You're the expert, clowns and anemones

[aloof]

My clowns (2 tank raised perc's) don't notice either anemone in my tank. I heard my "LFS help" says that tank raised take time to really remember thier instincts, but they eventually will get it. Is there another way to ... coax them into "understanding"?

Tim

my tank:
http://www.timdudek.com/Fishtank/100_0162.JPG

46 gal. bowfront, started March 2004
Live rock, fiji and tahitian
2 percula clowns
1 mandarin goby
1 fire shrimp
2 turbo grazers (snails)
2 tequila snails
1 green bulb anemone
1 rose anemone

Also, my Rose anemone will not (has not) been taking food when I try to feed. I've just found out that I need to use Iodine also for them. So, now Im doing Iodine treatments, the salt used to be 1.021-22 , and I was told to up the salinity. The rose has been here for over a month. Can tank conditions dictate if the anemone feels the need to feed. Could the past stress have done this to her? When should I be worried? She has gained sigificant size since I bought her. The tank conditions are great, but the salt is at 1.023-1.024. The increased salinity is because of the anemones. The smaller, newer "green bulb" seems very aggressive in eating, but both clowns still have no desire in either.

[JoeMack]

IMO perculas don't naturally host in RBTAs but they say that they will just give them some time.

[aloof]

ya know, I was told that my percs NATUALLY host in those... hmmm...

[romunov]

Check "Anemone and clownfish (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=36)" forum. You might have more luck there.

[DONSRENEE]

We gently coaxed our maroon into our RBTA by netting and showing it where it was. It only took two times and he jumped right in and snuggled up!

[zenya]

Tim,

I'd agree with JoeMack that Entacmaea quadricolor anemones are not a natural host for either the A.percula or the A.ocellaris, if that is what you have.
According to Dr. Daphne Fautin's article (http://biodiversity.uno.edu/ebooks/intro.html), natural host anemones would be the Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea and S.mertensii(last two are carpet anemones).

I also would like to add that netting the fish in hopes that it will host in your anemones might put undue stress on your fish and might not work, after all. Give it some more time,perhaps your fish will adapt to the anemones that you have.

And, Tim, it seems that I forgot my manners :rolleyes:

[welcome]

[MCsaxmaster]

Not only is it unlikely that these clowns will "recognize" the anemone if netted and placed in it there is also the distinct possibility that it will sting them rather severely. E. quadricolor is not a natural host, though A. occellaris and A. percula do sometimes host in them in captivity.

Also, if the anemone won't eat what you're giving it....give it something else ;)

The iodine additions should likely stop as well. Iodine supplements are part of a very 'smoke-and-mirrors' method of reefkeeping. Not to mention that overdosages can be quite deadly to everything in the tank. Simply put there is no evidence that iodine additions are necessary and lots of experience that overdosing is easy to do.

Cheers,

-Chris

[ddawson]

I had two false Perc's live with a GBTA for three years and they never adopted it. When one died I added a small Maroon and it dove right in after releasing it into the tank. :D

[rshimek]

Hi,

Looks like this has been covered pretty well. [thanks] Everybody. One thing, specifically. Stop the iodine additions. Iodine dosing has no place in most marine tanks and it is quite toxic to many marine animals.

[Knyght]

Check this thread for some info on your BTA`s
Hope it helps.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=375656