clown forced out of his host anenome!

[reefmack]

I have small maroon clown who has been with a host anenome for over a month now. I just got 2 new percula clowns (mated pair) and another (much bigger anenome) for them... but they have decided they'd rather take up residence in the maroon clowns anenome!! the second anenome is on the far side of the tank - but the maroon clown doesn't seem to want to move over to it - he just swims circles around the happy new couple in his old home!! how can i get him to notice the new anenome???

 

[Ayres]

If he wants to host with it, he'll find it himself.

I'd keep an eye on the clowns though. The maroon will soon outgrow the Perculas and probably start harassing them. When he gets 3"+ he'll probably kill them. Maroons are very very aggressive when they're large. (They get to be 5 to 6"). Maroons also get more aggressive when they start hosting. The anemone will be the center of his territory, and it won't allow other clowns with a certain distance of it. I've seen 1" maroons hosting in a 2" bulb-tipped keep a pair of 2" percs on the other side of the tank.

-Ayres

 

[Quillen]

I have the same concerns as Ayres. I can't imagine your maroon is very happy being booted out, poor thing.

You may take their food in a turkey baster and feed over the anemone. Otherwise time will tell.

 

[reefmack]

he's definitely not happy. not to mention the fact that he's very small - about 3/4 an inch. and the smallest of the percula pair is twice his size! but the other anenome is clear on the other side of the tank (to give them space) and 3 times as big and luxurious as his old anenome!!! if only he'd make his way over there - as far as i can tell he's never been on that side of the tank (and it's only a 75 gal).

 

[Anonymous]

I would say that he is circling above his enemies,planning his attack,just waiting for the right time to destroy his home invaders.

Nah,I don't think they are that advanced....or are they?

Anyhoo,I double the sound advice given by the above responses.

Dan

 

[jamesw]

Your maroon will grow to the size of the A. perculas in about 2 months (if fed well) and then watch out! Even I wouldn't want to go in the water at that point.

Cheers
James

 

[reefmack]

ps i guess, hearing ayres info about maroon clowns - i'll have to keep a very close eye on them as he grows... any chance the percula's will stress him to death before he figures out the other anenome? i love that little dude and i'm worried about him...

 

[reefmack]

so are we talking about a - you should remove one or the other situation? or a keep an eye on everything situation or what?

 

[Quillen]

I wouldn't mix another clown with my maroon, but how about some suggestions off the top of my head? Of course, it may work out for years without any problem.

A. Knowing that maroons are aggressive (although I adore mine with all my heart) and that it is not likely to leave the anemone it was attached to, you may want to put in a seperator with holes punched in it. That would put the maroon on the other side of the tank by its anemone you want it to play in.
or
B. You could pull the percs out of the current anemone, placing their bag over the anemone you purchased so they have to go in it as they leave the bag. I would think the clown would be less aggressive, if he is happy.

 

[Quillen]

Well, here is the deal:
It may or may not work.

Maroon clown fish are the second most aggressive, in my oppinion, 1st place going to Tomato clowns. Maroons are very docile to other non-clowns. I've seem them bonk the side of the tank, if a perc tank was too close

. if you have an unhappy maroon, that sounds like trouble in dodge city to me. Clownfish are extremely territorial, Fred once bit my hand for feeding his anemone

. My ex bf has his percs bite his hand for sticking his hand in. So.. two very territorial fish wanting territory over the same area = death. If they get seperate areas of the tank, it might work. You may be very lucky and nothing will ever happen. If this is going to be the case, then your maroon needs to be in a anemone and not circling.

So.. if it doesn't improve, decide which one you like best in that tank

. If you had asked my thought before buying them, I would of suggested two tanks

.

 

[dela]

I hope you have good lighting. If you manage to fix this situation and one of your anemones dies 6 months down the road, you may be faced with a similar situation only with a large maroon.

 

[Quillen]

Hippo - Your best bet for happiest fish may be to find the third Tomato another home

.
You are right in every clown besides percs, they pair up and two clowns to an anemone is what is to be expected.

 

[danmhippo]

Quillen, thanks for the correction. I personally have not kept percs in my lifetime but have seen groups of percs sharing a large anemone. I assume it would be reasonable to expect paired-up percs to end up with the host and drive out the rest of the school. Thanks

 

[Quillen]

No no no.. thats not what I was saying.
I was referring to your experience with three tomatoes. Having three tomatoes for one anemone isn't going to work out, sounds like you have a less happy Tomato... every clown (besides percs) share two to a anemone.

You can have many percs happily -- the most common things that experienced reefers have seemed to do is get a communal anemone, seabay, and have several of those for a large group of percs. Of course, this is more off topic.

 

[danmhippo]

 

[reefmack]

This situation is growing worse... I moved the old anenome closer to the new one - and the only clown that followed was the previously evicted maroon. The 2 percula's aren't excited about heading over to that part of the tank (as far as i can tell they've never been there) so they let it go. I moved the anenome (and subsequently the marron clown next to the other anenome (the new one) in hopes that the clown would switch - or the percula's would find the new anenome when they came lookng for the old one to jack again... but now the newest bubble tip has shriveled up really small - could this be realted (they aren't THAT close - about 6 inches with rock in between)...

HELP!!!!

forever in search of harmony -

 

[reefmack]

is it typical for a bubble tip to retract when another is nearby?

 

[Anonymous]

What kind of anemone is near the BTA? BTAs seem fine next to LTAs or magnificent anemones(ritteri anemones). Any other anemone may be a problem. BUT,in my tank I have a H.malu 4-5 inches from one of my BTAs without any noticeable effects.

GL

Dan

 

[danmhippo]

I personally think you probably should decide which clown do you want to keep? Maroon, or Perc. If I were you, I would keep perc than maroon. Percs are much more docile and a group of them can share a single anemone whereas you will always only sees at most one pair of maroon/tomato/sebae within a host anemone.

I currently have 3 tomato and 2 sabae. Sabae's host is across tank from tomato's host and aggressions have never been observed. The 3 tomatos were purchased while they were small. They used to all share a host anemone (LTA). Now they all have grown and 2 have paired up, the 3rd still want to hang out with the pair, but could not get close to the host except hover above the anemone. I tried to get more LTA to coax the 3rd to claim as his home, but he won't move. Pretty sad. I don't know what to do now!! Should I find another female to go with the 3rd? but I am afraid blood bath may broke out!!

 

[reefmack]

i've yet to see the "moving anenome" phenomenon so that's part of my ignorance i guess. I've had one of these bubble tips for about 5 months and he's never moved an inch (literally). The second's been in here about a week and he's never moved. My experiment to move the two near each other in hopes that the clowns will discover the second anenome appears to have failed so far - the percula's have yet to venture to that side of the tank - even during the night... now i'm thinking about moving the older anenome back to the other side (which will inevitably cause the percula's to reclaim it)... can i assume that, given enough time - the maroon will eventually figure it out? i have a room divider tank - so i'm able to put one in the SE corner and one in the NW - that are not only on seperate sides but also divided by a wall of LR (in the middle)... I'm going to keep a close eye on everything for a miracle before i remove anybody...

BUT WOULD STILL LIKE SOME MORE ADVICE!!! It really has been helpful... Keep the good stuff coming guys (and gals)