How do I feed anemones with clown fish in the tank?

[yellowfiji]

I am wondering would the clown fish eat all the food before the anemones can get some?

 

[EmilyB]

Sometimes, yes ! Smaller clowns aren't too bad as they usually can't tear the large pieces of food away from the anemone, but the bigger clowns can be a real pain. I used to have to cover my LTA, as the saddleback would rip the food out, even if it was halfway into the mouth.

 

[ACROPHORIA1]

I have had a maroon clown for over 3 years now and she first eats for herself, then feeds her anenome

 

[Dewman]

I just recently purchased a Clarkii for my Condy anemone, and he is a big guy. He loves the anemone so much. He ALWAYS feeds the anemone after he has eaten.

 

[Sea Serpent]

I was worried that my bubble tip wasn't getting enough from the maroon clown feeding it so, I give my bubble tip pieces of silversides every other or every third day as a suplement( the maroon clown doesn't like it). The anenome DOES need to eat -
SS

 

[munchieiam]

My gold stripe maroon does the same thing... feeds first then gives some to my carpet

I do give the arpet a nice size ( 2-3 inch ) silverside every other week and the maroon trys to pick at a little but it's not strong enough to pull it away, heck i thought i was going to have to give it my finger once cause it got ahold of me and the fish !!!

hehe

joe

[ January 24, 2002: Message edited by: munchieiam ]</p>

 

[Super Len]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Lynn:
<strong>Can someone explain how the clowns actually feed the anemone??</strong><hr></blockquote>

Host anemones feed on the excrement of their symbionts. When we observe clownfish bringing food back to its anemone, it is unclear and unproven whether the fish is actually intent on feeding the anemone, or rather just bringing food back to a safe haven (usually after the clownfish is full) intended for future consumption. Large prey items are rarely captured by neither anemone or clownfish in the wild. If logic prevails, the clownfish is most likely not intentionally feeding its anemone.

If you feed your clownfish heavily, you're anemone will be fed adequetely as well (either directly through leftover foods or indirectly through consumption/absorbtion of detritus/dissolved organics.

 

[Anonymous]

Just put a little food into the anemone's tentacles. Food about the size of the anemones mouth.

 

[Lynn]

Can someone explain how the clowns actually feed the anemone??

 

[munchieiam]

Mine has taken food... brine, mysis..etc that is has cought in it's mouth and "spits" it back out close to the anemone so it can catch it

 

[reefhope]

Lynn

I had a clarkii clown that paired up with a stalk of xenia and would try to feed it. It would simply drop chunks of food on it after the clarkii had its fill.

 

[yellowfiji]

Thank you all. I sure will try to keep them in the future.

 

[Dewman]

Leonard, I know what you said is probably correct, but I swear that clown is in love with his anemone. When he brings back chunks of shrimp I drop in the tank, he always makes sure that if they fall out of the anemones arms, he picks them up and puts them back in the center.

I guess it's sort of a romantic notion to assume the clown genuinely cares for the anemone. It's so hard to tell, clowns have so much personality.