My anenome and clownfish

[louip]

Hi everyone, hows everything going? I'm new to the boards and quite new to slatwater fish. i have an 80 gallon tank with more than suffecient light/filtration. About a week ago i bought a maroon clownfish with a carpet anenome. The clownfish only swims at the top of the tank and really doesnt do much else. I have had him for about 5 days now. Will he sooner or later explore the tank? And if he does will he even host the carpet? I don't know much about anenomes but have heard they won'. if so, which clownfish should i purchase? On to the real dilema(sp?), the carpet anenome never really seems healthy. At times he is completely vibrant and spread out. But most of the time he is really drapey and looks really under the weather. His whole opens wide and he looks like he wants to perish. Everything is working fine in the tank but i can't seem to feed him. I have tried defrosted shrimp but he won't take it to his mouth. Is the clownfish the only thing that could really help him with the food?
Anyways, thanks for reading about my problem, i know i have a lot. I'm just trying to learn about the hobby that im growing to love more and more.

-Louis

[partobe]

HI Louis;
first off I want to say I new to reefing as well. Ive had fish only tanks for awhile. What kind of clowd do you have? Last yr I had 2 percula clowns and a carpet. The clowns went no where near the carpet for several weeks. I fed the carpet sometimes it would take the food(shrimp) and sometimes it wouldnt. I was told the way to tell a healthy carpet is if its sticky to the touch. Remember anytime you put your hand in the water tomake sure its very clean. I think if you give it a little time your fish will move around.
Patrick

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!!



carpets require very strong lighting to be truely happy. what kind of lighting do you have. plenty does not cut it.

carpets are also able to eat clowns, so do not be surprised if when the clown does find the carpet it gets eaten. this may be more true if you have not been feeding the carpet fish. silversides is a better food choice for carpets than shrimp.

how long has the tank been setup? a lot more info is really needed to help you out properly. tell us all about your filtration and lighting.

G~

[theplatypus]

Welcome to The Reef Tank!

[tims]

welcome to TRT!
geoff sumed it up.. need a bit more info

[dobejazz]

Welcome to TRT !

[TheReefer12]

Welcome to TRT.

More information for us would be great.

But to hold you over until then, carpet anemones are one of the hardest anemones to take care of. IMO. They require more lighting than most anemones and will consume your fish. You definitely need to keep it fed if you don't want your clown to go missing. How long has your tank been set up?

The clown swimming at the top seems like it may not be getting enough oxygen. How is the water movement? A good ripple on the top should be sufficient.

[combiemaster]

i think seabae anemones are the easiest to take care of. and they look pretty

[Hardhead Cat]

I have a maroon clown in a bulb tip anemone. They are the natural hosts to each other. I have had a carpet eat clowns before though, I would be careful with the carpet anemone.

HHC

[Geoff]

BTA are considered the easiest of the anemones to keep. Carpets are also fairly easy if lighting is sufficient. Sebeas are considered one of the harder anemones to take care of. most tend to not make it longer than 6 months in captivity.

G~