Anemone Hosting

The symbiotic relationship between clownfish and anemones is perhaps one of the most iconic relationships between any two animals. This relationship is often the reason why many people enter the marine aquarium hobby.

While anemones are most well known for hosting clownfish, they will also host many inverts as well! There are various species of shrimp and crabs that can be found living in the protective stinging tentacles of an anemone. However, it's important to understand that some anemones do not naturally host anything, and the different species of clownfish, shrimp, and crabs that use anemones for protection have preferences for which anemones they will use.

Listed below are examples of anemones you will find these animals using as a host for protection in aquariums and in the wild. Despite these general guidelines it's important to understand that many of these fish and inverts can choose pretty much anything in the aquarium to be hosted by.

Providing your clownfish an ideal host anemone will increase the chances of the anemone hosting your clownfish but not guarantee it. Often hosting can take time and your clownfish may ultimately choose a coral instead.

Can Anemones Be Shared?

We're often asked if you can add an amenone invert such as a Porcelain Crab to an anemone that's already hosting a clownfish. This can depend on the size of the anemone and the temperament of the clownfish. We've seen a pair of clownfish gladly sharing a small Bubble Tip Anemone with a few Sexy Shrimp and we've also seen a single clownfish making sure that no inverts could get anywhere near its Giant Carpet Anemone.

Our recommendation is to make sure you have enough anemones present for every fish or invert that requires one. You may find they will end up sharing but it's most likely that they will not.

Anemone Fish

Ocellaris Clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris	Bubble Tip Anemone Entacmaea quadricolor Giant Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla gigantea Haddon's Saddle Carpet Anemon Stichodactyla haddoni Merten's Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla mertensii Ritteri Anemone Heteractis magnifica
Percula Clownfish Amphiprion percula	Bubble Tip Anemone Entacmaea quadricolor Giant Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla gigantea Merten's Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla mertensii Ritteri Anemone Heteractis magnifica Sebae Anemone Heteractis crispa
Orange Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion sandaracinos	Merten's Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla mertensii Sebae Sea Anemone Heteractis crispa
Pink Skunk Clownfish Amphiprion perideraion	Giant Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla gigantea Long Tentacle Anemone Macrodactyla doreensis Ritteri Anemone Heteractis magnifica Sebae Anemone Heteractis crispa
Spotcinctus Clownfish Amphiprion bicinctus	Bubble Tip Anemone Entacmaea quadricolor Beaded Anemone Heteractis aurora Haddon's Saddle Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla haddoni Ritteri Anemone Heteractis magnifica Sebae Anemone Heteractis crispa

 

Anemone Inverts

Sexy Anemone Shrimp Thor amboinensis	Bubble Tip Anemone Entacmaea quadricolor Giant Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla gigantea Maxi-Mini Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla tapetum Ritteri Anemone Heteractis magnifica Rock Flower Anemone Epicystis crucifer
Porcelain Anemone Crab Neopetrolisthes ohshimai	Bubble Tip Anemone Entacmaea quadricolor Giant Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla gigantea Maxi-Mini Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla tapetum Ritteri Anemone Heteractis magnifica Rock Flower Anemone Epicystis crucifer