A Clown for my Bubble Tip?

[axlroh]

Just moved all my 30G inhabitants to a new 55G, 1 royal gramma, 3 small blue chromis, 2 small ocellaris clowns (1" & 1.5"), some small zoo frags and 2 small "baby" bubble tip anemones (2-3" each).

The ocellaris clowns are tank raised and so far haven't shown any interest in the bubble tips. I was thinking of adding a pair of small wild caught tomato or maroon (gold stripe perhaps) clowns for the bta's. I've read quite a few articles that different clowns don't mix, so chances are if I add a pair of tomato or maroon clowns (latter are much more aggressive I've heard) then my ocellaris clowns become the "odd clown out", and wouldn't live peacefully with the more aggressive tomato or maroon clowns. Right now the ocellaris pair appear to be mated, always swimming together, rarely apart.

Any opinions/thoughts contrary to this line of thinking? Also, any keepers of more than a pair of ocellaris clowns in a single tank, such as 2 or 3 pair of ocellaris, added when very small into the same tank?

[BoomerD]

First off, your tank isn't nearly mature enough for any anemone...the recommendations are 1 year. That allows the tank time to go through it's cycle, plus all the mini-cycles and phases that is common for tanks to have.

Next, if you add tomato or maroon clowns to that tank, being as aggressive as they are, they will kill your oscellaris clowns. You'll have a difficult time keeping more than one pair of a single species, (or a single of a single species...NEVER a mix of species) in a tank that small.
Next, anemones don't need clownfish, and clownfish don't need anemones...Odds are, given time, your tank raised oscellaris will figure out what the anemone is, and what it's for...the natural drive to be hosted is VERY strong.
Also, wild-caught clowns quite often carry parasites and diseases that are difficult at best to get rid of, (brooklynellosis, amyloodinium) and will spread to any other fish in the tank. Stick with tank bred/raised stock when you have that choice.

[lcstorc]

Definitely do not add maroon clowns. They can be quite agressive particularly to other clowns. Mine is and I often read this from others as well.

[axlroh]

Originally Posted by BoomerD

First off, your tank isn't nearly mature enough for any anemone...the recommendations are 1 year. That allows the tank time to go through it's cycle, plus all the mini-cycles and phases that is common for tanks to have.

You'll have a difficult time keeping more than one pair of a single species, (or a single of a single species...NEVER a mix of species) in a tank that small.
that choice.

Wrong on both the tank age, and the tank size. You need to read my post more carefully, and stop applying the "stock rules" about the 1 year maturity, etc, since I've heard them before.

A pair of Ocellaris in a 55G, with very few other inhabitants. These are not Clarkii or Tomato that are destined for 6" adult growth, so I'm planning 3"+ max size. Actually, my ocellaris clowns nearly doubled in size while I had them in the 30G. The BTA's are doing fine, they doubled in size since I got them 3 months ago.

When I did the move, all the water in the 30G was transferred to the 55G anyway, so the 55G isn't really "new". I've done this type of "move" before with pretty good results. The 50lbs of live rock was all moved from a 1 yr old 30G and from a 4 month old batch of live rock that was in a curing tank, so to speak. In fact, the 100lbs of live sand in the 55G has been cycling for a good 2 months.

[BoomerD]

Originally Posted by axlroh

You need to read my post more carefully. A pair of Ocellaris in a 55G, with very few other inhabitants. These are not Clarkii or Tomato that are destined for 6" adult growth, so I'm planning 3"+ max size. Actually, my ocellaris clowns nearly doubled in size while I had them in the 30G. The BTA's are doing fine, they doubled in size since I got them 3 months ago.

When I did the move, all the water in the 30G was transferred to the 55G anyway, so the 55G isn't really "new". I've done this type of "move" before with pretty good results. The 50lbs of live rock was all moved from a 1 yr old 30G and from a 4 month old batch of live rock that was in a curing tank, so to speak. In fact, the 100lbs of live sand in the 55G has been cycling for a good 2 months.

I read your post, and I stand by my reply.

[axlroh]

Originally Posted by BoomerD

I read your post, and I stand by my reply.

I've been planning this 55G and the move for many months, and so far it has gone off without a hitch. It actually went better than expected and the health of the inhabitants is also better than expected.

[Dragon Wrasse]

[Snelly40]

CATFIGHT!!!
ANYWAY,
ID GIVE IT SOME TIME, THE bta'S ARE THE MOST COMMONLY ACCEPTED ANEMONE, I HAVE HEARD AS SILLY AS THIS SOUNDS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TAPED PICTURES OF CLOWN IN ANEMONES AND IT HELPED PURSUADE THEM INTO THE HOST.
GOOD LUCK

[Craig Lambert]

I have had an RBTA for 8 months now. It moved the second day it was in the tank (about 6 inches from where I put it), and it has not moved since. My tank was setup with fully cured live rock that I received overnight. It had cured for nearly 4 months in various tanks of my supplier so I experienced no real cycle. It was minor, and ended in 4 days. I think your situation is similar in that your tank is really just a transfer rather than uncured live rock that can take months before its ready for your inhabitants. If I was getting any other type of anemone, I would have waited longer. My idea was to let the anemone find the location he was going to be happy with before I began adding corals. (Didn't want to lose any to a roaming RBTA).

The common wisdom is to wait a year for anenome introduction, but I personally believe this to be one of those ideas that when repeated often enough is eventually taken as fact. If your tank is stable. (Small temp, pH, Alk, and Calcium swings) then it should be ready for an RBTA. These are the hardiest of the anemones when properly selected. My tank was setup for about 3 1/2 months when I added one, and he has done very well. My true perculas hosted to it after about a week. Make sure you get a very healthy one. A good source for a healthy RBTA imo is the "divers den" at liveaquaria.com. They cost alot more, but mine is so beautiful and healthy that I don't regret spending the extra money.

I would really think twice about Maroon clowns though. I was innitially going to get a pair of them, but more often than not they are a very nasty fish. I have read a number of posts from people who got rid of them. If you still feel it's what you want to do, then I'd say go ahead, but just be aware of the nature of these guys.

[Craig Lambert]

axlroh,

In all the fireworks on this thread, I overlooked the fact that you already have the BTA's. I would also give the ocilaris some time to see if they will host. If it has been a full 3 months, it may never happen, but you might give them a bit more time.

[axlroh]

Waiting for the Ocellaris to maybe take to either BTA is good advice. I even remember reading a blurb on wetwebmedia.com where one guy used a plastic clownfish veggie clip and bobbed it around by hand near the BTA so the uninterested clown would join in (he said "I kid you not", so maybe he got it to work).

Quite apparent that adding maroon clowns will be doom for the ocellaris already in the tank. Also true that wild caught has additional risks as well. I should really just enjoy my ocellaris pair more. They look so happy together.

[BoomerD]

Originally Posted by Snelly40

CATFIGHT!!!
ANYWAY,
ID GIVE IT SOME TIME, THE bta'S ARE THE MOST COMMONLY ACCEPTED ANEMONE, I HAVE HEARD AS SILLY AS THIS SOUNDS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TAPED PICTURES OF CLOWN IN ANEMONES AND IT HELPED PURSUADE THEM INTO THE HOST.
GOOD LUCK

No catfight. The OP asked for opinions, and I gave mine. He/she has the option of ignoring them if he/she pleases. Afterall, it's his/her tank...All any of us can do, is give recommendations based on our knowledge/experience...

[Snelly40]

i agree,, just playing with everyone, its what i like to do
i know poeples opinions can sometimes seem to have some passion behind them.
BoomerD ur the man and im looking at a new bmw m3, thought u'd like since u have the bmw symbol

[BoomerD]

M3's a nice car. I just don't fit into the darned things...I "tried on" a convertible a couple of years ago, and I looked out OVER the top of the windshield...in a hardtop, I'm so cramped, that my head is laying on my own shoulder...just not a good way to drive...