clown fish

sniggib · 03/13/2006, 08:41 AM

do clown fish need anenomes to survive??? also does too much wayer current damage them???

sniggib · 03/13/2006, 08:42 AM

sorry i meant water current

chip721 · 03/13/2006, 08:55 AM

Clown fishes can survive just fine without an anemone. Strong direct flow on an anemone will probably make it relocate. Clownfishes are not exactly stong swimmers. Too much current will probably make them seek refuge in the rocks and caves. IMO, both anemones and clownfishes do best in moderate indirect flow.

kraze3 · 03/13/2006, 08:57 AM

Clown fish do not need Anemones to survive and vice versa. The current could damage them if its too much.

sniggib · 03/13/2006, 08:59 AM

cheers

i posted that because i had a clown fish which died within a couple of hours of being put into the tank. Water is fine but theres no anenome so i thort that may have affected it. either that or the current was too strong.

chip721 · 03/13/2006, 09:11 AM

I'd look for other things besides the water current. Did the fish appear to be healthy? Was it eating? Were any other fish pestering the new guy? When I put mine in QT, it gave him a chance to quietly settle in, get used to foods etc. Also, how was he acclimated to his new environment? Were there big differences in water temp, pH, SG? For the most part clowns tend to be fairly hardy.

amazingbobby · 03/13/2006, 10:22 AM

I added to Ocellaris to my 29 gal yesterday. Although they looked great at the lfs and were eating and moving around nicely, they seem to be having a hard time acclimating. I did it very slowly because the lfs keeps a bit lower of a SG than I prefer. Temp and pH were comparable.
One of them just stays on the bottom in the back of the tank, while the other swims around quite a bit, although I can see that the water flow is a bit much for them.

I really hope these little ones make it.
Any suggestion of the types of food to start them with? They were feeding them cyclop eeze at the LFS; I guess I'll try it.

amazingbobby · 03/13/2006, 10:23 AM

to/two/too. Darn, and I'm a teacher , too!

kingtoad · 03/13/2006, 11:14 AM

Anemone's and Clownfish can exist without eachother, but I think it's very important to have an anemone for your clownfish for he will appreciate it greately.

Note that when clownfish are caught in the wild they are never found without a host. Plus having an a clownfish will help an anemone accimilate into a tank faster.

ChunksInClemson · 03/13/2006, 11:34 AM

Owning a clownfish without an anemone is just friggin wrong!!! jk, i know they dont need them to survive but how can you not have one when they just look so right together!

TippyToeX · 03/13/2006, 11:48 AM

Also in regards to water flow, I have seen them many times in tanks with 60x's turn over. We really have nothing to match what the ocean puts out. So do not worry about strong water flow being a problem.

Quarantine your next fish attempt. It could have very well been disease or stress related that caused it's demise.

sniggib · 03/14/2006, 04:15 AM

thanks for the advice. I went back to the shop the other day and they said maybe it was just one of those things. They gave me a new clown and its now doing fine swimming very happily around. Also i will be getting an anemone as someone said they do just look good together.

kau_cinta_ku · 03/14/2006, 05:33 AM

IMO i would wait till your tank has been running for at least 8 monthes before getting a host anemone and make sure your tank is big enough along with good lighting, as anemones are very picky about water quality.

Joshthenosh · 03/14/2006, 06:19 AM

maybe try a hammer head or tourch coral they kind of look like anemones and the clowns might host in them

sniggib · 03/14/2006, 08:19 AM

IMO??? my tanks 120 litres 1 metre Length, 30cm Depth, and 90cm Height is this big enough for an anemone?

kingtoad · 03/14/2006, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sniggib
IMO??? my tanks 120 litres 1 metre Length, 30cm Depth, and 90cm Height is this big enough for an anemone?

People have Anemone's in 10 gallon tanks. I wouldn't go any smaller than 30, but if you play your cards right and carefully, you can have much success in a 20 gallon tank.

Monitor your water parameters very closely. I hear Anemone's are sensitive to chemistry changes.

sniggib · 03/22/2006, 07:34 AM

what kind of lighting would i need for an anemone?
matt

mpomfret · 03/22/2006, 10:38 AM

Check the "Host Anemone" thread on pg 1 of the Newbie forum. Lots of good info in there (pretty readable, too). I am contemplating getting an anemone for the 2 Clowns I just put in my tank.

Everything I've read so far suggests MH is a good idea. Maybe in a small tank you can get bright enough light with another type of lighting. You could also place the anemone fairly high up in the tank.

Matt

ChunksInClemson · 03/22/2006, 11:17 AM

I would definitely go with MH for an anemone. They require the most light out of all the inverts.

The downside to placing an anemone is that is has a foot! So if it doesn't like it there, it will move. In other words, I wouldn't plan on it staying there so go with MH so you know that anywhere it goes, it will be receiving an adequate amount of light.

mpomfret · 03/22/2006, 11:35 AM

Yeah. I've read about them moving. And if they don't settle in one spot it's a sign that they can't find a good spot.

I set my tank up with an anemone in mind. I have 250 watt MH over a 75 gal tank. Since my tank can be seen from both sides I ran a ridge of rock down the center of the tank. The ridge has a couple of spots where I think an anemone could set up shop. 6" down from the surface, very well lit. I have also been playing with the flow a little. Now when I feed the clowns, some of the flake food will drift into the area I have in mind for the anemone.

I am hesitating on getting an anemone for the moment because the tank has only been set up for 3 1/2 weeks and nitrates are still a little high (around 15). The rest of the params are fine, though. I'll do some small water changes over the next week to see if I can coax the nitrate level down.

ChunksInClemson · 03/22/2006, 03:31 PM

I would wait to get the anemone. I would wait 6 months to a year before putting one in your tank. They are one of the hardest inverts to keep healthy and you really need to know what you are doing and your parameters have to be very stable. I would wait another month and make sure your water is good and start with some softies. Just be patient with the anemone.

Lpabsolute · 03/22/2006, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chip721
Clown fishes can survive just fine without an anemone. Strong direct flow on an anemone will probably make it relocate. Clownfishes are not exactly stong swimmers. Too much current will probably make them seek refuge in the rocks and caves. IMO, both anemones and clownfishes do best in moderate indirect flow.

i agree chip

sniggib · 03/24/2006, 08:43 AM

what is an MH light?

kau_cinta_ku · 03/24/2006, 09:15 AM

MH = Metal Hilide

03/13/2006, 08:41 AM	#1
sniggib Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: sheffield, uk Posts: 23	clown fish do clown fish need anenomes to survive??? also does too much wayer current damage them???

03/13/2006, 10:22 AM	#7
amazingbobby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: N.California Posts: 227	I added to Ocellaris to my 29 gal yesterday. Although they looked great at the lfs and were eating and moving around nicely, they seem to be having a hard time acclimating. I did it very slowly because the lfs keeps a bit lower of a SG than I prefer. Temp and pH were comparable. One of them just stays on the bottom in the back of the tank, while the other swims around quite a bit, although I can see that the water flow is a bit much for them. I really hope these little ones make it. Any suggestion of the types of food to start them with? They were feeding them cyclop eeze at the LFS; I guess I'll try it. __________________ Control for smilers can't be bought Current Tank Info: 29 gal Reef, 30"Coralife Deluxe Aqualight, Aqua C Remora Skimmer, 24 gal Cube w/ 150w Sunpod. LPS, softies, bristleworms x 7.34 million, and other weird creatures.

03/13/2006, 10:23 AM	#8
amazingbobby Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: N.California Posts: 227	to/two/too. Darn, and I'm a teacher , too! __________________ Control for smilers can't be bought Current Tank Info: 29 gal Reef, 30"Coralife Deluxe Aqualight, Aqua C Remora Skimmer, 24 gal Cube w/ 150w Sunpod. LPS, softies, bristleworms x 7.34 million, and other weird creatures.

03/13/2006, 11:34 AM	#10
ChunksInClemson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 824	Owning a clownfish without an anemone is just friggin wrong!!! jk, i know they dont need them to survive but how can you not have one when they just look so right together! __________________ Me to my brother-"Dude, you don't need to spend 75 dollars on a shirt! My brother to me-"Man, you just spent 100 dollars on some rocks" Me and him- "Laughs" Current Tank Info: 29g, a pair of true percs so far. Tank is newer!

03/13/2006, 11:48 AM	#11
TippyToeX Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 10,711	Also in regards to water flow, I have seen them many times in tanks with 60x's turn over. We really have nothing to match what the ocean puts out. So do not worry about strong water flow being a problem. Quarantine your next fish attempt. It could have very well been disease or stress related that caused it's demise. __________________ -Amy-

03/13/2006, 08:42 AM	#2
sniggib Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: sheffield, uk Posts: 23	sorry i meant water current

03/13/2006, 08:55 AM	#3
chip721 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alexandria, Virginia Posts: 1,260	Clown fishes can survive just fine without an anemone. Strong direct flow on an anemone will probably make it relocate. Clownfishes are not exactly stong swimmers. Too much current will probably make them seek refuge in the rocks and caves. IMO, both anemones and clownfishes do best in moderate indirect flow.

03/13/2006, 08:57 AM	#4
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	Clown fish do not need Anemones to survive and vice versa. The current could damage them if its too much.

03/13/2006, 08:59 AM	#5
sniggib Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: sheffield, uk Posts: 23	cheers i posted that because i had a clown fish which died within a couple of hours of being put into the tank. Water is fine but theres no anenome so i thort that may have affected it. either that or the current was too strong.

03/13/2006, 09:11 AM	#6
chip721 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alexandria, Virginia Posts: 1,260	I'd look for other things besides the water current. Did the fish appear to be healthy? Was it eating? Were any other fish pestering the new guy? When I put mine in QT, it gave him a chance to quietly settle in, get used to foods etc. Also, how was he acclimated to his new environment? Were there big differences in water temp, pH, SG? For the most part clowns tend to be fairly hardy.

03/13/2006, 11:14 AM	#9
kingtoad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 399	Anemone's and Clownfish can exist without eachother, but I think it's very important to have an anemone for your clownfish for he will appreciate it greately. Note that when clownfish are caught in the wild they are never found without a host. Plus having an a clownfish will help an anemone accimilate into a tank faster.

03/14/2006, 04:15 AM	#12
sniggib Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: sheffield, uk Posts: 23	thanks for the advice. I went back to the shop the other day and they said maybe it was just one of those things. They gave me a new clown and its now doing fine swimming very happily around. Also i will be getting an anemone as someone said they do just look good together.

03/14/2006, 05:33 AM	#13
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	IMO i would wait till your tank has been running for at least 8 monthes before getting a host anemone and make sure your tank is big enough along with good lighting, as anemones are very picky about water quality.

03/14/2006, 06:19 AM	#14
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	maybe try a hammer head or tourch coral they kind of look like anemones and the clowns might host in them

03/14/2006, 08:19 AM	#15
sniggib Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: sheffield, uk Posts: 23	IMO??? my tanks 120 litres 1 metre Length, 30cm Depth, and 90cm Height is this big enough for an anemone? __________________ :)-Matt-:)

03/22/2006, 07:34 AM	#17
sniggib Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: sheffield, uk Posts: 23	what kind of lighting would i need for an anemone? matt __________________ :)-Matt-:)

03/22/2006, 10:38 AM	#18
mpomfret Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 94	Check the "Host Anemone" thread on pg 1 of the Newbie forum. Lots of good info in there (pretty readable, too). I am contemplating getting an anemone for the 2 Clowns I just put in my tank. Everything I've read so far suggests MH is a good idea. Maybe in a small tank you can get bright enough light with another type of lighting. You could also place the anemone fairly high up in the tank. Matt

03/22/2006, 11:17 AM	#19
ChunksInClemson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 824	I would definitely go with MH for an anemone. They require the most light out of all the inverts. The downside to placing an anemone is that is has a foot! So if it doesn't like it there, it will move. In other words, I wouldn't plan on it staying there so go with MH so you know that anywhere it goes, it will be receiving an adequate amount of light. __________________ Me to my brother-"Dude, you don't need to spend 75 dollars on a shirt! My brother to me-"Man, you just spent 100 dollars on some rocks" Me and him- "Laughs" Current Tank Info: 29g, a pair of true percs so far. Tank is newer!

03/22/2006, 11:35 AM	#20
mpomfret Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 94	Yeah. I've read about them moving. And if they don't settle in one spot it's a sign that they can't find a good spot. I set my tank up with an anemone in mind. I have 250 watt MH over a 75 gal tank. Since my tank can be seen from both sides I ran a ridge of rock down the center of the tank. The ridge has a couple of spots where I think an anemone could set up shop. 6" down from the surface, very well lit. I have also been playing with the flow a little. Now when I feed the clowns, some of the flake food will drift into the area I have in mind for the anemone. I am hesitating on getting an anemone for the moment because the tank has only been set up for 3 1/2 weeks and nitrates are still a little high (around 15). The rest of the params are fine, though. I'll do some small water changes over the next week to see if I can coax the nitrate level down.

03/22/2006, 03:31 PM	#21
ChunksInClemson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Anderson, SC Posts: 824	I would wait to get the anemone. I would wait 6 months to a year before putting one in your tank. They are one of the hardest inverts to keep healthy and you really need to know what you are doing and your parameters have to be very stable. I would wait another month and make sure your water is good and start with some softies. Just be patient with the anemone. __________________ Me to my brother-"Dude, you don't need to spend 75 dollars on a shirt! My brother to me-"Man, you just spent 100 dollars on some rocks" Me and him- "Laughs" Current Tank Info: 29g, a pair of true percs so far. Tank is newer!

03/24/2006, 08:43 AM	#23
sniggib Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: sheffield, uk Posts: 23	what is an MH light? __________________ :)-Matt-:)

03/24/2006, 09:15 AM	#24
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	MH = Metal Hilide