Clownfish_Killer Anemone??

[Sea MunnKey]

Hiya Reefers,
I think I have a problem with my two Anemone fish namely a Ocellaris and a Clarkii who has the penchant to dig and burrow hard into the Anemone. Literally digging hard into the Anemone whenever I'm trying to feed the Anemone and I'm afraid this might disrupt and stress the Anemone.
Food gets strewn all over or eaten by other fish or shrimps when I'm trying to feed the Anemone because of this stupid behaviour. The Ocellaris in particular "messed up" one of my large Hairy Mushroom and it hasn't been the same thereafter...dang Clownfish!!
Can anybody help me out here whether I should remove the Clownfishes or if you have any solutions to rid of this problem?

Thanks in advance.

Paul

[George-OC]

Hi Paul, Clownfish really aren't that funny!!

My Gold Stripe Morron Maroon Clown is determined to move everything within a foot of it's anemone. I am constantly rescuing corals- and big ones- it keeps knocking stuff and hitting on corals- even ones that are glued!! it will keep at it until it breaks free....daily basis...

As far as feeding, try to feed the fish first on the opposite side of the tank, then while they are in frenzy over there, blast some at the anemone. I don't feed mine directly as my clown grabs the food and spits it into the anemone. Seems like your clowns are greedy...Maybe they are not getting enough food?? I feed my tank 5-6 times a day when I can- they eat better than us! haha

Due to overwhelming work created by the clown and anemone moving and disrupting other corals, I will NOT keep them in the next tank that is for sure, unless it is big enough that there will be a free standing mound of rock 2 feet away from the rest of the reef where funny fish and it's anemone can enjoy themselves and maybe I can too.......hehe

[kgolem]

Read this...

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clownfis.htm

I wonder if the two clownfish are competing for the anemone. Amphiprion are somewhat territorial, and I have not seen two different species in the same tank.

It might be good to remove one and see if the anemone bashing stops.

[Crisis]

I have 4 Percula Clowns as well, & they host in my Alvepora, my RBTA is right next door, & the clowns prefer the Alvepora!!! Oh Well I purchased the RBTA just for that purpose, & look what the clowns are doing hehehe:bawl:

[Mugster]

I used to have a pair of Clarkii clowns and a GCA. Once the clowns started spawning, they were extremely protective of their anemone. Anything, and I mean anything that came close to the anemone, they plucked off the rocks and dropped into the anemone. I lost several Emerald crabs, hermits, and even the occasional snail.






Kev :twitch:

[thecoralreef]

I used to have a pair of Clarkii clowns and a GCA. Once the clowns started spawning, they were extremely protective of their anemone. Anything, and I mean anything that came close to the anemone, they plucked off the rocks and dropped into the anemone. I lost several Emerald crabs, hermits, and even the occasional snail.


I don't want to sound mean, but that would be interesting to see them defending their territory like that. I know a couple of my pairs when I'm in their tank moving small rocks or corals the male will dart out and strike what ever is in my hand. Every once in a while it catches you off guard and makes ya jump. My maroon female will actually come out and grab the skin at a knuckle and try and rip it off. I'm waiting for blood someday as she is pretty big.

[Mugster]

I don't want to sound mean, but that would be interesting to see them defending their territory like that. I know a couple of my pairs when I'm in their tank moving small rocks or corals the male will dart out and strike what ever is in my hand. Every once in a while it catches you off guard and makes ya jump. My maroon female will actually come out and grab the skin at a knuckle and try and rip it off. I'm waiting for blood someday as she is pretty big.




I thought so too until one day I just released a pair of Emeralds into the tank and one landed next to their anemone. In less than a few seconds they plucked it off the rock and dropped it in the anemone.

Mine used to attack my hands too. I also had a pair of Tomato clowns that used to attack my hand. My female Clarkii actually did draw blood once. She was huge and had a mouth to match.





Kev :twitch:

[Mugster]

how did you lost them?




I sold them.





Kev :twitch:

[thecoralreef]

Many years ago when I had sebae's, I climatized a peppermint shrimp and once I released the shrimp into the water the one sebae just attacked the shrimp and killed it within seconds, talk about piss me off!:angry: I had a couple sebae's at a place I did maintenance and they got pretty big, about 6 inches each. They had teeth you could see in their mouths, scary when you think about it, but when you got your hand in the tank they didn't even flinch.


I thought so too until one day I just released a pair of Emeralds into the tank and one landed next to their anemone. In less than a few seconds they plucked it off the rock and dropped it in the anemone.

Mine used to attack my hands too. I also had a pair of Tomato clowns that used to attack my hand. My female Clarkii actually did draw blood once. She was huge and had a mouth to match.

[smp]

I thought so too until one day I just released a pair of Emeralds into the tank and one landed next to their anemone. In less than a few seconds they plucked it off the rock and dropped it in the anemone.


and that was the end of the emerald? Did the anemone consume it?
(I'm guessing it did, I just didn't know that anemones could eat crabs)

[Sea MunnKey]

Read this...

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clownfis.htm

I wonder if the two clownfish are competing for the anemone. Amphiprion are somewhat territorial, and I have not seen two different species in the same tank.

It might be good to remove one and see if the anemone bashing stops.

Hey Kgolem,
It sure looks like they're both competing for the same Anemone!! The Clarkii would usually grab food from my hand and "try" to feed the Anemone and at most times the food are scattered for the shrimps and fish to consume...aarrghh :angry:
The Clownfishes don't bite yet but my two Damsels does..Neon Blue with Yellow Belly and the other a Neon Blue with Yellow Tail. The reason they're doing that is they keep spawning like crazy...well usually inside the LR crevices.
I bought another RBTA from NAFB yesterday and they've attached themselves to the RBTA nicely so far without any problems in regards to feeding and sharing...Hhhmmm. Weird behaviour huh...:chair: :love2:.
BTW has anyone watch the High Definition Discovery Channel show called the Blue Realm. It's all about the Sea and it's Inhabitants...it's way cool watching all the while in High Definition mode...sweet!! :bsmile:

[Mugster]

and that was the end of the emerald? Did the anemone consume it?
(I'm guessing it did, I just didn't know that anemones could eat crabs)





Yes it did. A day later it spit out the empty carapace. My guess is it must have digested the fleshy interior (meat) and then disposed of the remains. When I removed the anemone to sell it, I found a virtual graveyard of empty shells beneath it.





Kev :twitch: