weird clown behavior-new question Please read :)

Well, My Clarkii clown- get hosted by my rather large RBTA.
He in fact will take pieces of the nori seaweed, and try and feed it to the RBTA- The RBTA has actully eaten it a few times, and I made a thread with pics on it!

I also have an Oc. Clown- that only sleeps in my GBTA!

Then, I was given a very large, Maroon- he had his eyes on the RBTA the first day in my DT. But then I saw the Clarkii and the Maroon going at it- well the smaller Clarki won I guess- 'cause since then the Maroon never even goes oon that half of my 125, and stays in a cave most of the time and comes out when he thinks/knows it feeding time!
The cave is hosting the Maroon!

How was that Vin? The hosting thing there?

Oh, and about the Carpet thing. Obviously we're not talking a Maxi-mini Carpet Nem., right?
'cause I know they don't cost no $400.

As you all know, Maxi-MIni Carpet Nems. never host anything- well, that's not true, I saw pics of sexy shrimp quite often in them, but clowns I mean.

And, I'm sure you know what it is you have, but was I was starting out, a lfs had a real good deal on some Nems. I was like wow!
Then they were kind enough to tell me that they were some kind of Atlantic Nem., and would not host clowns! Needless to say I passed on those.

 

Thanks for the input all! Todd, yes, it is a GBTA. I also have a maxi mini because I love them and know they DON'T HOST. I think probably the big difference that probably would make your experience different from mine is the size of tanks.....mine is a 54 gallon corner tank and yours is a 125.

Please keep the input coming! I love to hear different people's opinions and experiences. I can read about it (which I have) but getting information directly from experienced reefers is so valuable.

 

Don't do it. It's not worth the risk. To think of adding a maroon with 2 ocellaris in a tank as small as yours really makes me cringe. I know I sound like a bleeding heart when I say this but is it worth the risk of fish dying just to experiment? I really don't think it is. I know that some people on this site tend to think that these fish are just ornaments but you really have to look at it from a humane perspective. Honestly, the maroon is my favorite of all of the clownfish and if I get another clown, it will be a GSM. With this being said, I would never add one with existing fish. If you don't get aggression right away, you will. That's almost guaranteed out of a maroon clown. If you feel that strongly about having a symbiotic pair in your tank, I would pull the ocy's and put a maroon in there. It's a small tank and the clown is going to be pretty aggressive but I can see where you are coming from.

 

I'm sorry Dennis but this is a pretty wreckless way of thinking. You have your tank that has been set up for very little time and you have very little experience in the hobby. How big is your maroon? How big are your other clowns? It is almost guaranteed that the maroon will become aggressive and extremely territorial. In a 54 gallon corner, such as OFK's, there's not much territory for a maroon to protect so it is going to claim the whole thing.

 

thanks all for the input. I hadn't really thought about the addition of a maroon especially since I had traded in one when I went on the "reef" quest. They are so beautiful but I believe you're right Daniel and Corailline, it would have to be one or the other - either keep the ocellaris or add a maroon. I can't have my cake and eat it too *sigh* I like my black and whites too much to give them up. I'll just have to be happy with looking at my GBTA - who knows - maybe some day, they'll venture over there...