clowns won't host anemone

[Surfratphil]

I have two tank raised Ocellaris clowns and I am trying to get to host my 7" RBTA.

I am trying the pictures on the glass.

Any suggestions?

[jt_milstead]

Thats normal for tank raised clownfish. What i do is put nem and clowns in a critter keeper together for a while.....

[LotsaFishies]

It can take awhile....

Ditto what JT said -- force them together.

[50 cube]

My tank raised clowns never hosted either, maybe cuz they didn't have parents to show them the ropes?

[h20poloman]

Ditto what JT said or just give it more time. I had a pair of occelaris in a 240 with a large sebae and they didn't host in it for a long time...like a year or something to that degree. Ocellaris are not native to hosting in a nem so it's not necessarily a natural occurance.

[Reef Dreams]

also proved to work take a picture of the sme clowns and anemone you have with the clowns in the anemone print it out and tape it to your glass salt water fish are known to have amazing vision your clowns will c this and eventually realize this is what they are suppose to do

[sherrerb]

i had the same issue in my Aquapod 24 for the first week and then during tank maintenance when i turned off my Koralia Nano, they hosted.....i was all happty and ***** after that like a kid in a candy store

[jt_milstead]

My tank raised clowns never hosted either, maybe cuz they didn't have parents to show them the ropes?

This is the theory I believe. I don't think they have an adult to teach them. I've tried the mirror, the picture, scaring them into the nem. Confining them with the nem is the only thing I've had success with.

[XO PRESENTS]

Time is the essance.... my Onyx at the office took over six months before they started hosting, same thing with the Plats that were in my tank. It will happen over time and I know how you feel.. been there several time... luckly my pair of SnowFlakes at home were already hosting when I got them =)

[davocean]

Whether tank bred or wild caught, the instinct to accept a host is still there.
A BTA is not the natural host for occelaris, not that they won't accept it, it just may take longer.
A carpet or ritteri is their natural host nem.
While some people have had luck kind of forcing/containing them, it is important that you give enough space as they need to build up immunity to the nem stings, you can actually kill your clowns if you force in too tight of a space.
Patience really is best, and I agree the pic trick has worked many times.

[jt_milstead]

Dave brings up a very valid point about natural hosts. Most of us usually add hosts that are either what we consider to be more attrative, that are easier to care for, or that aren't know to eat their hostees.
Many of us have had different experiences, try what you feel comfortable with...

[davocean]

Yeah, it's very common for most to see what looks nice as far as nems or fish and place them together,(And BTA's are so easy to come by and care for) and most of the time most clowns will accept a substitute to their natural host.
For some reasons occs seem to be the slowest to accept a non natural host nem, but they should in time, though I have heard of it taking even up to a year or so to do so.
I really would try the pic trick, costs nothing and very little effort, why not.

[Surfratphil]

Thank you all for the great input. I love this Forum, you guys are great!!!
As it is, I am currently doing the picture thing. Hope it works. I have some great shots of our clowns and of our RBTA and am going to photoshop them into the RBTA. Hahahaha! That should get them to host!!
[IMG]C:\Documents and Settings\Phil.WESTTECH\My Documents\My Pictures\aquarium pictures\aquaruim 6-12_2011Jun09_2347.jpg[/IMG]

[jt_milstead]

I tried to edit i couldnt get your pic to work. Email them to me at jt_milstead@yahoo.com, I'll post them up for you.

[jt_milstead]

Here is pics....