Are my clownfish happier without their anemone?

[adaminelpaso]

For 8 months, I had an LTA in a 55 with my 2 maroon clowns. Recently i upgraded to a 170 gallon tank that I inherited. I removed some deteriorating hard corals and decided to go with a purely FOWLR until the livestock is completely acclimated and then add some soft corals. Meanwhile...
My anemone has had trouble acclimating and has never inflated and/or looked happy like it did in the smaller tank. While the clownfish never strayed more then a few inches from the anemone in the smaller tank, my girlfriend and I always said we didn't believe the clownfish would survive without it, as they were so married to it. Well the clownfish are moving around the larger tank seemingly happier, and it seems they're enjoying their freedom. My question is, are the clowns happier without their anemone or should I quickly get one in the tank to insure their long-term survival? Any input would be appreciated...

 

[gemmy]

Clownfish do not need to have anemones to host them in order to survive. They will be perfectly fine without one. I would wait at least a year before adding an anemone. This will ensure that the tank is mature and able to support an anemone.

 

[flower]

LOL...Gemmy beat me to it....Welcome to the site!
Clown fish do not need an anemone to live. They enjoy wallowing in them, but they find other things to attach to. Like the output and input tubes on canister filters, corals and even just the side of the tank with some algae.
Anemones need a mature enviroment of at least 6 months, which is why I think you have not had a happy anemone in the new tank. The clown fish are by nature corner huggers, they will be just fine without the anemone.

 

[gemmy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/387074/are-my-clownfish-happier-without-their-anemone#post_3403117
Clown fish do not need an anemone to live. They enjoy wallowing in them, but they find other things to attach to. Like the output and input tubes on canister filters, corals and even just the side of the tank with some algae.
Anemones need a mature enviroment of at least 6 months, which is why I think you have not had a happy anemone in the new tank. The clown fish are by nature corner huggers, they will be just fine without the anemone.

We posted pretty much the same thing.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///forum/thread/387074/are-my-clownfish-happier-without-their-anemone#post_3403119

We posted pretty much the same thing.
And almost at the same time. I am a slow typer and I reread everything for mistakes. LOL...I'm anal and a bad speller...LOL...But I edited and welcomed our new member..

 

[adaminelpaso]

Thanks very much for the welcome and for your advice. I think I'm learning how patient I have to be with my tank. What an amazingly knowledgable group of people here and a ton of information...I'm happy to have found you!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by adaminelpaso http:///forum/thread/387074/are-my-clownfish-happier-without-their-anemone#post_3403178
Thanks very much for the welcome and for your advice. I think I'm learning how patient I have to be with my tank. What an amazingly knowledgable group of people here and a ton of information...I'm happy to have found you!
LOL...You have no idea how wonderful and helpful everyone is on this site...like long distance family. I have this site as a home tab. Glad to have you, hope you stay around and hang out.

 

[rainbow grouper]

i never log out of the site! im soooooooooo addicted to it (its nowhere near as good as my fish though) yeah in my aptasia infested 35 gal i have a true perc who just hovers by an inaminate filter tube (its fixed to the tank but i use a diffrent one now cause its $*it) and wont go more than 5mm (ruffly) from the tube

 

[nick0685]

Yeah my Maroon Gold Stripe loves to host in my pulsing Xenia. I have a couple different groups of Xenia's in the tank and my maroon will make a trip to which ever one it hasn't spent all day in just to check it out and then go back to the main colony.