Nano Questions: Pairing clowns with Sebae Anemone - Adding more livestock?

[robbyras]

I have a 20g nano that I was thiiiiiiiiiiiis close to getting rid of. I had a battle with cyano and it was a months long bloodbath. I finally got things back under control about three weeks ago.

After the long battle, I decided to keep the tank and add to the pair of naked clowns, conch, and hermit crap. The first new addition is a Sebae Anemone that I am hoping the clowns with pair with.

I went to Aquatic Collection, who I have had great luck with, with the intention getting a bubble tip, but I loved the look of the Sebae. I bought it without doing any research, so I'm trying to retroactively get up to speed. It has been in the tank for about a week and seems very happy. I spot fed it some brine the other day and it ate without hesitation. So I'm feeling good about things in general.

My first question is about pairing the clowns with the anemone. Is there something to be done or will it just happen naturally? The clowns have been pretty skittish, but they have been more confident since I got rid of the Chromis. Dude was a bully. As you can see from the photo, they are hanging out near the Sebae and it just seems like a matter of time before they make contact. I was just curious if there was something I should be doing.

Secondly, I would like to add a few things to the tank. Obviously, we have limitations. My thought is to add a Watchman Goby + Pistol Shrimp, and a Dottyback for some color. I think that's about as far as I can go with a 20g. Any thoughts on that stock list? Any other fish I should consider?

 

[H2OPlayar]

It will often happen naturally, but I have heard you can tape a picture of clowns in an anemone to the side for them to see and they will learn from that. I have personally never had luck keeping a sebae long term, but that is just my experience.

I like watchman gobies and pistol shrimp, keeping a few of them in the past and always liking them. I think your stock list is good for your 20 gallon tank. The dottyback may be territorial, but if you add it last, that should help. There are some that are more peaceful than others from what I recall. A couple cardinals may be an option instead of the dottyback, but I don't hate your plan.

Chromis are in the damsel family and damsels can be a-holes in tanks, so good move there.

 

[Darkxerox]

Sebaes are one of those anemones that always look like they're in poor shape after import. Usually bleached or with a torn foot. There's also a couple species that are called a sebae, but like different surfaces (I'm guessing yours is a malu not a crispa since it's digging into the sand, they like deeper substrates).

This one looks super bleached since they should have more of a tan or green base color.

You can try feeding the clowns mysis in front of the anemone to encourage them to touch it. But for now hold off on adding other fish and go slow.

Later on maybe a royal gramma (much less mean than dottybacks with similar color).

 

[robbyras]

It will often happen naturally, but I have heard you can tape a picture of clowns in an anemone to the side for them to see and they will learn from that. I have personally never had luck keeping a sebae long term, but that is just my experience.

I like watchman gobies and pistol shrimp, keeping a few of them in the past and always liking them. I think your stock list is good for your 20 gallon tank. The dottyback may be territorial, but if you add it last, that should help. There are some that are more peaceful than others from what I recall. A couple cardinals may be an option instead of the dottyback, but I don't hate your plan.

Chromis are in the damsel family and damsels can be a-holes in tanks, so good move there.

Thanks for the feedback. Definitely going to get the watchman and shrimp. Not married to the dottyback idea, but I want something that will swim around and I’m not a fan of Cardinals…

 

[robbyras]

Sebaes are one of those anemones that always look like they're in poor shape after import. Usually bleached or with a torn foot. There's also a couple species that are called a sebae, but like different surfaces (I'm guessing yours is a malu not a crispa since it's digging into the sand, they like deeper substrates).

This one looks super bleached since they should have more of a tan or green base color.

You can try feeding the clowns mysis in front of the anemone to encourage them to touch it. But for now hold off on adding other fish and go slow.

Later on maybe a royal gramma (much less mean than dottybacks with similar color).

You think it’s bleached? It looks like most of the pics I’ve seen online, but I’ll admit I haven’t looked too deep into. It has a richer color in person, but it’s definitely white. I’ll be curious to see if it changes.

I placed it in that spot in the hopes to would stay there, but it definitely dug into the sand.

I’ll be patient on the pairing. Thanks for the info!