New Girl in Town

[girlonalark]

Hi all, I have enjoyed reading posts on this site for a while and have learned a lot. Since I sometimes have questions I can't find answers to, I decided to jump in. Here is my first issue ~ I have a maroon clown and an anenome (sorry I don't know what kind it is, not a bubble, but the common white with peach foot). The anenome before I got the clown looked great according to all your posts about signs of health. It has changed its appearance and behavior since the clown moved in. It is tannish, sometimes greenish in color, spends more time "holed up". Sometimes the tentacles (?) are short and skinny. I put the clown in isolation for a week to see what would happen, and the anenome started to look better, but the clown had to go to the fish hospital (a bucket with meds) because he soon looked very bad ~ swimming sideways, weak, not eating, gold bands turned brown. So they both recovered, and are back together in the tank. The anenome is starting to look declined again. Is this normal...what is going on, do you think? Should I get the right anenome for the maroon clown that I have read about?

[Clay12340]

It is possible for your clown to love his/her host to death. Usually the host will adjust to the newcomer and be just fine. How long have you had the two together?

[wozza]

is it possible for you to get a picture of the anenome?
if so that would help.

thanks james

[girlonalark]

I wondered if the clown could love the anenome to death, he is constantly rubbing and swimming through. I got the clown first a couple of months ago, then added the anenome about a month ago. It started looking bad within a week. They have been back together for three days or so, hoping the anenome will adjust. I attached before and after pics, hopefully I did it right so you can see them.

[wozza]

i may be wrong in saying this but to me it looks like your anenome is simply getting itszooxanthellae back, in the first picture it looks bleached (void of Zooxanthellae) and is now returing to health.

have you fed the anenome, if so what and how often?

James

[girlonalark]

Hi James,
yes, I had read about the tan coloring being a good thing, so that is a relief. I give him a half inch hunk of shrimp every 4 or 5 days, plus he catches some of the pellets with krill that I give the clown. Today he looks great, all stretched out nice, maybe he was just going through an adjustment phase.
Thanks, Chris

[Dragonmoray]

That anemone looks like Condylactis Passiflora to me. I would say it's getting used to the attentions of the clown, because Condylactis comes from the Carribean and as far as i know there are no clownfish that come from the Carribean. My guess is your Anemone is wondering what the hell is going on when the clown tries to nestle.

[wozza]

Hi James,
yes, I had read about the tan coloring being a good thing, so that is a relief. I give him a half inch hunk of shrimp every 4 or 5 days, plus he catches some of the pellets with krill that I give the clown. Today he looks great, all stretched out nice, maybe he was just going through an adjustment phase.
Thanks, Chris

Thats all good then, if it looks good today then its a good sign aswell.
another quick question what lighting is it under? im sure you got that covered

cheers james

[girlonalark]

yes, a good light was my first investment. Another thing I am wondering about is a good resource for finding out the names of the things that I have, like a website with pictures or a good reference book. Yesterday I added a really nice leather coral and would like some info about it.

[zhenya]

Hi girlonalark,

Another thing I am wondering about is a good resource for finding out the names of the things that I have, like a website with pictures or a good reference book. Yesterday I added a really nice leather coral and would like some info about it.

Check out the link on the top of the page marked as "bookstore", or click here.

For corals, good reference book( and a good read overall) I would recommend book by Eric H. Borneman Aquarium Corals.
For inverts, there is a wonderful pocket sized reference by Dr. Ron Shimek, Ph.D. called appropriately Marine Invertebrates.