clowns finally accepted LTA!!

[beach bum]

Just had to share that my finicky little pair of pink skunks have finally moved into their annie! Well, actually only the female has so far, but it was such a treat to see when I got home tonight!

LTA has settled into the perfect spot too, even if it had let me I couldn't have placed it a better spot. I'm happy, their happy, everybody's happy! What a reward to see.

[Fishaholic]

I have a LTA that hosts a maroon clown. He is still one of my favorite inhabitant even though he has eaten a Foxface and a Banggai cardinal. He is feed often but still loves a snack now and then.

[MontanaRocknReefer]

Hey beach bum! Glad the pink skunk has accepted the LTA as its host! Nice when things work out for everyone and you can have a happy time for awhile at least! Johnny

[beach bum]

Originally posted by Fishaholic
he has eaten a Foxface and a Banggai cardinal. He is feed often but still loves a snack now and then.

That's quite a snack! Welcome to TRT Fishaholic, I came onboard here recently and everyone has been top notch (this is where you all blush and take a bow) with info and experience.

If you don't mind me askin', how long have you had the LTA and what is your feeding regimen/lighting scheme? And secondarily, what kind of water flow does yours prefer? Mine seems to prefer very mild current, if it's too strong he/she/it twists and turns away from it. I am an information sponge so share whatever you like, personal experience is invaluable.

TIA, chris

[Fishaholic]

Beach Bum,

I have had my Lta for 3 months and he is under 250w MH with 80w Actinic supplement.

He is feed fresh shrimp and clumps of thawed mysis shrimp. He is the animal that lets me know where my salinity is. If it is not 1.024 he is not open and fully extended. All my other tanks are maintained at 1.026 but he will not alllow this.

He has found the place he likes next to a rock with his foot buried in the sand. He can retract completely under the rock.

I think my cleaner shrimp has shaped his behavoir when it comes to food. When I first had him in the tank he would slowly take his food in. This was changed by the cleaner attempting to pull his food out. Now he closes on his food in a flash and closes completely. I feed him every 2 - 3 days and the maroon also brings him food.

Emily put forth a theory that because of the aggresive nature of maroon clowns that he could have dragged the fish into the anemone to feed him, I was not present when the fish were consumed, I just found the tails sticking out of the anemone.
The maroon does spend an incredible amount of time caring for her host. I crushed Nori and turn off the pump so my lawn mower blennie can feed. This always gets nori all over the LTA, the maroon clown will have none of this and spends a good 20 minutes cleaning every scrape of nori off the LTA.

[JennM]

I've got a gorgeous purple LTA since August, aquired from another hobbyist. I've got it under 220 W PC (2 x 6700K, 2 actinic) and it's growing! I've got a pair of tomatoes living in it. It's attached to a rock near the bottom, and the clowns have moved every grain of sand away for at least 8" to the left, and to the right, is the rock, and the side glass. I get mine the occasional raw shrimp from the grocer, but it mostly eats PE Mysis. When I feed the tank, it catches several on its tentacles and eats 'em up!

Jenn