Alternative to Anemone for clowns?

grn99cobra · 08/21/2010, 07:36 PM

Hello everyone. I am new to the hobby. I have a 130 gallon tank with fish and live rock. I want to stay with live rock for now, and maybe do reef later. When I got my tank it came with a mated pair of clowns. They had a sea shell that they used as their "home", but it is on the smaller side, and only one of them can get in it.

I wanted to get another fish as the clowns are only about an inch to an inch and a half long. So I got a yellow tang. The tang is about 2 1/2 inches long. When I introduced the tang to the tank, he was shy for a day or two and the clowns were fine. But now that the yellow tang has started to swim around more, the clowns will not go near their shell that they were using as a home.

The tang does not chase the clowns, however, whenever he swims by them the clowns swim away from him. And the tang is ALL over the tank. It seems as they are scared of him, and they are not staying by their shell home anymore. I am not really sure what to do. Maybe a new home besides the sea shell? But I am not sure what they would be comfortable with. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

shifty51008 · 08/21/2010, 07:43 PM

To Reef Central

I am sure they will be fine, they are just getting used to to new fish and staying cautious. just give them time.

MandM · 08/21/2010, 09:27 PM

Clowns will be happy hosting in any number of corals. I have a big patch of anthelia that one clown just loves. Frogspawn or hammer corals can be good too, although a very active clown can be a bit rough on them. If you use anthelia or something similar, just have it on a rock in the sand, away from other rockwork to avoid it spreading too much.

scapes · 08/22/2010, 06:29 AM

i've got one percula that has been in her hammer going on 5 years now. she's been moved from an 80g to a 180g tank along with her hammer. i just frag the hammer when it gets too big. she loves it!

wilsonreefs · 08/22/2010, 07:31 AM

My two host a Sinulara. Man, I think that spelling is wrong....

Carl

scuba guy ron · 08/22/2010, 08:38 AM

+1 on torches and the like euphyllia species. I see you said you weren't looking for corals though. What exactly did you have in mind?

mrrogers · 08/22/2010, 08:43 AM

My clown was destroying my frogspawn by constantly swimming through it..

MCary · 08/22/2010, 09:02 AM

A clown will use a powerhead. Really doesn't matter. They do not need anything really, they will find a place to call home and they do not have the higher brain function necessary to be "happy" or "content".

grn99cobra · 08/22/2010, 05:01 PM

Thanks for the replies. I guess I will just let them be. I don't really want to do any corals right now, but maybe in the future. Thanks again!

thebkramer · 08/22/2010, 05:06 PM

If they loved the shell that much.. and you like it.. you can always get a larger one for them

They have them at crafting stores like Micheals or JoAnnes or w/e you have in your area. Once they adjust to the new fish, they will go back to their spot if they feel like it lol
I have seen clowns try to host with a snail egg that was on the glass, with Hair Algae, powerheads, thermometers.. almost anything!

Sk8r · 08/22/2010, 05:10 PM

They'll also take to some varieties of 'hairy' leather coral...

Corals aren't hard. They're much easier than nems---they don't move much, they just take the water parameters in my sig, and they actually make reefkeeping easier, since if your coral is refusing to extend as usual, it means your water is 'off' and go test it. It'd make me nervous as all getout trying to manage fish without corals to tell me how the water is at one glance.

But you know your circumstances, and do as you feel is right for you.

One thing that might help: set a rock spire in the middle of the tank: the more divisions in the tank, the more fish tend to observe them as psychological barriers.

dano83 · 08/22/2010, 05:53 PM

My clown loves the green hairy mushroom. He never leaves it!!!

fstar25 · 08/22/2010, 05:58 PM

Mine will not live in anything but a brain. First a wellso. Now a target Brain.

~Frank

08/21/2010, 07:36 PM	#1
grn99cobra Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 19	Alternative to Anemone for clowns? Hello everyone. I am new to the hobby. I have a 130 gallon tank with fish and live rock. I want to stay with live rock for now, and maybe do reef later. When I got my tank it came with a mated pair of clowns. They had a sea shell that they used as their "home", but it is on the smaller side, and only one of them can get in it. I wanted to get another fish as the clowns are only about an inch to an inch and a half long. So I got a yellow tang. The tang is about 2 1/2 inches long. When I introduced the tang to the tank, he was shy for a day or two and the clowns were fine. But now that the yellow tang has started to swim around more, the clowns will not go near their shell that they were using as a home. The tang does not chase the clowns, however, whenever he swims by them the clowns swim away from him. And the tang is ALL over the tank. It seems as they are scared of him, and they are not staying by their shell home anymore. I am not really sure what to do. Maybe a new home besides the sea shell? But I am not sure what they would be comfortable with. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

08/21/2010, 09:27 PM	#3
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	Clowns will be happy hosting in any number of corals. I have a big patch of anthelia that one clown just loves. Frogspawn or hammer corals can be good too, although a very active clown can be a bit rough on them. If you use anthelia or something similar, just have it on a rock in the sand, away from other rockwork to avoid it spreading too much. __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g

08/22/2010, 08:38 AM	#6
scuba guy ron Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 1,455	+1 on torches and the like euphyllia species. I see you said you weren't looking for corals though. What exactly did you have in mind? __________________ Ron Current Tank Info: 6yr old 37 Gallon Column mixed reef

08/22/2010, 05:06 PM	#10
thebkramer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Clifton Park, NY Posts: 3,198	If they loved the shell that much.. and you like it.. you can always get a larger one for them They have them at crafting stores like Micheals or JoAnnes or w/e you have in your area. Once they adjust to the new fish, they will go back to their spot if they feel like it lol I have seen clowns try to host with a snail egg that was on the glass, with Hair Algae, powerheads, thermometers.. almost anything! __________________ Rhonda There is NO such things as Dumb Questions!! There are However.. Dumb Answers!!! ;) ____________ Current Tank Info: 55g reef....Current Orbit SunPaq Lights, HOB Eshopps, HOB AquaClear 110, 2-1400 Koralia Powerheads & 1 Nano Koralia, 40+ lbs LR, 2" LS

08/22/2010, 05:10 PM	#11
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	They'll also take to some varieties of 'hairy' leather coral... Corals aren't hard. They're much easier than nems---they don't move much, they just take the water parameters in my sig, and they actually make reefkeeping easier, since if your coral is refusing to extend as usual, it means your water is 'off' and go test it. It'd make me nervous as all getout trying to manage fish without corals to tell me how the water is at one glance. But you know your circumstances, and do as you feel is right for you. One thing that might help: set a rock spire in the middle of the tank: the more divisions in the tank, the more fish tend to observe them as psychological barriers. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/21/2010, 07:43 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	*To Reef Central* I am sure they will be fine, they are just getting used to to new fish and staying cautious. just give them time.

08/22/2010, 06:29 AM	#4
scapes Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Millbrook, AL Posts: 2,520	i've got one percula that has been in her hammer going on 5 years now. she's been moved from an 80g to a 180g tank along with her hammer. i just frag the hammer when it gets too big. she loves it!

08/22/2010, 07:31 AM	#5
wilsonreefs Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Jonesboro, Ar Posts: 284	My two host a Sinulara. Man, I think that spelling is wrong.... Carl

08/22/2010, 08:43 AM	#7
mrrogers Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 57	My clown was destroying my frogspawn by constantly swimming through it..

08/22/2010, 09:02 AM	#8
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	A clown will use a powerhead. Really doesn't matter. They do not need anything really, they will find a place to call home and they do not have the higher brain function necessary to be "happy" or "content".

08/22/2010, 05:01 PM	#9
grn99cobra Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 19	Thanks for the replies. I guess I will just let them be. I don't really want to do any corals right now, but maybe in the future. Thanks again!

08/22/2010, 05:53 PM	#12
dano83 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: lemay Posts: 315	My clown loves the green hairy mushroom. He never leaves it!!!

08/22/2010, 05:58 PM	#13
fstar25 Getting there Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Friendswood, Tx Posts: 884	Mine will not live in anything but a brain. First a wellso. Now a target Brain. ~Frank __________________ The only thing I know for sure is nothing! Carrie, why do you want someone in need to die? -iCam Current Tank Info: 29G BioCube with LED lighting, media basket, fuge (chamber 2), MJ1200 return pump, K nano & K 1 power heads, 32# LR, ~2" SB

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