Why Clownfish stopped going to BTA after let out of the box?

[Nurse.Reef.Reapeat]

So I have 3 clownfishes, 2 Davinci and one black ice. I have 4 RBTA, which I just got. I put them on the floating box. I caught the 3 clownfish and put them on the box. all 3 of them hosted after couple of hours. after day 2 I released the clowns and the nems in my tank. but its been 3 days now, never seen them clownfish back on the nems.

Any advice to make them host again? Do I do the same Box trick again and maybe put it longer?

 

[James M]

Just let them be . The acclimation box actually harms them because they haven’t developed there special slime coat .

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I'm not familiar with all the designer names but assume those are either Ocellaris or Percs, neither of which are a natural for BTAs. Once out of the confines of the box, everything in the tank looks/smells just as appealing as the BTAs. You can't force hosting b/w non symbionts, some people just get lucky. Add a Gig, Mag, or Mert and hosting will be near instant and constant.

 

[Geebs19]

Hit or miss whether they will host or not. Now way to force them to go host.

 

[shred5]

I have kept most clownfish varieties and they all hosted a bta if it was natural host or not. Some i wish they would not because they were to ruff for a BTA.

I find tank raised if not brought up with a anemone can be hit or miss on if they do or dont or how much.

Some will love a anemone to death while other may decide in a captive environment not too. I have had ones that use them just at night while other just infrequently. It really depends with captive raised.
I have had all mine use a anemone at least some of the time but have known other who have had theirs not.
I have had some not use for years and then one day there they are in the anemone.

Really a clownfish hosts because it feels threatened.

 

[Amoo]

@Bob Loblaw - Occys

 

[davocean]

I'm not familiar with all the designer names but assume those are either Ocellaris or Percs, neither of which are a natural for BTAs. Once out of the confines of the box, everything in the tank looks/smells just as appealing as the BTAs. You can't force hosting b/w non symbionts, some people just get lucky. Add a Gig, Mag, or Mert and hosting will be near instant and constant.

Agree, whether tank bred or wild caught the best chance of having a host relationship is giving a natural host match, and we often see that clowns that ignored BTA will go straight into a natural host when that is provided.

Also be aware that as your clowns mature and pair up, the 3rd wheel may no longer be accepted

 

[Kevin Beadle]

My clownfish prefer hosting in a patch of utter chaos zoa's instead of the bubble tip anemone next door.;Shifty

 

[Huff747]

Mine (which I think are Ocellaris) hosted a corner of the tank for several months, then moved into a Duncan coral for several more months and probably 3 months after the BTA was added they discovered it. The female first and a week or so later the male moved out of the Duncan to join her.