anemones

Give it some time.  You can also try putting the anemone in a acclimation box with your clown and keep them in there for a few days.  I've used the acclimation box method and it has worked.  

it is entirely up to the fish, I've had the same problem and put the clown and anemone in a breeder box...nothing. The fish has to feel threatened in order for it to take cover. My fish doesn't feel threatened at all I guess.

Just patience  -  it took 2 years for my Tomato clown to go to a Green bubble tip.  I had long given up (patience) when he finally decided to climb-in.  The little bugger loves it now - been about 1 1/2 yr

Yesterday, I moved 2 half inch long baby clownfish that had never in their life seen or smelled an anemone, to a 10 gal Nano where 2 one inch clownfish already have their RBTA. I introduced them in a deli salad container with bridal veil top, letting them sit there for 1/2 hour. No major aggressive moves by the larger clownfish told me it would be okay to release the babies.

Even though the babies were released on the opposite corner, they immediately headed straight for the anemone and wiggled around in it's tentacles. The larger clowns just kind of chased them around in the tentacles, but within a few minutes kicked them out.

The babies come back to the anemone for brief moments and hang close but the older clowns keep them away for the most part. We had to do some fish training with the stick to keep the older clowns in line and knowing that we were the boss.

My experience tells me there is no real break in period and that it's really just personal for each Anemonefish whether it wants an anemone or not. I've seen all types of Anemonefish hosting in all types of anemones and coral (soft and stony) so from what I can tell, though there are minor preferences by species, it's mostly personal preference on the part of each individual fish.

Here is the Tomato Anemonefish father caring for eggs laid at the base of a Green Sinularia back around 1998 resulting in my first successful rearing of Anemonefish. 




Edited by Mark Peterson - May 18 2011 at 12:33pm

This subject is always interesting to me. I am attaching a pics of baby clowns that are 6 weeks old. They LOVE their anemone. The anemone was introduced to them when they were about 3 weeks old. At night they all sleep in it together. They do show aggression towards one another but they all in the end seem to get along well enough to sleep together :).



 Then there is my clowns that are 1 month old and only the smallest of the bunch likes the anemone for now. Here is a pic. You need to look very carefully to see him.



 I have 8 pairs of anemonefish. Out of those 8 of those only 3 pairs prefer a anemone. The others like, Torches, Hammers, Duncans, Muchrooms, Xenia. It is interesting to see what they take too when it comes to every individuals tanks.

 How long have you had your clown fish?
 Pam