Qusetion

[grumpymole]

hi

i was reading through my book when i came across the common clownfish page and they said: roughly two or three would be a ideal number for the average aquarium plus a suitable sea anemone, however did not elaborate.
What exactly do they mean by a suitable anemone and why won't any old one do?
Cheers.

 

[Fish Fingers]

In the wild different species of clownfish will only host in in a certain species of anenome (some host in more than one however). That might be what your book was saying but you don't need to worry because in aquaria (from my experience) the clown will host in whatever anenome you give them. Also remember you don't need an anenome to keep them happily!

 

[maestro]

also anemones are expert only and need a mature tank atleast a year old, to be honest even the experts have trouble keeping them alive

 

[grumpymole]

oh.
well that sorts that out
i was thinking i was gonna have to buy massive annemones for every clownfish i purchase.
Cheers everyone

 

[Lynden]

Good, I would advise not to buy an anemone (until your tank is appropriate). Like maestro said, they are very difficult to keep, and even the experts have trouble with them.

Take this into comparison. A sea anemone, a wonderful animal which may live for over a hundred years in the wild, may only live two years in among the most perfect tanks, with even an expert caretaker. Wonderful animals; not so wonderful survival rate in captivity

 

[grumpymole]

Good, I would advise not to buy an anemone (until your tank is appropriate). Like maestro said, they are very difficult to keep, and even the experts have trouble with them.

Take this into comparison. A sea anemone, a wonderful animal which may live for over a hundred years in the wild, may only live two years in among the most perfect tanks, with even an expert caretaker. Wonderful animals; not so wonderful survival rate in captivity

thanks and also a quick search on google and they appear fairly expensive.
and also (didn't want to waste an extra thread) If i had say 3 common clowns would i beable to add in a male maroon clownfish/spinecheek anemonefish?

 

[maestro]

Good, I would advise not to buy an anemone (until your tank is appropriate). Like maestro said, they are very difficult to keep, and even the experts have trouble with them.

Take this into comparison. A sea anemone, a wonderful animal which may live for over a hundred years in the wild, may only live two years in among the most perfect tanks, with even an expert caretaker. Wonderful animals; not so wonderful survival rate in captivity

thanks and also a quick search on google and they appear fairly expensive.
and also (didn't want to waste an extra thread) If i had say 3 common clowns would i beable to add in a male maroon clownfish/spinecheek anemonefish?

To be honest its best just to keep a single pair of clownfish of teh same species unless your tank is very large, they will otherwise fight.

Clownfish do accept other types of easy to keep corals as hosts, not always, its hit a miss but its the same with an anemone, sometimes the clownfish dont go near them.

 

[grumpymole]

ok Thanks everyone