VERY BAD tank day!

[TomD]

Me and Erik(Salty Dog) spent 2 hours blowing a powerhead and ice cubes to try and get my BTA to let loose....no luck

Then trying to get the female O clown he was also taking...no luck

All we did was make my tank a mess, make 3-4 frags, and now I have 3 clowns!! 1 female Onyx, 1 female O Clown, and 1 male perc. Hopefully the Onyx will not get killed

I do not know what else to do with a tankfull of corals to remove a BTA and a clown.

I am not moving the big rock the BTA is on.

 

[TomD]

If there is any light at the end of the tunnel, the Onyx has been hosting my frogspan, the O clown-the BTA, and my male perc stays away.

Maybe they will be ok? Am I dreaming...

 

[JayM]

try and remember there are more good days than ones like this

fish trap for your extra clown?

if it's any consolation, I had a BTA in my QT for 4 weeks. It decided to attach to a large barnacle, down one of the 'tubes'.

I tried everything, including turning the whole barnacle upside down for a week, direct flow from a powerhead for another number of days.

The BTA finally got moved to the display.....in the barnacle

Keep at it.

 

[~Flighty~]

It usually is ok for quite a while until it's not. Try shading the anemone with something like a clay pot with the hole cut out a little bigger. they will sense the light from the hole and move up to poke out, sometimes conveniently footing in the pot.

 

[TomD]

Thanks Cindy I was hoping you would respond. All 3 are in their own areas now so at least I feel I do not have to panic to figure it out.

Cindy, have you had any luck catching clowns without destroying tons of corals?

 

[~Flighty~]

If you have a few weeks, train them to come to a container to eat. It takes less time than you would think to teach them. Don't jump the gun and try to prematurely catch them in it or they will always be distrustful.

You can also try the turn on the lights at night and catch them while they wake up trick. That one usually works well with clowns.

 

[willray]

I have a diy trap that you can use if youd like.
It suctions to the inside of the tank. feed out of it for a few days(or less) and when the correct fish goes in just lower the door.that simple.

 

[ReeferMedic]

If you can get the anemone off, put it in the trap. The clowns will be sure to follow.

 

[Dave McReeferson]

I put a piece of tubing on the end of a maxi jet 1200 and direct it right at the foot of the anemone. It sometimes takes several hours for them to move. Even then it is tough to free it from the rock, I've never used ice cubes or anything, just worked at the edge with my fingernail until I got the tip of my finger underneath him and then the rest is easy, just slowly peels right off.

Night time is your best shot of catching a clown IMO. Have your GF shine a mag light right in his face when he is sleeping in his host, then whip a (clear) cup over him trapping him against his host. Then slip something flat underneath the cup (like a CD case lid) trapping him in, smooth as silk. Worked like a charm for me.

Good luck.

 

[TomD]

Thanks guys. The clown is probably the smallest task.

We had a powerhead pointed at the anenome's foot for 2+ hours and nothing. All it did was move further in the rock.

 

[Dave McReeferson]

You need to get the pump's flow in behind the anemone for him to want to come out. You need to make it uncomfortable for him to keep his foot in that hole in the rock.

 

[TomD]

Well....My O clown wa beating the heck out of the Onyx because the Onyx started trying to host in the BTA with the other female!

Anyway, I finally caught the clown!! She was attacking the Onyx in the BTA and I swiped quick enough!

Somebody please come get a free nice size female Ocellaris clown this weekend! She is in the sump.

 

[TomD]

Onyx Hosting

Well amazingly enough on the first day the Onyx had the tank without another female she hosted in the BTA right away! She has not left since, looks like I will keep my BTA after all.

 

[ohsweetmadness]

congrats tom!

 

[TomD]

Thanks!

 

[jovreef]

Nice, looks like her color came back quick! I'm so glad she has a good home & is already hosting!

 

[TomD]

I was surprised she hosted that quick! I learned my lesson though....Dont buy a new fish until the old is out!

 

[MichaelJ]

I was surprised she hosted that quick! I learned my lesson though....Dont buy a new fish until the old is out!

What's the fun in that?