Adding Carpet to a mixed reef?

tank41

New member
Hey guys. I was given a carpet anemone about 4 months ago and has been living in a 33 gallon tank with a couple of clown fish and small amount of soft coral. I want to take the tank down and place the nem in my 135 mixed reef tank. It's a pretty large carpet. (approx 10 in diam) I believe it to be a haddoni. I guess my question is do most people have problems with carpets in a mixed reef with a variety of Fish or in most cases are the fish safe. I know it's a risk but just curious what other peoples experiences have been in regards to eating fish.
THanks
 
I have 3 haddonis, all added at different times. Fishes are smart enough to keep away from the anemones, though there might come some casualties if a fish is startled and hits the anemone.
 
I was recommended by several people to not get a carpet for my tank because if they decide to walk around their sting will kill virtually any coral
 
Haddonis don't usually walk up the rock, so stinging corals isn't a big problem. Even though some haddoni carpets don't catch fish, some most certainly will. Its not that the fish are too smart. Tangs, rabbitfish and dwarf angels are particularly at risk. There are people who have lost hundreds of dollars worth of fish to aggressive haddonis.

20 years ago, over the course of about 5 years, I lost probably 10 fish. I chalked it up to tangs/angels being delicate and dying behind the rocks to be eaten by the scavenging crew. Then I found a jellylike mass full of bones near the anemone and then another. I traded him in as soon as I could. I told the shop owner it was a fish eater. Two days later it sold. Four days after that it was back. It had eaten someones flame angel.
 
I never had any problem but one---the carpet grew and grew and grew and took over half a 100 g tank. I had to move it out, and the clowns never forgave me. I had mostly blennies and damsels, never had much trouble with it doing in things, but it was a monster-- sizewise.
 
I added a Hector's goby to my tank, I paid a buck per minute that it was in my tank. My melanurus wrasse started chasing it, I went to grab something to catch the wrasse with and 1/4 of the goby was sticking out of the haddoni's mouth, I haven't added a fish since.
 
fishes are at a higher risk of being eaten if the aquarium containing a haddoni is totally dark at night. Keep a nightlight on near the anemone's aquarium.
 
I've had my carpet in a mixed reef system for years and have never lost a fish or coral. Mine does move around the sand bed every now and then which has caused me to move some things out of his way. I've woke up to him spreading out on top of my clams before. In saying that I think some are more aggressive then others when kept in a mixed reef set up. I don't think your going to know how it's going to work out until you give it a try.
 
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