Shy Clown

**Small Fry** · 07-04-2006, 07:14 PM

Hey there all, i recently bought a nano cube (may 15th). complete setup witha a marroon clown, goby, pistol shrimp, and two blood shrimp.

However, ever since the move my clown has stayed in the very back of the tank and only comes out at night (which blows). He eats perfectly fine, he darts out from his hiding spot and grabs the food at the surface, then goes right back to his spot.

He also does this digging thing which i just found is normal for marroons, but somehow i dont think them being so shy is as common. Is there something i should be looking out for? Or did i just get a shy clown (i really want a pair of ocilaris instead of a marroon and a goby, but i cant bring myself to sell them

)

Any advice on this matter would be ghreatly appreciated

***Rob*** · 07-04-2006, 08:46 PM

not really sure on this, it might just be a shy clown.
clowns are usually pretty quick to acclimate to the setup, and 6 weeks is usually long enough for a clown. although i have not personally kept maroons before.

i wouldnt worry too much, as long as everything indicates its healthy

**wwest** · 07-04-2006, 08:59 PM

I have a maroon clown and he is far from being shy, actually he is the bully of the tank.. he was shy for about the first two days after that i guess he realized he has a anemone to take care of ( not sure ) as for yours hiding in a hole all time i have no idea. is the setup excactly how it was before, was anything added or taken away?

**Small Fry** · 07-04-2006, 11:57 PM

everything is exactly the same as wen i got it, even took pictures of how the guy had it setup (i liked it

)

**wwest** · 07-05-2006, 12:11 AM

im not sure, maybe he just doesnt have host? i have always heard clowns need a purpose. not sure if its true or not. and if he didnt have a host before why would he need one now. dont know...

**fat walrus** · 07-05-2006, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by wwest

im not sure, i have always heard clowns need a purpose. not sure if its true or not. dont know...

its true, just ask veriann.

**Small Fry** · 07-05-2006, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by fat walrus

its true, just ask veriann.

lol, in truth i've wanted something he'd host in, but i dont know about anenomes, i hear they can desrupt other coral, i have to listen to the anenome podcast some more. but at this point i think my clown should stop being so picky and host my hammer (Lol)

**Small Fry** · 07-05-2006, 02:20 AM

on that note, if i did want to add an anenome, what would be safest for my tank (i've listened to the anenome podcast, but im looking for opinions based on personal experiences

). Knowing that my clown won't host a hammer

any advice would be good, keeping in mind tha i only have a 12gal so space is somewhat limited

**fat walrus** · 07-05-2006, 02:34 AM

a bubble tip anenome would be my choice. smaller one.

***Rob*** · 07-05-2006, 07:27 PM

i agree, the BTA are probably the easier of the common anemones, but they are also one of the most mobile if they dont find there "happy spot"

**Small Fry** · 07-06-2006, 03:24 PM

I heard that you could put the base into a pipe and it would stay put??? would that stress it out though?

And what are the lighting requirements for BTA's? I'm only running 48watts so i'd imagine i don't have enough for a BTA

**wwest** · 07-06-2006, 03:59 PM

i have a BTA and once it found its spot it hasnt moved and is happy there im not so sure it would go peacfully into a tube lol. and i would say since you have a 12gal tank and power compacts it should be ok. 48 watts are low but you are only working with, what a 12 inch high tank maximum? as long as you have daylight and actinic you should be good.

anyone correct me if im wrong

***Rob*** · 07-06-2006, 07:52 PM

the anemone will stay where its happy, if thats in a tube or on top of your prized coral, it doesn't matter. it usually best to get the anemone first, or be prepared to adjust your tank. once they find there spot the will stay there until something changes.

as for lighting, they really require PC at the least, so if you have good PC bulbs then you should be ok, just remember they need to be fed. also keep in mind that anemones are not easy or required for a clown fish. and they do require reef tank conditions in your tank

**Small Fry** · 07-06-2006, 07:53 PM

sounds good, but i don't know if i want to risk anything happening to my pink tip hammer just yet

or if nothing will happen im going to get one now

**clownfish4me** · 10-03-2007, 05:50 AM

i have a nice long tentacle anemone with bright red tips, that my pair of black saddle back clowns love. i put it in the tank near where i wanted it and waited until it attached itself and opened up. once it did i fed it a small piece of shrimp and it settled in and has not moved. the clowns often feed it pieces of food. i agree with everyone else about the bubble tipped anemone, maybe you can try feeding it so its happy and don't want to move. it may take your "shy clown" a while to take to it. good luck...