Hey guys next Wednesday my BTA comes in from the LFS and I was wondering, if I buy 2 wild clownfish at around the same size will they both host to the same anemone? If not i may just buy one but i'd like him to have a little partner in there so he won't be lonely!
clownfish + BTA
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loohunter
Fish lover
it can be hit and miss with clowns. buy the smallest ones you can find and you have a better chance of them pairing up. or you can just buy a bonded pair. it also may take several months for them to take to the anenome if they even take to it at all
Wild ones are much more likely to get diseases. BTAs are not a naturally hosting anemone for Percs...however, it can happen. As has been mentioned in other threads you've started, it's really a good idea to do some good research on what you want before making purchases. As was mentioned above, it'll be "hit or miss" as to if the Clowns will host in the BTA. I hope you've upgraded your lighting before getting the Anemone. Otherwise, it won't last long.
loohunter
Fish lover
i had a pair that hosted one, but sometimes it takes a while. my pink skunks hosted as soon as they hit the water
LakeEd
Achilles
If you do end up with "14$ wilds that the LFS sells"... I highly recommend you have a QT tank setup, and do some preventitive treatment of your Clowns, BEFORE ever adding them to your display tank. I believe if you read through some of the "Stickies" at the top of the forum, you will find out some very good information about setting up a QT, and the recommended treatments for especially wild-caught clowns.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
by the way... I think you will be happy with your new lights, when compaired to what your system currently has.
Good luck, and keep us posted!
by the way... I think you will be happy with your new lights, when compaired to what your system currently has.
That's why I'm waiting till next week before buying them. The LFS has had them since last Monday so i'm waiting 2 weeks to make sure they are healthy. I just don't want one hosting then bossing the other one around, or none host at all..so I'm trying to find out as much information as I can. Would it be best to have the anemone in there first or the clownfish?
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LakeEd
Achilles
Watching any possible purchases while they are at the LFS is always a good thing. Gives you the oppertunity to watch that they are eating (something some breeds don't take to well in captivity), as well as looking for signs of stress and/or desease.
Unfortunately, any fish you happen to see at your LFS that you like, may not be the exact same fish you see there when you come back a day later, let a lone a couple weeks later. Even the bestest of LFS owners & sales reps for those stores, are in the business to SELL their stock. They also are continually receiving new stock, which may or may not be housed in the same tank as "your" potential fish is.
That also brings up another possible problem... a healthy fish becoming contaminated by a new addition to that tank. A new fish "MAY" look perfectly healthy to our eyes... but you don't have any idea what it may or may not have. And, once its put into the same tank as any other fish, those original fish now may come in contact with something that will harm them.
Okay... I guess summing all of that up... anytime I add a fish, I just plan on doing my own QT, with preventive treatments... knowing the risks and possible problems. I highly recommend you research into this as a plan for yourself also.
Unfortunately, any fish you happen to see at your LFS that you like, may not be the exact same fish you see there when you come back a day later, let a lone a couple weeks later. Even the bestest of LFS owners & sales reps for those stores, are in the business to SELL their stock. They also are continually receiving new stock, which may or may not be housed in the same tank as "your" potential fish is.
That also brings up another possible problem... a healthy fish becoming contaminated by a new addition to that tank. A new fish "MAY" look perfectly healthy to our eyes... but you don't have any idea what it may or may not have. And, once its put into the same tank as any other fish, those original fish now may come in contact with something that will harm them.
Okay... I guess summing all of that up... anytime I add a fish, I just plan on doing my own QT, with preventive treatments... knowing the risks and possible problems. I highly recommend you research into this as a plan for yourself also.
LakeEd
Achilles
From what I've read, tank-raised clowns are less prone to deseases like brooklynellosis... so that may be a better choice.
As for a Maroon Clown??? They do get larger than a lot of the other clowns... and are even more territorial.
As for a Maroon Clown??? They do get larger than a lot of the other clowns... and are even more territorial.
LakeEd
Achilles
Always try to remember here though...
This is YOUR tank. YOUR choices, and what works for YOU!
Everyone is different, and will have different experiences. What you are hearing from me here personally, as well as others I'm sure, is what I have myself found to be true for ME. Research, research, research... then ask questions and research some more. Do what is correct for YOU... just do it with as much information as you can collect is all!
This is YOUR tank. YOUR choices, and what works for YOU!
Everyone is different, and will have different experiences. What you are hearing from me here personally, as well as others I'm sure, is what I have myself found to be true for ME. Research, research, research... then ask questions and research some more. Do what is correct for YOU... just do it with as much information as you can collect is all!
Maroon Clowns are a natural partner for BTAs...however, they can get HUGE and are very mean!!! LOL. If you've ever raised freshwater Cichlids, they're a good comparison. I've got a GSM in with a RBTA and she's a demon fish!!
I do agree that Tank Raised Clowns are much less prone to diseases and just as likely to host. A BTA or RBTA are great choices for your best likelihood of getting your clowns to host.
I also agree that it's your tank. You set it up the way you want. Get the fish you want. But, as Ed said, do it with as much research as possible and while making sure that you're meeting the needs of all the life forms in your care.
I do agree that Tank Raised Clowns are much less prone to diseases and just as likely to host. A BTA or RBTA are great choices for your best likelihood of getting your clowns to host.
I also agree that it's your tank. You set it up the way you want. Get the fish you want. But, as Ed said, do it with as much research as possible and while making sure that you're meeting the needs of all the life forms in your care.
Thank you all for your replies...but here's what I mean. I like both of those types of clowns but I'm just wanting to get the one that will best suite the BTA. More than one person has recommended the Maroon for the BTA even if it is tank raised. So if you could please tell me!!
If you get a pair of Maroons, the female will get 6" long. Too large for that tank, IMO. I'd stick with the Percs. There's some tricks you can use if they don't host on their own. It sounds crazy but you can go online, find a pic of your species of Clown hosting with the same species of Anemone you have...print it out and tape it to your tank, where the clowns see it. I know, it sounds NUTS...but believe it or not, it does work well.
Another thing you mentioned earlier is that you don't want your clowns hosting and then one bullying the other out of the anemone. No matter what you do, that can happen. It doesn't happen all the time, but sometimes the female is selfish and bullies the male out.
Another thing you mentioned earlier is that you don't want your clowns hosting and then one bullying the other out of the anemone. No matter what you do, that can happen. It doesn't happen all the time, but sometimes the female is selfish and bullies the male out.
loohunter
Fish lover
if you are just looking for clowns to host an anenome then i would get to tank raised clarkii's. these clowns will host absolutly anything
Then get the Percs...QT them for a good amount of time. They may or may not go to the BTA but I think you've got a better chance that they will than that they won't. It's really hard to say...but as I said, there's several tricks that can help as well. It may take some time before they do though. Just be patient and see what happens.
Yeah I heard of the picture on the side of the tank trick, i'll give them a week and try it. I don't have any $$ for a quarantine tank but are there any cheap chemicals to add directly to the tank to prevent diseases or anything and maintain a healthy wild pair of clownfish like im getting
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