Clowns don’t go near my BTA

dvega101 · 06/22/2018, 06:29 PM

My clowns spend most of the time on the same side of the tank as my bubble tip but won’t go near it. Will they host after a while? Any tips to encourage it without removing them all and placing in a smaller container?

davocean · 06/22/2018, 06:44 PM

You should never force close proximity, be patient.
What kind of clowns?

dvega101 · 06/22/2018, 07:16 PM

Bonded pair of gladiator clowns. I was hoping it would happen naturally but thought there might be a clever method using food or something.

davocean · 06/22/2018, 07:32 PM

BTA is not natural match to percs or occs, so often takes longer to recognize.
They also may need to adapt to sting cells, that's why we advise not forcing.

Tricks like a flashlight over nem as lights ramp down make nem brightest thing in tank, sometimes that makes them curious

dvega101 · 06/22/2018, 07:35 PM

All good to know. Thanks!

OrionN · 06/23/2018, 07:16 AM

Sometime, if there is a threat to the clownfish in the tank, they are more likely seek protection of an anemone and more likely to go into a non natural host anemone.
Several times a day, put your clean hand in the tank away from the anemone and wave it around for several minutes. I find that this will get my Ocellaris and Percula go into my Malu, which is not a natural of these clowns.

youpey · 06/29/2018, 12:53 PM

I once had a clown that would not host. I read that if you turn off all the lights in the house and tank so its completely dark and wait 15 to 20 minutes, then shine a spotlight on the anemone the fish will see it and be drawn to it and hosted in it forever after that.

I assumed it was nonsense but tried it anyway. It worked almost immediately. On my next setup i tried it again and it did not work at all.

Its worth a shot, but it is certainly not a guarantee

davocean · 06/29/2018, 01:38 PM

^^ flashlight trick does draw their curiosity, done this myself, but curious or not my last picasso's just refused the hadonni I had, but still worth a try.
Best as light are ramping down, not completely out

CSmooth2009 · 06/30/2018, 05:07 PM

I have placed the nem close to where they sleep at night and the 85 percent of the time will go into the nem and then they always go in no problem now.

06/22/2018, 06:29 PM	#1
dvega101 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 4	Clowns don’t go near my BTA My clowns spend most of the time on the same side of the tank as my bubble tip but won’t go near it. Will they host after a while? Any tips to encourage it without removing them all and placing in a smaller container?

06/22/2018, 06:44 PM	#2
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	You should never force close proximity, be patient. What kind of clowns? __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

06/22/2018, 07:32 PM	#4
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	BTA is not natural match to percs or occs, so often takes longer to recognize. They also may need to adapt to sting cells, that's why we advise not forcing. Tricks like a flashlight over nem as lights ramp down make nem brightest thing in tank, sometimes that makes them curious __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

06/23/2018, 07:16 AM	#6
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	Sometime, if there is a threat to the clownfish in the tank, they are more likely seek protection of an anemone and more likely to go into a non natural host anemone. Several times a day, put your clean hand in the tank away from the anemone and wave it around for several minutes. I find that this will get my Ocellaris and Percula go into my Malu, which is not a natural of these clowns. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

06/29/2018, 12:53 PM	#7
youpey Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: hightstown, NJ Posts: 262	I once had a clown that would not host. I read that if you turn off all the lights in the house and tank so its completely dark and wait 15 to 20 minutes, then shine a spotlight on the anemone the fish will see it and be drawn to it and hosted in it forever after that. I assumed it was nonsense but tried it anyway. It worked almost immediately. On my next setup i tried it again and it did not work at all. Its worth a shot, but it is certainly not a guarantee __________________ 16gal Biocube LED - New setup Current Tank Info: 14gal nano

06/22/2018, 07:16 PM	#3
dvega101 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 4	Bonded pair of gladiator clowns. I was hoping it would happen naturally but thought there might be a clever method using food or something.

06/22/2018, 07:35 PM	#5
dvega101 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 4	All good to know. Thanks!

06/29/2018, 01:38 PM	#8
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	^^ flashlight trick does draw their curiosity, done this myself, but curious or not my last picasso's just refused the hadonni I had, but still worth a try. Best as light are ramping down, not completely out __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

06/30/2018, 05:07 PM	#9
CSmooth2009 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Menifee Posts: 100	I have placed the nem close to where they sleep at night and the 85 percent of the time will go into the nem and then they always go in no problem now.