wanting clowns to host BTA

[dan-dare]

yes, we've all read these threads countless times before, but is there a surefire way to get them into a nem or is just patience? Hit and miss?
I've got 3 clowns (one black + white, one classic orange and a new wild one) and they all get on fine. The black one is the big female and the other two nip each other occasionally but get on fine in general.
The wild one has glanced at the nem twice from what I've seen but I was REALLY hoping he'd go in. The nem is in good health and is bang in the middle by the way.
Any ideas or is it just a case of hoping for the best?
Best wishes and thanks
Dan

[VP Clown]

Hi Dan

Probably just a matter of time.. Are they hosting anything at the moment ie hammer or ??

Andy

[Tangman]

Hi Dan get a little plastic Clown and stick it near the Nem and they will soon go in, this is what i did many years ago when i bought some tank bred Percs. HTH Twiggy

[kevdoodie]

Took mine about two months,not too sure if it would help if they were a mated pair or not?

Kev

[hellee66]

Took mine about 18 months years, had 3 clowns, 1 black and white and 2 percs, the larger perc was the female, they all got on very well to start with but the b&w & female perc paired up and started to pick on the smaller one, who in trying to get away from them picking on him, he went in the nem, after a couple of days the female kicked him out and decided thats where her and her mate where gonna live. So maybe Erics plan would work.

[dan-dare]

thanks for the replies so far.
In answer to VP clown, my clowns have never really hosted anything. When I had the original pair (2 black + white ocellaris of which the female is still remaining) they flirted around my toadstool coral and lay in the polyps now and then but thats it really.
I will try the piccy idea but if anybody has a toy clownfish I'll try that!
The only ones I have seen are bloody big monstrosities and I dont reckon they'd be suitable.
thanks and I hope to hear any more ideas or success stories

[dan-dare]

oh, one thing. I have seen the female clown looking very closely at my sun coral (a recent addition).
No rubbing or nuzzling, just very intent staring but the other two show no interest :confused5:
GET IN THE NEM!!!!! lol

[Timo]

I got a nem and 2 clowns at the weekend. Clowns are one end of the tank and the nem is at the other end lol, they don't even go near it. They did wobble in front of my Torch coral for about half an hour just staring at it.

I have tried pointing and shouting get in that nem but no luck yet! :S

[MuddyTench]

My Bluestripe clowns ignored my nem for weeks and then someone told me to tape a picture of clowns in a nem on the front of the glass and within 20 minutes they were hosting my red BTA, I was gobsmacked - it really does work. It either threatens them by suggesting there are other clowns present that will take their nem or it shows them what they should be doing!!

Good luck, glad to hear your getting your stocking levels back to normal after your wipeout!
Cheers
Chris

[dan-dare]

thanks chris, the tank is nicely stocked up again and looking good! I have chosen against replacing Seymour, the fuzzy dwarf as I just couldnt find another that would would be as good a fish - it has allowed me to put in a few dinkies that I couldnt have before and a few small inverts.
Anyways, this morning before work I cut out a picture of a clownfish (life size) and dragged it back and forth across the face of the tank. This caught the clowns attention and they had a look, but I dont know if they just thought it was an extra feeding time! http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/images/smilies/laugh.gif
I left it in front of the nem and I dont expect anything but it would be a nice surprise if it worked.
Should it be a picture od clowns in a nem then?

[MuddyTench]

Hi Dan, glad the tank is looking good again, my clowns and nems (2 x red BTA's) are the centre piece of mine with lots of critters for added interest, don't need any other fish, you will enjoy having the critters again! I found a picture of some Clarkii clowns (couldn't find one of Bluestripes) inside a nem on Google pictures and used this and as I said it worked a treat. So yes get a picture of some similar clowns actually in a nem and hopefully this will do the trick for yours too - good luck! Chris.

[dan-dare]

the new pic of a clown in a bubble tip went up last night, but the nem stayed closed for some reason. (it does this from time to time)
Hopefully when I get home there'll be a nice surprise but I'm not counting on it.....

[dan-dare]

no joy over the weekend... bah!
My next plan is movies! I have a PSP so I'm gonna put a youtube video of clowns in a bubble tip on it, up against the glass and see if this gets their interest.
who knows, it might just work.........

[Timo]

the new pic of a clown in a bubble tip went up last night, but the nem stayed closed for some reason. (it does this from time to time)
Hopefully when I get home there'll be a nice surprise but I'm not counting on it.....
I also tried a pic on the tank for a weekend and no luck also :(

[dan-dare]

oooh.. VERY interesting situation at the weekend.
My rock urchin decided to prize some of my rockwork apart on Friday night - how there wasnt a rock fall I have no idea.
Anyways, the rock with my nem on it was pushed out so it had nothing on top, so during my restructuring, I thought 'what the hell' and popped it in a bucket with 2 of the clowns for an hour or so.
Badabing!!!! In they went!!! YAYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It looked brilliant and all three beasties looked happy!!!!!
Since putting them all back in, the clowns havent bothered going near it again, so I'm just hoping their memory clicks and in they go.......
progress...............................