Clowns and anemone

[ToddinAtl]

Hi All,

I've had a pair of Perculas for about 1 year. I want them to have an anemone host. I'm going to buy a H. Magnifica today. I was wondering if the location that the clowns typically hang out/sleep is any indication of the place that the anemone would also feel comfortable?

I really don't want this anemone wandering all over the tank as there are several SPS, LPS, a couple leathers and a couple clams....Is there any way of telling what would hopefully be a suitable place to place the anemone initially to prevent it from floating all over the place..

I've not read anything on size of anemone VS. roaming, but this is a rather large one. Will it's size somewhat reduce the urge to float around?

Thanks,
Todd

 

[ReefLion]

I would think twice about putting a large anemone in your tank. It likely will roam, regardless of where the clownfish currently hang out, and could injure other corals or clams in the process. Unless you can keep a close eye and clear things out of the way, it is a risky venture.

There are a number of soft coral species that clownfish will readily adopt as hosts. I've used colt coral for several years for this purpose, with no ill effects to either the fish or the coral. Other people can suggest additional coral species. This might be an approach to at least try before risking the anemone.

Tim

 

[ToddinAtl]

Thanks Tim,

I've actually cycled through several leathers and LPS trying to get them to use the corals as a host (since traded those corals away). They showed no interest in the corals. You're right, I really don't want a huge anemone but the clowns aren't at all impressed with a condy. I'm open for any other suggestions...such as smaller anemones with a high sucess rate of hosting true percs...

Todd

 

[Anonymous]

I'd go with a LTA.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

I've had a pair of Perculas for about 1 year. I want them to have an anemone host. I'm going to buy a H. Magnifica today. I was wondering if the location that the clowns typically hang out/sleep is any indication of the place that the anemone would also feel comfortable?
I really don't want this anemone wandering all over the tank as there are several SPS, LPS, a couple leathers and a couple clams....Is there any way of telling what would hopefully be a suitable place to place the anemone initially to prevent it from floating all over the place..

I've not read anything on size of anemone VS. roaming, but this is a rather large one. Will it's size somewhat reduce the urge to float around?



Thanks,
Todd

that's a really interesting question-simply by the implication that clowns have an ability to discern and select an anemones preffered set of conditions. 8) the experiment to either prove or disprove this hypothesis would really be neat.the supposition that clowns,have learned,through the evolvement of their commensal relationship, where to search for the most likely chance of finding a host, is interesting and probably very debatable.

lots of threads on the subject of anemone placement, wanderings, and needs are here on the bb some from not too long ago, w/awesome pics to boot-search for lta,bta,quadricolor,h.magnifica,ritteri....

also some really experienced keepers-who'll probly also chime in

manipulating currents w directioned powerheads can have an affect, to some extent on 'swaying the anemones opinion'

some species will try to get more light as they grow(like h.magnifica does in some of the posters' tanks)some prefer to 'secure' the foot in the sand, or under/between rock.

keep in mind that many anemones expand greatly over the size seen in the lfs. most of the time the purchaser is not truly aware of how big a critter they purchased, due to the 'shrinkage' at the store!

luck!

 

[Anonymous]

p.s.-imho- go with a small e.quadricolor(the bubble tip is the one i mean, don't remember if the latin name is carrock! )-when small, any damage done by initial wandering won't be excessive-and your corals will deal with ok, probly;if it dies from chemical competition, it poses a smaller pollution risk than a large anemone,and clowns will also readily enter a small one, which may grow quite quickly, if well fed.

again,luck!

 

[ReefLion]

I'm not sure what you mean by leathers, but unless it is a branching type like claudiella, sinulara or capenella it probably would not work. I would still suggest trying one of those types if you have not.

Tim

 

[ToddinAtl]

I'll be the guinea (sp) pig..I'm going to get..maybe on Rover's advise an LTA...after I read more about that one...The more articles I read on the Magnificia, the more I'm discouraged...size, wandering..

The reason I started this thread is because my clowns typically hang out at 1 end of my tank...I have some LPS at that end and I was going to move them towards the middle and closer to my SPS colonies...but doing this.if the anemone decides to take off..it could wipe out a lot of corals in a smaller place...but I'm still gonna move the corals around tonight / water change in the morning / introduce an anemone into the "clowns" happy spot..I'll let ya know..

Todd

 

[ToddinAtl]

Now that I jog my memory, I've gone through 2 different color morphs of condys...the clowns didn't go to either one and after a couple of months I ended up giving them away..I want this purchase to be a sure-fire hosting..everything I've read says H. Crispa, H. Magnifica or S. gigantea are the only positive attachments. I think the atributes of the Crispa are the best (will bury it's base in the sand and stay put) but it's hard to find. So I'm kind of stuck between the other 2..unless someone knows of another sure-fire host. (It'll be getting expensive giving these things away if the clowns don't go for'em)

Thanks,
Todd

 

[bensenvill]

I just removed my carpet from my tank about a month ago. I loved it but it became half the size of the tank (which is fine, he has a great home now). Roaming isnt too much of a problem as long as you take a few steps. 1st, mine liked to surround himself with rocks, 2nd they have a very powerful foot and can uproot and tumble huge rock piles. Make sure your rockpiles are very well balanced. Make sure they arent close to any corals (in my experience, he would almost seek them out to burn them). The biggest suggestion I can give that I havent read from anyone else was buy what I call "the enforcer". I used a large peice of bleached coral (and it had some sharp edges). Whenever I saw the anemone starting to wander I would put the enforcer in the tank to block his path. He didnt like pressing up against the sharp edges and would head back in the direction that he came from. Then I would take the enforcer back out of the tank until I needed it again.

hope that helps

~Terry

 

[aquarist=broke]

lots of threads on the subject of anemone placement, wanderings, and needs are here on the bb some from not too long ago, w/awesome pics to boot-search for lta,bta,quadricolor,h.magnifica,ritteri....

also some really experienced keepers-who'll probly also chime in

manipulating currents w directioned powerheads can have an affect, to some extent on 'swaying the anemones opinion'

some species will try to get more light as they grow(like h.magnifica does in some of the posters' tanks)some prefer to 'secure' the foot in the sand, or under/between rock.

keep in mind that many anemones expand greatly over the size seen in the lfs. most of the time the purchaser is not truly aware of how big a critter they purchased, due to the 'shrinkage' at the store!

I'm with Vitz on this one all the way. I think if the anemone you put in there doesn't like the current in the clown's particular area, it will move until it finds a good spot. The plus is that if the clowns adopt the anemone, wherever she goes they will follow. When I was upgrading my tank, every where the anemone went the clown followed. Even if it was in a bucket from one tank to another. That's dedication. It also really hurts when a clown bites you for wandering too close to its friend.....

 

[aquarist=broke]

"The Enforcer". Sounds like a pretty mean guy..... I wish it would work on pesky kids......

I should also mention that I have a BTA which the clown I had adopted alomst instantly. He was really using a patch of hair algae like it was an anemone. He would swim in and out throughout the hair like he does the anemone now.

Before I put the anemone in, I leveled all the hair algae that he was using as his "happy spot" (really pissed him off) then put the anemone in that exact same spot.

Watching him swim over to the anemone cautiously was priceless. He brushed up against it about four times swimming away almost shuddering. It wasn't until lights out that I looked over and he was "sleeping" in it. Absloutely awesome..... I hope you have success!

 

[thebigblue]

todd

"I was wondering if the location that the clowns typically hang out/sleep is any indication of the place that the anemone would also feel comfortable?"

good question, but i think as soon as you put that magnifica in, those clowns will find it...no matter where it is...i think, for the anemones sake, the best spot for this creature is in a high flow area, close to the surface, right under a MH...

"I really don't want this anemone wandering all over the tank as there are several SPS, LPS, a couple leathers and a couple clams....Is there any way of telling what would hopefully be a suitable place to place the anemone initially to prevent it from floating all over the place.. "

not really, i "placed" mine where i wanted it (at the top of the tank in a high flow area right under a 250w MH in my 125 gal reef) and it basically stayed in that spot for about 5 months...a few weeks ago it went on a little "walk about" around the tank (it didnt damage any other corals)...and eventually ended up stuck in the overflow teeth...(i have no powerheads in the tank, for good reason!)...one of the problems with these guys is theres really no good way of keeping them from roaming...i wasnt feeding mine daily and decided to try that...i moved him back to the middle of the tank and now feed him every day a small piece of shrimp...hes stayed put and looks better than ever...

"I've not read anything on size of anemone VS. roaming, but this is a rather large one. Will it's size somewhat reduce the urge to float around?"

i dont think so...if he wants to move (due to inferior lighting, feeding, current or whatever the reason) i think he will...another thing is you may buy a rather large one (mine was about 10" across) but over time he may shrink if not "happy"...mine is back to about the size when i got him, and ive read several posts about guys saying these things can really outgrow a tank...

i personally thought my clown looked very "bored" in my tank without an anemone...all he did was swim at the top of the tank looking for food, he never really swam around thru out the LR at all...but since i put in the magnifica, he hasnt left the anemone...only to feed...wherever the anemone goes he follows...

IMO, i dont think i'd even have another clownfish without an anemone...

heres a link to a recent pic...

http://www.thereeftank.com/forums/showt ... adid=11418

HTH

brad

 

[ToddinAtl]

Thanks everyone,

Brad that anemone looks sweet and the clown looks quite happy. I went with the H. Magnificia...only I didn't get the "large" one they had (about 12" in diameter)..I took one look at it and said no way..if that thig started roaming it'd wipe out my whole tank. I got a smaller (app 5") one. The LFS guy said it would take about a year for it to double, I'm hoping this is true. It's taken a fingernail size piece of shrimp twice (in 4 days) so I'm guessing it's gonna do alright...In fact last night while feeding I didn't need to keep the other fish away...it grabbed the shrimp, opened it's mouth and the shrimp was gone just that fast.

The clowns both went right to it 1st day but they stayed downstream about 5" away...

2nd day they started hovering over it and all around it within about 2"..

3rd day..still no hosting but they're still constantly about 2" away...

4th day..I've never seen them show any sign of aggression, but there starting to chase other fish away from that area of the tank, still staying about 2" away. I did notice the female getting closer and actually rubbing against the tenacles..(I think we're on our way). Also, I noticed last night that the clowns were doing their dance very aggressivly...however a 4 A.M. check and the clowns are wobbling in there normal corner of the tank.

Maybe tonight's the night...I did read that the host should be about 4 times the size of the clown, I'm hoping this isn't going to reduce the chances of them latching on but things are looking promising so far.

Todd

 

[thebigblue]

todd

thats great, sounds like you are on the right track...it took my clown about a day to find the anemone...hasnt left since...im sure theyll "find" it any day now...

keep me posted on your experiences and i'll do the same..

goodluck

brad

 

[jamesw]

I think you may have been a bit hasty in purchasing that Magnifica - especially after the feedback you have received here. This type of anemone needs a special "species" tank setup JUST for the anemone and clownfish. You need to design your lighting, current, and aquascape JUST for the anemone.

Your statement that you have tried to get your clownfish to go into a Condy demonstrates that you need to do some more research before trying this project. Condies are from the Carribean where there are no clownfish - so they are not natural hosts and may in fact eat clownfish in an aquarium.

Hopefully you don't see this as a flame because I am challenging you - It's meant as a warning only - and it looks like it may have come to late.

Please let us know how your anemone does, where it moves, which corals it kills, and how long it lives.

Cheers
James Wiseman

 

[npaden]

H. Magnifica are pretty will known for roaming the rockwork and they do have a potent sting. They typically will go to the highest point in your tank with the most flow but they still are known for roaming a bit. It likely won't care what it has to climb over to get to the spot that it wants.

I researched these but instead chose a very beautiful purple LTA and an H. Crispa as both of these species will stay in the sand and are known for staying put. I should have just bought 2 LTA's (I've got a big tank) because the H. Crispa are known for being finicky and now I'm worried mine might not be doing so well. The other drawback to a H. Magnifica is that they are known fish predators in the wild and they have a worse survival record than even the H. Crispa.

FWIW, Nathan

 

[ToddinAtl]

As posted on another thread..the intent was not to permanently keep this anemone in this display tank...Only to get the hosting process going (if it's gonna happen). I'm plumbing in a shallow 30G tank into the system for the anemone AND clownfish..so I hope to not be reporting that I've killed any corals!!

[/quote]Your statement that you have tried to get your clownfish to go into a Condy demonstrates that you need to do some more research before trying this project. Condies are from the Carribean where there are no clownfish - so they are not natural hosts and may in fact eat clownfish in an aquarium.

Neither are leather corals of any type from what I've read or a post I just read that said there clowns are hosting in a GOB or some of the corals mentioned in this thread...BUT I was trying those first to test the waters as I really didn't want a gigantic anemone in the first place. After making up my mind I knew I would have to eventually add another tank..BUT I'm not going to go through the expense if the clowns don't find this anemone as a suitable host..

Thanks,
Todd

 

[jamesw]

I'm glad you tried a leather coral first. They can be obtained captive grown and are rather hardey. Also, at least a leather coral won't eat your clownfish...

Good luck with your purchase,
James Wiseman

 

[Anonymous]

ToddinAtl wrote:

I'm plumbing in a shallow 30G tank into the system for the anemone AND clownfish..so I hope to not be reporting that I've killed any corals

please read this before you make any more potentially unwise(read possibly foolhardy) decisions :wink:

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... highlight=