Clowns and anemones (should they each have their own)????

[brianK]

Hello all,

Have 2 saddleback clowns that are doing good in my 57Gal along with a Coral Beauty and Yellow Tang. I added a RTBA a few weeks ago and noticed that only one of the clowns (wich looks like she's turning into the female, getting noticiably bigger than the other clown) seems to be hosting in the RBTA.

The female seems to stay in the RTBA after the lights go out, and sometimes during the day, but the other clown has nothing to do with it, or the female is keeping it away.

My question is....should I get another anemone for the other clown to host in, knowing it may not accept the anemone at all, or should I just leave things the way they are????

Any comments?? Thanks!!

Brian

[GaryP]

Brian,

If youe clowns are tank raised (such as ORA) it may take them a while to figure out what they are supposed to do with the anemones. To answer your question, no, two clowns will host in an anemone, especially if they are mated. If one of them is changing into a female they should pair up eventually. I assume you do know that clowns are all born as males and a dominant male will turn into a female.

Gary

[brianK]

Yeah, thats what I read up on....One is definitely getting bigger than the other. Was told these Clowns were tank raised, the female seemed to take to the RBTA after a few days in the tank. At night the female stays in the RTBA and the male just goes what looks like "riding the current" on the side of the tank working its fins..... Just thought it was curious....

Brian

[GaryP]

Just give him some time.

Gary

[CD]

Brian-

I'm sure that if you've been researching this, you also know that clowns in our aquariums don't necessarily *need* an anemone to be happy? As long as they have rock caves to dive into when they feel threatened, they should be fine (or so I've read). As a side note here, JimD has a pair of clowns...the same thing happened with his - the female took up residence in the anemone, and won't let the male in. That situation *may* change once they finally decide to spawn, but then again, she may never let him enter the anemone. I wouldn't worry about it either way, and I definitely wouldn't worry about getting another anemone. Also, since your clowns are tank raised, you may want to try something. Take a sterile piece of PVC pipe (smallish - like a 90 degree joint section) and put it in the tank relatively close to the area that the anemone is in. The male *may* like this as a hiding spot, and if he doesn't, you can always remove it after 4 or 5 days. The reason I'm suggesting this, is that one of my clowns seems to prefer the PVC as a hiding place. Just a thought

Wendy

[Reef69]

Yeah, If your clowns are ORA, its going to take them a WHILE to figure it out...Ive tried evrey single type of clown available in LFSs, and they all have one thing in common, females will always sleep inside the anemone, males are pretty wimpy and will do what she says..i wouldnt suggest you buying another one, there has been behavior patters where she might take them both..pretty funny..

[brianK]

Thanks for the Info Wendy....yeah have alot of hidding places for all the fish. The yellow tang still is shy and hides when I come up...the clowns just show off by chasing each other around (or probably the female chasing the male around).

Thanks also SilverChair.......the male just looks so lonely at night "riding the current" while the female is snuggled up and playing in the anomone....

Was rather funny when I added the Coral Beauty in also....my yellow tang chases it around for about an hour , now they all seem to be good buddies...

Haven't really seen the Coral Beauty eating anything I put in the tank, but have noticed it work on some stuff on the live rock...what do Coral beauties seem to like to eat best??? (Have put Formula One, Frozen Brine shrimp (with the Algae in it), and frozen mysis. Haven't seen him come to the top to try to grab some...but he still may be timid .

Brian

[GaryP]

The Centropyge bispinosus (Coral Beauty) is an omnivore and likes to feed on marine algae, mysid shrimp, Spirulina, and other fresh or frozen seafoods.

[CD]

Was rather funny when I added the Coral Beauty in also....my yellow tang chases it around for about an hour , now they all seem to be good buddies...

Heheh...yeah, our Yellow Tang does that with *all* new intros. She never nips, but just follows (whatever) around for about a day, and after that, everything is peachy. Ours is pretty "skitty" too. Anything moving in front of the tank is cause for her to dart into her fav cave, but she is back out a couple of seconds later. She eats like a PIG too. Does yours?

Wendy

[brianK]

Yeah the Yellow Tang will dart up to the magnetic clip I have and nip at the Green Sea Veggies for awhile.....The clowns will eat anything I throw in the tank... Still haven't seen the Coral Beauty eat the food I put in, but it has nipped at the live rock I've noticed...



Brian