snapcrackler
Aquarium Advice Addict
I have read that "A clownfish needs an anemone about as much as it needs a bicycle" when in a reef tank with no predators. However after rasing 2 tiny baby clowns and watching them host in a finger leather and now a toadstool, I struggle to see the logic in this view.
While clownfish don't NEED an anemone, they must certainly benefit tremendously longevity - and stress - wise when they have SOMETHING to host in, preferrably a tank raised sarcophyton or BTA or something that does not impact the reefs. The simple conclusion I reached was this: Clowns are designed to host in an anemone. Therefore they will be happier and less stressed when they have something to host in (xenia, sarcophytons, being nice alternatives.)
I would revise that quote and say this: "A clown needs something to host in about as much as a person needs a house to live in and a bed to sleep in".
Here's why I think this:
1. If you take away the coral/anemone that the clown(s) is/are hosting in, the clown(s) will bob up and down all night with no place to sleep. A smart clown will not sleep on the substrate if it knows there are predators in the live rock (crabs shrimp starfish what have you) SO then how do they sleep well??
2. If you take away the coral/anemone the clown(s) is/are hosting in, they will commonly bite you (mine are too good natured to do this) so obviously they want to keep their home. They will also be depressed after their home is gone.
3. If you give a clown something to host in, when you look at the tank in the morning, they will usually be sound asleep, nestled in their host animal (in my case, a big toadstool)
I could go on but I won't. Any thoughts?
While clownfish don't NEED an anemone, they must certainly benefit tremendously longevity - and stress - wise when they have SOMETHING to host in, preferrably a tank raised sarcophyton or BTA or something that does not impact the reefs. The simple conclusion I reached was this: Clowns are designed to host in an anemone. Therefore they will be happier and less stressed when they have something to host in (xenia, sarcophytons, being nice alternatives.)
I would revise that quote and say this: "A clown needs something to host in about as much as a person needs a house to live in and a bed to sleep in".
Here's why I think this:
1. If you take away the coral/anemone that the clown(s) is/are hosting in, the clown(s) will bob up and down all night with no place to sleep. A smart clown will not sleep on the substrate if it knows there are predators in the live rock (crabs shrimp starfish what have you) SO then how do they sleep well??
2. If you take away the coral/anemone the clown(s) is/are hosting in, they will commonly bite you (mine are too good natured to do this) so obviously they want to keep their home. They will also be depressed after their home is gone.
3. If you give a clown something to host in, when you look at the tank in the morning, they will usually be sound asleep, nestled in their host animal (in my case, a big toadstool)
I could go on but I won't. Any thoughts?