How do you get a clown fish to host an anemone?

[Mermaid Gardens]

I know this topic has been covered in previous post, but when I went searching for it I couldn't find it. Either way I'd like to learn from your experiences.

 

[charleshardy5]

Time

 

[HoosierDaddy]

My clown just started hosting in my rainbow nem this week. He showed no interest the first two months when I got the nem. So charlesis absolutely correct. Just give it time.

 

[SkyDiv3r17]

Shine a light like a flash light) on the anemone just after all the lights go out. They should hover towards the light and anemone eventually and they might figure out it can be their new home. Good luck!

 

[SynDen]

They will decide when they are ready to host but there are a few tricks that you can do to help get them interested. One is just feeding near the nem to try and make the clowns aware of it, another is the light trick. After lights go out just put a flash light shining down on the nem for a few hours and see if you can encourage them to sleep around or in it. Then other trick is to trap them in a small container with the nem, but not always fessible in a reef tank

 

[Dr.DiSilicate]

reef porn

 

[Ghxst]

Have them watch current world news, they will fling themselves into the anemone attempting to off themselves and just find it to be a cuddle spot to hang out. That or time and reef porn.

 

[Ghxst]

I forgot the serious part, When I introduced my clowns I cut the ends off a water jug and put the water jug over the nem and put the clowns in the other end. I forgot to put any pressure on the container so they swam right around it avoiding the nem altogether. I used the feeding method but the clowns were scared to death of the nem for weeks. One day I couldn't find my clowns for a minute only to discover they found the nem all by themselves. It looked like this... View attachment 21282

 

[Mermaid Gardens]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try the light thing to start with. I'm sure they'll find one eventually.

 

[Jeremiah]

I had clown's + anemone for 6 months...they never hosted.

Tried the feeding method, the picture on the side of tank, ipad on side of tank looping video of clowns hosting.
I also took nem and clowns put in small space...they ACTUALLY cuddled up next to it in the small space...left them for a week no problem...when i put them back in tank. Nothing, wouldn't go near it....

So i got rid of the clowns got new ones and hosted same day....

 

[jahmic]

I had clown's + anemone for 6 months...they never hosted.

Tried the feeding method, the picture on the side of tank, ipad on side of tank looping video of clowns hosting.
I also took nem and clowns put in small space...they ACTUALLY cuddled up next to it in the small space...left them for a week no problem...when i put them back in tank. Nothing, wouldn't go near it....

So i got rid of the clowns got new ones and hosted same day....

LOL. I guess that's one way to solve the problem

The feeding method seemed to have worked for me...but I think time and patience are what's really needed. And in some cases...a re-roll of the dice (see above)

 

[ValG]

I used turkey baster and released the food right by nem's mouth. Didn't take long at all for the hungry clowns to get there and get used to be around anemone. I know that clowns are different in how they behave but it worked for me.

 

[xtremeclownfish]

Eventually

 

[Mermaid Gardens]

I know patience is the key, but I thought if there was something I could do to encourage the process ...

 

[Haddonisreef]

If u can pull the rock that the Nem is on and put in a bucket together so they can find each other maybe that will work.

 

[xtremeclownfish]

Honestly, pulling a anemone off a rock might not be a good idea! One the nem, is happy where it's at and you don't want a roaming nem. Second you don't want to damage the nem. Let's think like the ocean the clowns goes to the nem, not the nem to the clown.

 

[Haddonisreef]

Honestly, pulling a anemone off a rock might not be a good idea! One the nem, is happy where it's at and you don't want a roaming nem. Second you don't want to damage the nem. Let's think like the ocean the clowns goes to the nem, not the nem to the clown.

Never said pull the Nem off the rock, said pull the rock the Nem is on and put in bucket together. Heard it done before kinda makes them bump elbows.

 

[xtremeclownfish]

My bad, take the rock with anemone attached. Again, the odds that when you put the anemone in the tank, could detach itself from the rock and start wondering and probably land on one of your most expensive coral SPS or chalice colony. I see those beautiful tanks with its corals thriving in brilliant colors. Many of those members secret they avoid putting there hands inside the tank and avoid moving stuff. I've had many anemones all types, and many clownfish, let nature take its course...my two cents.

 

[Jeremiah]

Nature is over rated....

 

[Skrappy]

LOL ^ 2 funny