[Puckett88]

Hey guys, im new to the forums. I just got an anenome and i have had a clown fish in my tank for about a month and a half now. Will he host with the anenome? Also how should i feed the anenome and how many times a week? Thanks, its just a basic long tentacle anenome

[zhenya]

Hi Neal,




What species of clownfish do you have and what is the exact species of anemone did you get. If you can answer this questions it would be easier to tell you if your anemone is a natural host for your clownfish.
Here's a link to an online book about anemones and clownfishes.
Anemone fishes and their host sea anemones

[Ninong]

Hi Neal,



The problem is that more than one host sea anemone is commonly called the Long Tentacle Anemone. Usually it's used for Macrodactyla doreensis but it is often used for Heteractis crispa, too. Both of those anemones are sand dwelling and require a 4" deep sand bed to thrive, and both grow too large for your aquarium. Also, two 36w 50/50 compact fluorescent lamps would be inadequate lighting for these animals.

Assuming your clownfish is Amphiprion percula (your profile says "percula clown"), it would probably not accept M. doreensis as a host but it should accept H. crispa since that is one of its natural hosts. If you happen to have A. ocellaris, commonly called the False Percula Clownfish, then it doesn't accept either of those two host sea anemones in nature.

In general, host sea anemones should be fed two to three times a week with food that is appropriate for the particular species and in amounts proportionate to the size of the anemone.

Please read this article by Dr. Ron Shimek on the husbandry of host sea anemones.

Good luck!

[Puckett88]

I came across a problem, it seems the anemones foot has been laserated or something, there is some white spongy like substance just kind of purtruding out its foot. What could this be? Can it heal? I dont know what to do

[Minh Nguyen]

Some species of anemone are much hardier than other. Injury is fatal to some anemone species in our tank while it would stimulate division in other species. If you have a picture of this anemone, we can help with the prognosis, otherwise there is no way we can tell. Common name is useless in trying to ID anemone.

[Mango Man]

Hello reefers, i dont think we can really ever say that the percs will "not" host the anenome.They have been known to host flower pots, feather dusters, and all sorts of differant anenome's. I too have a large long tentacle anenome, and i just purchased a maited pair of true percula's, its been a day, and no hosting luck yet, but we will see. time time time

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by Mango Man

Hello reefers, i dont think we can really ever say that the percs will "not" host the anenome.

Anything is possible; however, we already know exactly which species of host anemones are accepted by which species of clownfish in their natural habitat and empirical observation has established which anemones are likely to be acceptable to which clownfish as surrogate hosts in captivity.

They have been known to host flower pots, feather dusters, and all sorts of differant anenome's.

It is much more likely that clownfish will adopt a Goniopora sp. as a surrogate host than an anemone with which they are not natural symbionts. In fact, many clownfish will prefer a Goniopora over their natural host in captivity much to the dismay of the aquarist.

I too have a large long tentacle anenome, and i just purchased a maited pair of true percula's, its been a day, and no hosting luck yet, but we will see. time time time

It you're referring to Macrodactyla doreensis when you say "long tentacle anemone," then you may be disappointed if you expect your pair of Amphiprion percula to accept it as a surrogate host. It is not a natural host for them and they usually reject it in captivity.

Good luck!



P.S. -- I am assuming that by "LT anemone," you mean Macrodactyla doreensis. If you mean Heteractis crispa, then there is a much better chance that your Amphiprion percula fish will accept it as a host; in fact, this is a natural combination. It's very difficult to know what people are talking about when they use a common name that is common to more than one species.

[Ninong]

John Tullock has this listing of clownfish-host anemone combinations online. Bear in mind that it is 11 years old. Notice for example that he does not list Amphiprion ocellaris as likely to accept Entacmaea quadricolor as a surrogate host in captivity. Since 1996, there has been an explosion in the marine aquarium hobby and this has resulted in a vast increase in anecdotal reports from aquarists.

More recent publications (e.g., Joyce Wilkerson's Clownfishes) lists A. ocellaris as more likely than not to accept E. quadricolor as a substitute host in captivity.

A review of posts on the largest reefkeeping bulletin board over the past seven years leads me to conclude that the reports of A. ocellaris accepting E. quadricolor in captivity far outweigh the reports of long-term rejection. Conversely, the reports of E. quadricolor being accepted by A. percula are the exception. Far more hobbyists report that their A. percula rejected their E. quadricolor.

[Mango Man]

your right ninong, i failed to mention i also have a green BTA. the LT is pink, or salmon color.