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When you are purchasing an anemone to host a pair of clowns, should you purchase them as a unit?
I understand the pair of Clowns will sex to mate one turns into the male and the other female. But I read when shopping anemones that it's best to have clowns for the anemone to adjust to environment.
This leads me to think you should buy them as a trio. Does anyone have any opinion on this?
Here are some thoughts:
- Some clowns are so vigorous in their hosting that they can stress out a newly introduced anemone.
- Anemones don't need a clown fish nor do clowns need an anemone.
- I had my maroon clown for months before I got my BTA. Anemones need a stable environment and should not go into a tank until after it is well established which I would define as being between 6-12 months. Clowns, on the other hand, are hardy and can be put into a tank once the initial cycle is over.
- Some clowns will never host an anemone. The only way to ensure that they will host is to buy clowns that are already hosting along with their anemone. Even then the move may change their behavior.
Carmie,
Will the clowns pair off without anemones? Sounds kinda stupid to ask if there are only two they would be forced to get along I suppose.
Yes they should pair up without an anemone. But there are occasions where I have seen in bigger tanks where they get separated and are not a pair.Quote:
Originally Posted by mpcolson
My tank is 55gal. They would learn to like each other...:lol:
Yep, in a 55 I don't think you would have any problems with them forming a pair. What kind of clowns are you thinking about?
I have been instructed by my kids to get percula clowns (Finding Nemo). My LFS carries the tank raised false percula. And the hybrid blacks, picasso, yellow stripped from time to time. As well as tomatoes and Sebei clowns.
I don't want to get the exotics. I always liked the percula, I had a couple way back when. I did very well with them in a 30 gal with under gravel filter set up in the '80's. They wore pastel sport coats, named Tubbs & Crockett.
I think they sell for about $35.00 per now. And down the road if I go with anemone I guess a carpet or BTA will suit them.
What lighting system do you have? Anemones need bright light.
I think I am pretty well suited light wise for most bright light needy additions. I am lighting 13" of space top to gravel with 1 x Metal Halide Lamp 175watt 14000k and 4 x 36" (39W) High Output Actinic Lamps.
My bigger problem will be water flow, I need to add some nano heads to create some flow in a couple dead areas.
As far as anemones go, when acclimating them I am guessing you would dip them and then QT them. My QT hasn't got any light. It has a old school florescent for freshwater. I don't know how that will work. I could use some advice with that.
OK, just checking. That sounds like it will be adequate.
As far as buying them together...
It isn’t always easy to find then together because they are not shipped together. So your more likely to find them separately. Even if you do find the trio many times the Anemone is settled on LR and is nearly impossible to remove and if the LR is part of a display it’s likely the LFS employee isn’t going to remove it. If he’s willing to attempt a removal make sure the foot of the Anemone isn’t torn in the process. Don’t buy it if it tears.
You’re more likely going to find a tank of Clowns and a tank of Anemones. Now your stuck with deciding which species of Anemone to get. Percula and Ocellaris Clowns have been known to ignore an anemone for months even never going into one.
When it happens it’s great and beautiful.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSC_0020.jpg
This is my Rose Bubble Tip (RBTA) which I have some clones of, if your interested.
So it’s a crap shoot. But a fun one.
Dick
Dick,
I sent you a PM regarding your BTA.
Hey Matt,
The PM came in after my bed time. :|
The RBTAs are normally $60 with the TR member discount $50. Send another PM giving me your complete address and I’ll get you an exact ship quote for overnight shipping. The clones are small but each time I sell one it’s the biggest at the time. They are really strange in that these are buds of the RBTA in the above picture and are nickel size at first. They remain that small for a couple of months even though I feed them. Then they begin to grow. The one I have for you is 3 to 4 inches across when fully opened. I’ll get a picture today and post.
I sold one to a reefer here in FL 6 months ago and it has cloned itself 4 times already. In other words he now has 5 from that $60 purchase. Others I’ve sold have not cloned yet. They’re strange.
Well I pulled the trigger on the Clown fish today. I have them in my QT. I also found an actinic bulb for the hood I got with the 10gal tank from Craigslist. It was an old T8 style bulb, Petsmart had them for a king's ransom. I could have bought a new light if they still made 20" lights for the same price! But what the heck, I'm in business .
I purposely bought them this afternoon because my LFS gets it shipments in its tanks on Tues mornings so I think I may have lessened the chances of these guys being ill. They are straight off the truck. The store was sold out on Sunday. I also got them about $8.00 cheaper than last weeks price for some unknown reason... BONUS!!
One is smaller than the other, they are False Perculas, I know they have a formal name I can't spell it. But any way I think they have exchanged phone numbers and have plans for the weekend, HA HA HA. We will see what happens.
Now if they will just host an anemone the world will be in perfect harmony. :p
They should be ocellaris clowns. Both they and perculas are in the genus Amphiprion and are capable of hybridizing. Ocellaris are hardier than perculas.
I have a gigantic +12" in diameter RBTA. I never found the clone but once when we got home from vacation you could see that it had split.
Yepper they are ocellaris clowns, tank raised. They won't eat but I guess they have had a busy day. I'll get them something at breakfast and see how they do.
This is the main reason I bought this tank, so I hope the BTA Amphibious has is acceptable to them. Like I said earlier, it would make put my world in perfect harmony. :p:
Just waiting to hear from Dick so we can get that transaction rolling.
I think your Clowns will host in the RBTA. Here’s a pic of the one I’d like to send you.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/P9280011.jpg
However, it is attached to the underside of the the Aussie coral and removing it may damage the foot. That is not good but I’ll attempt it.
Here are the others, two of which are attached to PVC, an easy removal.
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/P9280012.jpg
I’m having trouble finding reasonable shipping fees. Anybody have suggestions?
Dick
Well Dick if you can keep it at 5 lbs UPS has the following for 2nd day air:
UPS 2nd Day Air® 5:00 P.M.
Wednesday
September 29, 2010
By End of Day,
Friday
October 1, 2010 $36.33 USD*
Days In Transit: 2 Schedule by
4:00 P.M.
Wednesday
September 29, 2010 Billable Weight: 5.0 lbs.
Disregard the dates of course they were just to fill in the blanks.
But This look like the cheapest. Priority mail from USPS. "If It fits it ships." depending on the size of box:
Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box (FRB1) $10.70 11" x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box (Domestic Addresses) $14.50 12" x 12" x 5-1/2"
Priority Mail Would also be a 2nd Day Delivery option and as I said in my PM I would need to know EXACTLY what day they are coming to camp on my mailbox or it becomes a real hassle. But The price is right if you can make the packaging work for a 48 hour transit.
This should answer the PM question, too.
FedEx is monitoring my usage to warrant giving me a discount. So far there isn’t much of a discount on my shipping fees and 0% on Home Delivery, the one I use the most.
If you want me to do 2nd day delivery I will but I don’t want to be held liable for DOA on 2nd day. IT SHOULD MAKE IT but you never know.
The Priority Mail options you mentioned are not an option because “if it fits, it ships” boxes are not insulated. However, I think Priorty Mail may be a less expensive option than UPS or FedEx 2nd day delivery. I’ll do this to find out. I’ll take an insulated box packed with a bag of water just as though it is your shipment, along with your address, down to my friendly Postal clerk (he calls me Dad) and check the price. I’ll get back to you here.
From you (Zone 1) to me (Zone 6) would be about $15.00 - $18.00 in your container by weight 5-7 lbs.
I think thats about where you will land. So it would be the cheapest still. I'll have to finalize this on Oct 13, when I get my next check. So you have time to work this out. I agree the travel time SHOULD ARRIVE ALIVE, I don't think DOA will be a problem. I'm sure you know how to package animals so they have enough air and proper temp to handle transit.
I am really excited about getting this BTA from you. It will be a centerpiece I hope. My kids will appreciate the addition as well it being a good educational experience.
Ok, back from PO. Problem with 2nd day delivery. Price is right $9.95. Delivery in 2 to 3 days. Two days I might take a chance BUT not 3 days. Once dropped off, it’s in their system and they have no obligation to get it to you in 2 days but 3 possibly. Not good, IMHO.
Express Mail, guaranteed next day before noon, $32.60. Wish it were better but it’s not. This is the only way I’ll do it other than the FedEx or UPS options.
In the mean time I’ll work on getting him off the piece of coral. Or fattening up the other ones.
Dick
PM sent....:thumbs:
Got it. I’ll work on removing the RBTA from the underside of the coral and I’ll feed the others. Whichever one is ready to go, I’ll send according to your PM instructions.