Anemone for clownfish?

markhilken · 11/03/2008, 03:55 PM

Can you get Clown fish without having a hosting Anemone in the tank? Is it cruel not to have an Anemone for a clown fish? What comes first in a new tank, the clown fish or the Anemone?

thanks

Johnny C · 11/03/2008, 03:57 PM

bump

jamest0o0 · 11/03/2008, 03:59 PM

No it is not cruel, a lot of people don't have anemones with their clownfish. In the wild clownfish need them for protection, but hopefully they are already protected in your tank

Anemones require very good water quality and intense lighting, clownfish are pretty easy to care for on the other hand and do well for beginners.

mkirkpatrick · 11/03/2008, 04:14 PM

jamest0o0 pretty much got it covered..

The only thing I'd add is that I read if you get an anemone sometimes having a clownfish for it will help in the acclimation. You may want to read up one which clownfish naturally go to which anemone. Also, make sure you get an anemone large enough that the clownfish doesn't love it to death.

Plus it's pretty cute to watch the relationship between the clownfish and the anemone.. The fish will bring the anemone bits of food and at night it looks like the anemone cradles the clownfish to sleep.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1381958 This is an FAQ to answer practically all you need to know.

Urchinhead · 11/03/2008, 06:43 PM

If you get a tank bred (and you should. See Brook aka Clown Fish disease if you want to know why) then it may or may not host an anemone. Wild caught ones usually will.

Tank bred do not require and many times will not host anemone's.

Plus anemones are difficult to take care of so please do some research before deciding to get one.

jubjub · 11/03/2008, 06:55 PM

^^ dont be confused with him saying MAY OR MAY NOT host an anemone.

truth of the statement being will SOME tank bred clowns host
Answer yes they will.

but my clowns were perfectly happy with out the nem...... i hardly see my clowns now cause they wont leave the nem. HA!

lesleybird · 11/03/2008, 10:36 PM

I have never had an anemone for any of my clowns and they seem happy without one. Only get an anemone if you have the strong lighting that it requires because if they die they release a toxin in the tank that can kill your fish. Lesley

jamest0o0 · 11/03/2008, 10:38 PM

They don't release a toxin when they die, they just produce a lot of ammonia while decomposing. Which is toxic to creatures and can cause a tank to crash.

NirvanaFan · 11/03/2008, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mkirkpatrick
[B]
The only thing I'd add is that I read if you get an anemone sometimes having a clownfish for it will help in the acclimation.

That isn't correct. If a clownfish immediately starts hosting in the anemone, it can make the acclimation for the anemone worst. The anemone needs to get used to the water and lighting, and having a clownfish being rough on it can push a anemone on the edge of dieing over the edge.

snakeklr · 11/03/2008, 11:44 PM

Here is a good site for anennomes and what to do or look for.

http://www.karensroseanemones.com/index.htm

Toddrtrex · 11/04/2008, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NirvanaFan
That isn't correct. If a clownfish immediately starts hosting in the anemone, it can make the acclimation for the anemone worst. The anemone needs to get used to the water and lighting, and having a clownfish being rough on it can push a anemone on the edge of dieing over the edge.

Not in all cases. When it comes to gigantea carpets there are some theories that the presents of a clownfish will help them acclimate to the tank.

To the OP, many ( if not all ) breeders of clownfish don't bother having an anemone in the tank.

11/03/2008, 03:55 PM	#1
markhilken Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley. Pennsylvania Posts: 110	Anemone for clownfish? Can you get Clown fish without having a hosting Anemone in the tank? Is it cruel not to have an Anemone for a clown fish? What comes first in a new tank, the clown fish or the Anemone? thanks

11/03/2008, 03:57 PM	#2
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	bump __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

11/03/2008, 03:59 PM	#3
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	No it is not cruel, a lot of people don't have anemones with their clownfish. In the wild clownfish need them for protection, but hopefully they are already protected in your tank Anemones require very good water quality and intense lighting, clownfish are pretty easy to care for on the other hand and do well for beginners. __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

11/03/2008, 04:14 PM	#4
mkirkpatrick Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Port Richey, Florida Posts: 37	jamest0o0 pretty much got it covered.. The only thing I'd add is that I read if you get an anemone sometimes having a clownfish for it will help in the acclimation. You may want to read up one which clownfish naturally go to which anemone. Also, make sure you get an anemone large enough that the clownfish doesn't love it to death. Plus it's pretty cute to watch the relationship between the clownfish and the anemone.. The fish will bring the anemone bits of food and at night it looks like the anemone cradles the clownfish to sleep. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1381958 This is an FAQ to answer practically all you need to know. __________________ Mallory Current Tank Info: 75 gallon SW

11/03/2008, 06:55 PM	#6
jubjub Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: vacaville, cali Posts: 2,698	^^ dont be confused with him saying MAY OR MAY NOT host an anemone. truth of the statement being will SOME tank bred clowns host Answer yes they will. but my clowns were perfectly happy with out the nem...... i hardly see my clowns now cause they wont leave the nem. HA! __________________ "The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence." - Abu Ala Al-Maari

11/03/2008, 06:43 PM	#5
Urchinhead Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: San Gabriel, California Posts: 681	If you get a tank bred (and you should. See Brook aka Clown Fish disease if you want to know why) then it may or may not host an anemone. Wild caught ones usually will. Tank bred do not require and many times will not host anemone's. Plus anemones are difficult to take care of so please do some research before deciding to get one.

11/03/2008, 10:36 PM	#7
lesleybird Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston Posts: 392	I have never had an anemone for any of my clowns and they seem happy without one. Only get an anemone if you have the strong lighting that it requires because if they die they release a toxin in the tank that can kill your fish. Lesley

11/03/2008, 10:38 PM	#8
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	They don't release a toxin when they die, they just produce a lot of ammonia while decomposing. Which is toxic to creatures and can cause a tank to crash. __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

11/03/2008, 11:44 PM	#10
snakeklr Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 215	Here is a good site for anennomes and what to do or look for. http://www.karensroseanemones.com/index.htm __________________ We can do it the easy way, Or the hard way. Current Tank Info: 120g Lee Mar tank