Clowns Stressing Anemone?

[Hotrod32487]

I recently added an anemone and another clown to my tank (two clowns total) and since i have, they havent left the anemone once. His tentacles seem to be getting thinner on some sides and some are pretty pathetic looking. Could these clowns be stressing my anemone? They are constantly sucking on its tentacles and picking at its base. If they are stressing it, is there anything i could do to help the poor guy? Thanks for any help

[SBreef]

Yes, they are stressing your Anemone!!! Isolate the Anemone, until it gets healthy again.

[Bill S]

They can actually kill the anemone - what Roy said.

[auSS/Tin]

My clowns killed 2 LTA over the course of a couple of weeks. They were spawning and the male would come over and bite the anemone then go over and clean the rock that they would lay the eggs on. It was like they were using the slime from the anemone to "sterilze" the rock prior to laying the eggs. It was wierd, they would steal food from them as well and eventually just wound up picking them to death. The anemones kept withdrawing and shrinking in size until they were gone, I tried moving them around, the clowns kept after them. I should have put them in the sump I suppose, or trade them in. Now the clowns live in a super mushroom and seem happy, but they have not spawned in over a year since I reset the tank.

Bill

[newtosa]

Hotrod - have you been able to id the anemone / are you sure what species it is? It can make a difference.

Also - what is the clown species id? Sorry I'm not familiar with your setup.

Everyone is right - if the anemone is stressed (and particularly if it's moving around the tank by floating rather than on its foot), clowns are likely not helping.

Dean

[Hotrod32487]

Dean,
The anemone is a riterri and its two oscellaris clowns. The anemone came on a piece of rock and it hasnt left it since. Guy at lfs said the anemone tentacles are shrinking because its hungry. I just fed it a large chunk of krill so we'll see how that goes. Hope that info helps.

[caferacermike]

Nah I bet they are killing it. I have 2 maroon clowns ( the more peaceful yellow striped) and they killed off 3 btas. I had never wanted any anemones until a local was tearing down a tank for a move and offered them to me for a good price. Well of course with 3 btas I stop and get 2 1" maroons from 2 different shops. Within a month one was 2" and the other was about 1 1/2" and they took to all 3 btas like nothing I had ever seen. Over the course of 4 months all 3 btas withered away from the abuse as did 2 giant (12") brains 1 Gigas clam (8"), an elegance, and a long tentacled toadstool leather. I felt bad for the guys as they hadn't done any of it on purpose and when the last anemone skulked off never to be seen again I swore it all off. Then only 3 days later a lfs got in this HUGE neon green bubble and said I could have it for $25. Of course I took it. I thin they knew when I walked in the door. They stared me down while I performed the acclimation procedures. As my hand reached over the tank they met the new anemone at the waters surface. I think they'd pair up with a fake or even just a picture. Within hours it began splitting. I secretly had hoped it would eat the clowns but alas it did not. Instead I have 2 giant neons and they seem to be able to hold their own against them. Each one is about 8" diameter with one maroon being 2" and the other being 3". I think by having the 2 giants it helps spread the abuse.

[Hotrod32487]

Good news. I fed it a good size chunk of krill yesterday and today all its tentacles are filled out like before. I guess its not the clowns killing it....yet

[Hotrod32487]

Ok well the anemone isnt doing all that great after all. I was able to isolate the anemone from the clowns with a strawberry container, but that hasnt changed things much. The anemone will look great one minute with all of its tentacles filled out and colorful and within minutes change to a pathetic looking blob with shriveled tentecles. The only level that is off is the ph which is at about 7.9. I know that is low, but many have said that shouldnt be causing this. Its been in my tank for about 2 weeks now and has been like this the whole time. Any ideas? 96w pc for my 30g long not enough? ph too far off?

[Hotrod32487]

THis is pics of my anemone when it looks good and when it looks bad, currently the bad...