Onyx Clowns...round two....

[Mr Cob]

So, got the new clowns this past weekend (thanks Bill for the pickup).

After much thought I decided to add them to the main display over the 8g BioCube.

Here's what I did:

-floated them for 15 minutes in the main display right over the RBTA
-released them in a 5 gallon bucket
-Acclimated them with a slow drip from main display
-added a patch of chaeto
-once they took refuge in the chaeto I added a small plastic container
-15 minutes later moved the chaeto to the container...of course they followed
-15 minutes later, removed chaeto...and of course they stayed in the container....then I stood the container upright
-continued dripping for another 30 minutes.
-pulled container out with them in it and added the container to the main display right next to the RBTA but on it's side and in a little contraption I made to hold the container in place:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4403507291_e20265c1b3.jpg

They hid for about an hour and then I turned the pumps off and fed mini mysis....they were pigs from the get-go and quickly came out to explore...
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4403510553_0261344b2e.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4403515889_6f3730271c.jpg

The largest one bonded with the RBTA almost immediately and the the little one stayed hidden in the little contraption I made.

While I was at work I had my wife feed them over the RBTA and the little one finally realized where home was....and they have both stayed tucked away in the RBTA since Monday morning. : )

They only come out to eat now....and boy can they throw a munch. I've been feeding them 3 times a day and will cut back to 2 times in a week or two.

[Europhyllia]

They're growing babies! I'd feed them all day long... :D
Congrats on the new pair. So sweet in their anemone.
I hope this is a great new start for you.
Time for this horrid ordeal to be in the past!
I'll follow in your foot steps soon hopefully.

[RayAllen]

LOL, I knew I wasnt the only one who saved Bill Miller containers for aquarium use!

Clowns look great Rob, good luck with this pair.

[Mr Cob]

: ) Thanks Karin. Their little bellies look like they are pregnant...I'll be sure to keep these fat! Especially after losing the last two. I'm really happy that I decided to add them to the main display...they are doing great....and are protected by their anemone.

I didn't feel comfortable trying the BioCube again especailly considering my history with it last time.

Thanks, Ray! LOL!!! Fingers crossed....

[justahobby]

Thanks for posting your process. Pretty ingenious the way you used the chaeto ball to lure them into a container... make them think it was their idea all along.

[Mr Cob]

Thanks for posting your process. Pretty ingenious the way you used the chaeto ball to lure them into a container... make them think it was their idea all along.

LOL! I over thought everything this time around. All of that was probably not needed but I guess it didn't hurt right...?

My only goal was to get them to bond with the container and feel safe there, so that when added to the main display, with all of the flow they would stay put just in case if they didn't take to the anemone right away.

[txav8r]

Mr Cob, the clown whisperer. LOL

[Mr Cob]

Thanks, now my screen has coffee on it.

Funny thing though....I'm a praying man...and I prayed over them this time. LOL!

[justahobby]

:rofl::lmao2:........
Mr Cob, the clown whisperer. LOL

Call me when you figure out how to get clowns to do "it" and I'll invite you over so you can serenade my PS clowns. :bigsmile:

[txav8r]

Thanks, now my screen has coffee on it.

Funny thing though....I'm a praying man...and I prayed over them this time. LOL!


Glad I could help! LOL

[alton]

Thanks for the great story, amazing how they went to the RBTA.

[Jarob]

What other fish do you have in there again? And awesome Rob!!! They look great in there

[Mr Cob]

What other fish do you have in there again? And awesome Rob!!! They look great in there

I was waiting for you to chime in...I know you've been thinking about adding yours to your display too.

I have the following in a 144:

-Saphire Damsel
-3 chromis
-1 medium sized yellow tang
-small yellow watchman goby
-1 medium sized cleaner wrasse
-medium cleaner shrimp
-couple peppermints
-snails
-no hermits
-1 emerald crab

They are all peaceful....now anyways. My fish list has shrunk dramatically over the last few months....and just this past weekend I lost my Purple Firefish that had been with me for over 2 years. : ( (no signs of illness, maybe it was just his time to go)

The smallest clown...soon to be male I guess, went exploring yesterday during feeding....it was pretty funny how quickly he realized that there is only safety in the comfort of his anemone. As fast as he went out and into the middle, my saphire damsel gave him a little push...nothing serious and that is the first time I have ever seen any type of manhood from this saphire that I've had for over 2 years.

NONE of the fish go near the RBTA located in the upper left of my reef. It must have a pretty powerful sting...it completely whiped out that green cap seen in the pics in just a few days. I also have 2 GBTA and they don't seem to bother any of the corals.

[Jarob]

ARGH! I need help determining if I should put mine in my 37cube!

Ive got:
3-4" Blue Tang (might rehome soon if I dont upgrade tanks)
small mystery wrasse
cleaner wrasse
lyretail anthias
scooter blenny
Pep shirmp
Fire Shrimp
Small RBTA

Im worried about the tang and the cleaner wrasse as he loves to check out anything that goes in the tank.

Has your cleaner picked at them any?

[Mr Cob]

The Cleaner Wrasse was the one I was worried about as well. He surely picks at everyone...to the point that some of the fish chase him away.

I've been watching closely....but the clowns stay sooooo close to the anemone (except the little one that took a one time joy ride to the middle of the tank...that was the last time) and no fish go near the anemone so....I can't give an honest answer there yet. My anemone is pretty big too...about a 6" circumference...so they are pretty well tucked away.

[FireWater]

Good story Rob. Glad to hear they are doing well for you.

[Mr Cob]

So....I've had these guys for a week now and they are doing great in the 144... compare the pics from today to the pics in the first post....amazing how fast the black fills in in just a week.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4412196995_5baf272043.jpg

http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gif
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4412191569_7a8c0c0136.jpghttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gif

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4412969844_7d7007446a.jpg

[Mr Cob]

Pic for reference....this was a week ago....the black is not very dominant here:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4403515889_6f3730271c.jpg

and now they look like a couple of Black Onyx Clowns:
http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gifhttp://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceout.gif
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4412071533_2145044ec7.jpg

[Mr Cob]

Just an update on the clowns...they are growing fast and just started showing their third stripe...you can barely see it...it's a spec

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4525131698_4bbb84cbc1_m.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4525129670_f6627afef4_m.jpg

[Europhyllia]

they look much bigger!

[txg8gxp]

They do look alot bigger.

[Mr Cob]

They are...I can't believe how fast they are growing. I recently cut back my feeding to once a day to get my green slime alage under control...which I got shortly after getting these guys and feeding at least 3 times a day.

They have over doubled in size...and I only got them in the beginning of March.

[Jarob]

They look awesome!!! I put mine in the display about a week ago and they have already increased in size and blackness!

[Mr Cob]

They look awesome!!! I put mine in the display about a week ago and they have already increased in size and blackness!

Good news Jarob. I've been thinking about you man and wondering if you added them yet. You'll have to post some pics soon.

[Jarob]

Did someone say pics?! These were taken 6 days ago, 1 day after they were in the tank. They host my duncan colony and wont go near my rbta...

Ill take some more soon now that they are fattening and blackening up. Been in the library for 8 hours straight now!!:at_wits_end:

[Mr Cob]

Sit back...they are going to get dark fast now. Thx for posting the pics Jarob. Kind of funny them hosting in the duncans....confused clowns.