Clown/anemone experiment

[~Flighty~]

My O. Clown pair hasn't ever hosted in anything since I got them about 6 months ago. I had a fourline damsel that hosted in a SPS, but the clowns just didn't get it. So, being an impatient reefer , I decided to make a little cage about 12"x6"x6" out of craft mesh and stick the female clown in with the RBTA. I figure with the close contact she won't be forced to touch the anemone (and maybe get eaten), but she probably will brush against it.

The first day she seemed very casual about brushing into it while trying to get out of the cage. She obviously wasn't getting stung, but it seems like she didn't even notice it. I was shure this wasn't going to work. Everyone with obstanant clowns would be doing it if it worked, right?

Today is the second day and she actually seems to be showing initial signs of hosting. She is still more interested in getting out of the cage than in the anemone, but for the first time she is snuggling with it off and on. She spends less than half her time touching it right now, but it is signifigant progress to see her swimming in the tenticles at all.

I'll keep everyone posted on how this goes.

 

[Ray]

This sounds kinda mean to me but I hope it works out for you and you get the results you are looking for

 

[starrfish]

Cindy - you're a wiz with that craft mesh!

 

[davidrupe]

I think that is a great idea. My clowns haven't gone anywhere near my BTAs.

 

[dz6t]

Just like traping a sheep with a wolf. Yeah, sometimes they dance together.

 

[~Flighty~]

I'm surprised people think this is mean. The clown and anemone aren't forced together. She is about an inch long and the anemone is about 4 inches, so at least 95% of the holding area is open with some jars for her to hide in if she wants to. It is like putting them together in a 7 gallon nano tank with a 300 gallon sump for a few days. She is just much more likely to find the anemone here than in 120 gallons.

It appears to have worked too. She is spending most of her time in the anemone now. I think I'll give it another day or two and then lower the cage so she can swim in and out and see how it goes.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

I think it's fair experiment
Much better then my putting clowns in a tank to see if they'll be Ok with (2) large carpet anemones, a rose, and a BTA
1 left....and it's hosting in my blue carpet

 

[nitrofish]

lets see some pics