Coral For Clowns To Host.
- Thread starter MrLiam
- Start date
Oh man!! How many times does my post get deleted!! 
Well best is a difficult one. First thing to understand is that clowns do not host in coral in the wild. It's unnatural and therefore some corals react badly to the clowns presence. Clowns are very rough when they host and push themselves up against the host.
Elegance Coral is the easiest to get them to host in quickly but it does very very badly being hosted. Usually it dies. So rule that one out.
Goniopora is another favourite of the clowns, and it will normally survive their robustness but goniopora is a very hard coral to keep alive even without te challenge of a clown!
Xenia, and Toadstalls are often known to host clowns.
Hammerhead and Torch are very good hosts and prob the best to recommend, but you will req a very large colony in order for it survive the clowns hosting behaviour.
Overall clown fish will not naturally host a coral so it's hit and miss. They can take years to host things, and sometimes never host corals. It's a wait and see game, there's no way to force it.
It also depends on the type of clown, some clowns host quicker and are less fussy than others.
Sorry I know there's not a definate answer there but unfort there isn't one.
Since I removed my malu the clowns are in my elegance and it seems unaffected so far but research suggests this may bot be the case for much longer.
Well best is a difficult one. First thing to understand is that clowns do not host in coral in the wild. It's unnatural and therefore some corals react badly to the clowns presence. Clowns are very rough when they host and push themselves up against the host.
Elegance Coral is the easiest to get them to host in quickly but it does very very badly being hosted. Usually it dies. So rule that one out.
Goniopora is another favourite of the clowns, and it will normally survive their robustness but goniopora is a very hard coral to keep alive even without te challenge of a clown!
Xenia, and Toadstalls are often known to host clowns.
Hammerhead and Torch are very good hosts and prob the best to recommend, but you will req a very large colony in order for it survive the clowns hosting behaviour.
Overall clown fish will not naturally host a coral so it's hit and miss. They can take years to host things, and sometimes never host corals. It's a wait and see game, there's no way to force it.
It also depends on the type of clown, some clowns host quicker and are less fussy than others.
Sorry I know there's not a definate answer there but unfort there isn't one.
Since I removed my malu the clowns are in my elegance and it seems unaffected so far but research suggests this may bot be the case for much longer.
Sorry I think you've misunderstood or I've miss lead! Lol 
they do host in the wild but they only host in anemones! Not corals! If you put a correct anemone in, they will 100% host but anemones are for established tanks and need very good lighting.
they do host in the wild but they only host in anemones! Not corals! If you put a correct anemone in, they will 100% host but anemones are for established tanks and need very good lighting. 
ALW
What works for one may not work for another!
If you put a correct anemone in, they will 100% host but anemones are for established tanks and need very good lighting.
That not correct. There is no 100% that clowns will host in an anemone. 1st the clowns may not know to host in one eg tank breds clowns dont. 2nd the anemone may not accept them and can infact try to consume them. For a succesful partnership between the two there has to be mutal acceptence and benefits.
Like you say anemones are for only mature systems and require very good water conditions, high skimming, intense lighting and reqular feeds.
I know that clowns also like to nest in mushrooms. Mine have nested in one of my leathers.
OP
OP
MrLiam
Fish Herder
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2011
- Messages
- 1,170
- Reaction score
- 0
Ok im wanting to upgrade to a bigger tank with better lighting around Christmas so will have to wait until this time next year to get an anemone and you weren't misleading you were very helpful it was just me being stupid.
Just one to add, done some research into this on the IMRD database - it says that research so far shows that it is clowns innate behaviour to host and that provided the correct anemone is present, even tank raised clowns should host, although this can take a bit longer for them to do. There are a few minor factors that sometimes affect this but these are usually only temporary such as a poor health clown or clowns about to mate etc. It goes on to say there are only a very small number of stated cases were clowns are unwilling to host a satisfactory anemone.
There is a small article on carpet anemones and their risks. Basically they sometimes eat the clown for an unknown reason. but this is usually if the anemone is sick or unfed.
Naturally all things living can behave unpredictably and therefore what Andy has said is somewhat true, there isn't 100% odds but the chance is very very good.
Hope that helps, I found it an interesting read!
There is a small article on carpet anemones and their risks. Basically they sometimes eat the clown for an unknown reason. but this is usually if the anemone is sick or unfed.
Naturally all things living can behave unpredictably and therefore what Andy has said is somewhat true, there isn't 100% odds but the chance is very very good.
Hope that helps, I found it an interesting read!
MissG55
Fish Fanatic
seffieuk
I used to be indecisive but now I'm not so sure!
Yes a long polyped toadstool is often hosted by clowns if there is not nem - mine did exactly the same and even when i put in my first Nem it took them about six months to change over to the Nem. The toadstool was also perfectly happy for the clowns to host it - however most euphyllias, as suggested, would not be, I would always try a leather first, either a toadstool or hairy mushrooms
Seffie x
Similar threads
Most reactions
-
491 -
333 -
233 -
222 -
207 -
177 -
166 -
165 -
141 -
132 -
128 -
107 -
102 -
90 -
78