less its feeding time....when expanded its about 7" across......anyways....

[TheOldSalt]

Bear, are you out of your mind? Putting the clowns and the anemones in the same bag?!?! The one time the clowns are most vulnerable to getting zapped, and you practically force it to happen?

[Bear]

I've done this a few times now and every time it turns out perfectly. Maybe I shoulda mentioned that at least one of the clowns is already hosting the anem (I make sure of this before the purchase).

I don't know about you, but when my clowns get stressed they tend to run to their little home....and they never get stung. That's all that is happening when they are bagged, the little guys get stressed and run for protection.

[TheOldSalt]

Hmmm... allrighty then. I was referring mainly to the loss of slime coating during the process.

[leveldrummer]

you cant force clowns to host anything... the may or may not host at all, and what they pick is usually up to them, IF you have an anenome, its a better chance to host, but if you just leave it out of your tank. if the clowns decide to host, they will pick pretty much anything you have. i have a gold stripe maroon clown that is hosting a little shelter/cave/tunnel type area in my tank, he never leaves that hole, and if you get near it, he freaks!