Clownfish can and most likely will form a symbiotic relationship with a host anemone. They do not require an anemone although they do seem more at home with one.
Tips to get clownfish to use a host anemone. There are many reasons people get into the reef aquarium hobby. For some, it is the beauty and color of fish and corals. For others, it is the challenge of keeping a successful “piece of the reef” in their home.  Remember though that if you want to keep a host anemone you will need to set up the aquarium with the proper lighting and filtration. Host anemones are one of the more difficult animals to keep in a reef aquarium, but paired with clownfish they can also be one of the most entertaining. As a general rule, it is best to pair the clownfish with a host anemone they are associated with in the sea, as they will not always accept other host anemones. All Clownfish start out as males, and in the absent of a female the dominant male will in time change to a female. Clownfish can and most likely will form a symbiotic relationship with a host anemone. They do not require an anemone although they do seem more at home with one. In most cases you are best off choosing a Bubble Tip Anemone if you want to pair your clown with a nem.  Clownfish/Host Anemone Matches by Clownfish lists Clownfish which are common in saltwater aquariums and the Host Sea Anemones which they prefer to live in. Richard Ling/Wikimedia Commons. Host Anemones: More ».  While there are 10 species of host anemones and 30 species of clownfish, I will stick to the six most common host anemones, and eleven clownfish species the hobbyist is likely to encounter in the trade. All of the host anemones cannot be grouped into the same general care requirements. As a general rule, it is best to pair the clownfish with a host anemone they are associated with in the sea, as they will not always accept other host anemones. All Clownfish start out as males, and in the absent of a female the dominant male will in time change to a female. Getting a Clownfish to Live in a Host Anemone. Watching a clownfish seemingly playing in its anemone host is one of the most magical things that can happen in our aquariums. There’s just something about the symbiosis of it. In nature, a clownfish cannot survive without a host anemone. They would simply be picked off by a predator as they would have no place to hide. Help, I put an anemone with my clownfish but it won’t host! Alright, the point of the article. You’ve bought an anemone, it’s happy and your clownfish is happy, but they aren’t happy together. In fact, your fish won’t even swim by the ‘nem and you don’t understand why he won’t go to his new home! This anemone is widely accepted as a host anemone by many species of clownfish. The Cinnamon (A. melanopus), Clark (A. clarkii), Tomato (A. frenatus), Fiji Barberi Tomato (A. barberi), and Maroon (Premnas biaculeatus) are the common clownfish species known to occupy of anemone in the sea. As a general rule, it is best to pair the clownfish with a host anemone they are associated with in the sea, as they will not always accept other host anemones. All Clownfish start out as males, and in the absent of a female the dominant male will in time change to a female. In the wild, A. ocellaris and A. percula host only Heteractis magnifica, the Magnificent Sea Anemone, Stichodactyla gigantea, the Giant Carpet Anemone, Heractis crispa, Sebae Anemone and Stichodactyla mertensii, Merten’s Carpet Anemone. Unfortunately, these are generally not great choices for the average enthusiast. Help, I put an anemone with my clownfish but it won’t host! Alright, the point of the article. You’ve bought an anemone, it’s happy and your clownfish is happy, but they aren’t happy together. In fact, your fish won’t even swim by the ‘nem and you don’t understand why he won’t go to his new home! There is a unique closeness between Clownfish and their host anemone. The anemone provides a safe haven for the Clownfish and in return the clownfish will defend its host by driving off potential predators of the anemone. A common mistake made by aquarists is mismatching the Clownfish to its host anemone. Most Clownfish will not go into any anemone. Buy Sea Anemone. Some of the clown host anemone species are reasonably available and hardy. Successfully keeping an anemone is often dependent upon choosing a healthy specimen when you buy sea anemones. When selecting a sea anemone it is important to choose not only a hardy specimen, but also a healthy specimen. However, of the approximately 1,000 known anemone species, there are only 10 types of anemones known to host clownfish. The clown hosting anemones are found in parts of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean where there are tropical currents.
http://blog.marinedepot.com/2014/01/tips-to-get-clownfish-to-use-host.html http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Articles/TonyGriffitts/clownfish_and_their_host_anemone.htm http://www.treasurecoastcorals.com/aquacultured-fish/clownfish.html http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/anemoneclownfishprofiles/tp/tpclownanemonematches.htm http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Articles/TonyGriffitts/clownfish_and_their_host_anemone.htm http://www.ocellarisclownfish.com/getting-clownfish-host-anemone/ http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Articles/TonyGriffitts/clownfish_and_their_host_anemone.htm http://www.ocellarisclownfish.com/getting-clownfish-host-anemone/ http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i1/Clown_anemone/Clown_anemone.htm http://animal-world.com/Aquarium-Coral-Reefs/Clown-Fish-Anemones
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