New Saddleback Clowns - Feeding and Current they like

[brianK]

Well picked up a cleaning crew and some Saddleback clowns (2 males) at Austin Aquarium yesterday. Acclimatted them to the tank and let them in after awhile but didn't see one of them for a good while, but finally noticed the pair swimming around this morning

(Fishcam at http://fishcam.linuxhorizons.com:6090) - Requires IE and a Active X component to view ...sorry...


Was just curious though, I have 2 powerheads in the tank and a fair amount of current running through, how do the clowns like current? Should I back off one of the powerheads so there isn't as much current?

I purchased some frozen Mysis (sp?) food for the clowns, was just curious how much you should feed them, and how often?

Any other tips for their care? Should I get an anomonie for them?

Should I add a few more fish before these two get too teritorial with the tank?

Thanks
Brian

[alexwolf]

I have a pair of black and white saddlebacks in my 175. I also have a bubble tip anemone in there. They are kinda strange with the anemone, they only go rub on it every once and a while. They are very territorial too. I added a pair of true percs, and they killed one. Now, I cant get them out, they are too smart. They also like nori, I feed them once every 2 days with mysis shrimp, and clip nori in there almost every day.

[brianK]

Do you get the nori at the LFS or the kind u can find at the grocery store (oriental seafood area) ???


How much current do u keep in the tank??

Brian

[Tim Marvin]

How big is the tank? Most don't have enough current.

[brianK]

Its an Oceanic 58 Gal... I've got a Aquaclear Powerhead 802, (400gph) on one end..and another powerhead (I think about the same flow) on the other end. I've got the sump up and running with a Mag7 pump doing the return flow back into the tank.

Yesterday it seemed like they were fighting the current, but they were probably still stressed a little...they seem
To be swimming around better today.

I'm thinking I will get an anomone for them. Was thinking of adding a few more fish, just not sure what
Would work.

Brian

[Reef69]

well, IMO saddle backs are the most delicate of all clownfish..although not the most territorial you must not forget they are damsels and are aggresive towards others of the same kind..clownfish that is..you can add more fish, they wont mess around with them..clownfish arent the best swimmers, with exception of tomatos and clarkiis, saddlebacks and percs along with ocellaris dont do good with a strong current, you will notice at night how they ball up on a corner where there isnt any current..hope this helps..

p.s, i never heard of a clown eating nori...lol..im gonna check if my clowns eat it..i know the tangs get to it before anybody else..

[eliza]

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[Third Coast Tropical]

Saddlebacks like to swim and chase, IME...more so than any clown I have kept.

Mine were kept in a 55 gal with a Koralia 1 on one end....

Good luck, they are awesome fish. Make sure you have top covered as they are prone to jump,...due to the high amout of swimming/chasing

[hobogato]

I read your post and totally agree with you.Its nice sharing.web sites are source of information and this is one of them I book mark it and mail all of my friends to must check it.

welcome to maast

[txav8r]

Good luck, they are awesome fish. Make sure you have top covered as they are prone to jump,...due to the high amout of swimming/chasing

This was from 2004.