badger126
Zoanthid Addict
Hey I just got a long-tentacle anemone - how long does it usually take for the clowns to make friends? So far they are just ignoring it and it makes me sad 
How long to make friends?
- Thread starter badger126
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tat2z_21
tat2z_21
Well I will tell you that there is a chance that you NEM and your NEMO may never find a cordial relationship. However I have had luck with mine. So keep the hope alive. I have heard of people forcing the friendship. Sometimes if you can get your net and possibly corner the Clown into the anemone usually all it takes is for a gently handshake from one outreached arm and a strong bond is made. However I am not sure if you would want to take that route. Could possibly stress the clownfish out.
badger126
Zoanthid Addict
There is two of them and they hide in the back corner of the aquarium usually. That's kind of their "lair". the anemone settled in the front corner on the same side of the tank so it's pretty close, but the clowns haven't come out and taken a look. Well if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen, but it'd be nice to have my clowns up front with the anemone.
badger126
Zoanthid Addict
I guess what I am asking is whether sometimes it does in fact take a couple of days or more to pair? I just want to know when to lose hope if it doesn't happen
1fishkeeper
Keeper of the algae
When I had mine it almost took 6 months until they called it home.
IWishIWasAFish
Well-known member
One of my clowns cozied up to my new RBTA in about 3 days. They're not a strongly bonded pair yet, so the other was/is still ignoring it. OCDreefer said it took his clowns 4 months to decide to live in the anemone he got them.
I have heard it said it mattered whether the clowns were captive-bred, but I don't think you could get more captive-bred then my little misbar Ocellaris and he's the one who only took 3 days (he's not really scared of nets, or hands, and he eats anything.)
I have heard it said it mattered whether the clowns were captive-bred, but I don't think you could get more captive-bred then my little misbar Ocellaris and he's the one who only took 3 days (he's not really scared of nets, or hands, and he eats anything.)
jake65
Well-known member
Its not a guarantee that your anemone will host your clowns. Sometimes, tho rare the fish just have no interest in "hanging out" in anemones. I would just give it time, right now it sounds like they feel safe hiding in the corner, they will investigate sooner or later
IPisces
Well-known member
My male blackocellaris clown became addicted to the rbta and the female ignored it. They area a mated pair too. My orange ocellaris clowns are both addicted to the rbta although the female tries to keep the male out of it. It took both my black male and the orange female a couple weeks to find it. Like everyone else says, give them time.
iroll253
Well-known member
My clowns took about a week.
seagem
Lurker
I have read that taping a picture of an anemone hosting clowns onto your tank will sometimes encourage your clowns to do the same.
badger126
Zoanthid Addict
They were swimming up in the front corner next to the anemone last night, they just didn't quite get in it except for a few times they got to wrestling around and brushed it a bit. Keepin the hope alive
HumblePie
Pico Ninja
Too funny. I love it! Badger126 if you do that please let us know if it works.
Also, what type of clown do you have? Different clowns have different anemone preferences.
addocdreefer
Active member
Cool thread. I have two ocellaris clowns and two RTBA's. Had them together for a little over a year and have seen no interest at all. Although they stay on one side of the tank and the RBTA's are on the other and a yelow tail blue damsel's territory is between them. So maybe that has something to do with it. The picture trick sounds way cool i'll have to try it.
I takes time and you just never know what will happen. My clowns ignored my BTA for several months. The male finally started getting close with it and it wasn't until after I moved tanks over a year later that the female showed any interest in being hosted by the anemone. Now they both rarely stray far and the female will sometimes nip at me if I have to put my hand in the tank near their home.
HumblePie
Pico Ninja
That cracks me up. I have never heard of using pictures until reading this thread. I think it's an excellent idea!
badger126
Zoanthid Addict
I believe that mine are ocellaris, although I'm not sure cuz they're hand-me-downs lol. They're pretty much your standard clown pattern but the orange is darker up top and fades brighter to the bottom. I'll have to get a pic up soon
addocdreefer
Active member
badger126 not to be a downer ... but i googled "clownfish anemone compatability chart"and looked at 6 or 7 of them. none show a ocellaris or percula host in a long tentacled "macrodactyla doreensis" but hopefully you can report the first case
badger126
Zoanthid Addict
I was under the impression that clowns host in just about anything in captivity. I go to petco and see clowns hosting in condylactis anemones, which aren't even listed as a clown-hosting anemone. I dunno, I guess we'll see. Guess I could trade the clowns in for a newer model.....lol
