Long Tentalce Nem

[jmike50]

Hey everyone,
Just got a LTA yesterday for my ocellaris clowns and was just wondering how long it take for this nem to attach itself to the bottom of the tank or the rocks? I can not run my marineland maxi-jet, without blowing it all over the tank and ending up behind the rock display. I am tired of fishing it back out to the front of the tank.lol

 

[jdavid]

what you have to do is shake a finger at him and say "STAY PUT" with a firm tone


(someone helpful will chime in lol)

 

[jmike50]

I have used my hand and fingers to put it back in place and told it 'TO SIT' lol. I know I need to wear a latex glove when handling them.

 

[jdavid]

I know what I would no next, I'd get a bucket and put an airline in it and the nem and a rock. then wait for him to attach to the rock and try to place it

Edit: however, take my advice with a grain of salt because I am not reaaallly experienced..
probably best to wait for some better advice

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

That'll work to get it attached to the rock for sure. Just be aware that once placed in the tank, if it doesn't like the flow and/or lighting where you place it, it may start to roam. I believe LTA's will sometimes roam from time to time even when established (especially if something in the tank changes).

My BTA set up shop in the middle of the tank. My clowns couldn't find him, so I moved him to where they were. They hosted the nem, and it moved back to the middle of the tank. All was well for me, but, the clowns were too aggressive, and the nem moved to the powerhead (prob running from the clowns). Fortunately, I was able to catch it before it got there. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us. Clowns loved it to death.

Best of luck, Man...

 

[jmike50]

What kind of clowns do you have that can take out a nem?

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

2 white striped maroons. I believe the BTA was just too small for the two of them...

 

[kilralpine]

I don't know if it will turn out the same for you but my maroons ignored my long tentacle. Took to both a gbta and a rbta in less than 1 minute.

 

[jmike50]

I have 2 ocellaris. They have not found the nem yet. I have one ocellaris that is pretty socilable and the other is shy and stays hidden a lot.

 

[kilralpine]

Mine checked it out but never would come in contact with it; just sorta stared at it for 2-3 seconds and then left it alone. I did have 1 gbta in the past that I thought I had lost to being beat to death by them.

 

[jmike50]

I know...mine stay on one side of the tank and the nem is on the other....whats up with that?

 

[kilralpine]

Im not sure, but I do know that a large portion of clownfish species tend to take to bubble-tips fast for whatever reason. I have seen many species that I had thought dont host LTA host LTA though...

Just to give you an idea:
http://clownfish.webreefs.com/clownfish_anemones.php">http://clownfish.webreefs.com/clownfish_anemones.php</a>

According to that chart Ocellaris prefer carpets in magnifica types; not to say that they CANT host LTA - proof
<div class="gc_ifarem_title">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DlmfAOEW2Y</div>

It comes down to individual preference; though I do believe most prefer similar type.

 

[jmike50]

Thanks kilralpine for the link....went there and bookmark it for breeding reference also.

 

[jennm]

It's an anemone. Not a "nem" (for some reason that abbreviation is like nails on a chalk board to me.)

Firstly, A. ocellaris seems to have a much lower instinct to be hosted than many other species, at least in my observation. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.

Their natural host anemone is a carpet anemone - they grow large and are more difficult to keep.

They may or may not take to a bubble tip, or long-tentacle (or a coral such as a hammer or frogspawn - not typical but it can happen).

The long-tentacled anemone prefers its foot on a smooth surface. The bubble-tip prefers a cranny in a rock.

To encourage the long-tentacle to stay put, clear some sand off the bare glass. You can also try a "ring" of PVC and place the column in that with the pedal disc on the glass.

It might work... but the creature will go where it will.

And again, there's no guarantee that the clowns will ever make it their own.

Jenn

 

[jmike50]

Thanks Jenn...You are like the information booth at the mall...lol

 

[jennm]

I *am* an information booth in a mall. Literally.