clown trying to host fake anemone??

[fish are friends!!]

hey soo i got an ocellaris clownfish and it looks like its trying to host a fake anemone...is this normal instinct for a clown?
Im going to get a real anemone cuz i feel bad for him....but will he switch to real one? i cant remember the kind i was looking at in getting....all i remember is that the tips of its tenticles were purple.....

[peacher213]

I suppose they dont know its not real lol. I have heard of clowns hosting power heads and other equipment in the tank. Someone on here had that experience I think. Id just let the clown host it. At least he cant kill it :-P

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

It's normal for clown fish to claim an area/ object as their territory. There's many people who have anemonefish and don't have an anemone. Often, the fish will host corals, fake decorations or an area of rock/ sand. Don't bother feeling bad for the fish. It's just entertaining it's natural instinct. When it comes to anemones, just keep in mind that its an animal in it's own right and requires it's own specialized care. If you're just getting one because you feel bad for your fish, I urge you to reconsider and do the much needed research before pulling the preverbal trigger. HTH

[fish are friends!!]

ok thx guys!

[montipora]

This is totally normal, if there is not an anemone they like they will pick something else, i had a pair of them hosting a piece of pvc pipe.
Keep in mind just because he is hosting something right now does NOT mean it will switch to something else, also, the anemone you were looking at was probably a condylactis, these anemones have very strong stings and most clowns will totally ignore them. Your best bet would probably be a bubble tip anemone. Still though, getting a clown to host something is very hit and miss.

[fish are friends!!]

ok ya i think thats wat it was....i think im gonna pass on an anemone for now....