true percula/carpet anemone

[mtreef]

I have just started stocking a fairly new 155 gal reef tank and have very little in the tank - 3 leathers, 3 polyps, 3 mushrooms, 1 powder blue, 1 sailfin, one carpet anemone, pair of perculas, 150 lb LR., clean-up crew).

I have one carpet anemone and have just added a pair of true perculas. They don't appear to have any interest in the carpet yet and have not established any type of territory that I can tell. They have been in the tank three days.

What is your experience with these fish? Do they generally get interested in the carpet right away? Or do they take a while? What can I expect?

I imagine if they set up a territory that does not include my carpet, I may have to move the carpet. Although, I will probably leave the carpet and use it as an excuse to get more anemones!

[Tha One Crumcake]

I've had lots of clowns, honestly it's up to the clown. Sometimes they will dive in, in a matter of minutes, sometimes it can take a week or so.

Are your clowns showing attraction towards anything else? such as your leathers? Also remember that carpets are a pretty aggresive anemone, and not all clowns will take to them. But who knows...

[wastedincome420]

I think that TOC pretty much said it.
It all depends on the clown, i have heard sometimes it takes upto a couple of months for the clowns to accept the anemone as there host.
I also remember hearing that ecspecially with "perc's" they are the hardest to get paired up with a host. The display tank at my LFS has a pair of perc's in there with a couple anemone's and they wont go near em', instead they prefer to cuddle up with a colony of xenia
I know that I have had good luck with my saddle back clown, after his host anemone died he adopted a giant feather duster as his new host. You should see it it's soooo funny to watch
I would say to just give em' a chance with the carpet, dont rush em' its only been a few days right
Good luck,
Mark (watedincome)

[mtreef]

Yeah, I figured it would take a while and possibly they may never go into the carpet. The only thing they seem to be growing attached to is a powerhead! They seem to spend a lot of time at the top of the tank. They even sleep floating sideways on the surface. Scared the crap out of me the first time I saw it.

[wastedincome420]

Since my I lost my one perc (which was killed by a puffer wich my LFS told me would be "fine" (needless to say the puffer went back the next day)) I havent gotten another but I do plan on get getting a pair for my new 105g. Perc's are great. The one i had loved to "ride the wave" from the power head. He would swim up to it, get blown back to the other end of the tank and do it again. My 5yr daughter would sit and watch him and laugh her butt off.