I really want to buy a anemone and a pair of clowns. My question is should i buy them at the same time? Are there anemones that are better to host clowns than others. I also need a anemone that doesn't get to big because i have a 29g biocube. Almost no bio load so far but i don't want to over do it either. Looking at the rose and rainbow anemones are ARC but not sure if that is the best option. Any advise would be helpful.
Advice on anemones
- Thread starter SgtKing
- Start date
blanden.adam
Team RC
To answer your questions in order:
1) You should not buy them at the same time unless you want to wait at least 6 months to get the clowns. The clownfish are nearly bullet proof and are a great starter fish that you may want to get early on because they are awesome
. Hosting anemones are more fragile and require a very stable environment in which to thrive, so it is generally recommended that you not try one until at least 6 months for the heartier ones (ie Entacmaea quadricolor).
2) Yes, some anemone's host clowns, and others do not. Also, certain anemones will only host certain species of clown, although in captivity those boundaries often get blurred. (ie the popular Amphiprion ocellaris being hosted by an Entacmaea quadricolor isn't found in nature, but relatively common in aquaria).
3) All hosting anemone's will get large. Even bubble tip anemone's can grow to well over a foot in diameter. The other common hosting anemone's seen in reef aquaria are long tentacle anemones (can grow to about 2 feet), carpet anemones (can grow to 3 feet), and sabae anemone's (Ive seen up to 1.5 feet, but don't know how large they get maximally).
4) Bubble tip anemone's are generally recommended as the best starter hosting anemone. They are heartier than the rest and more easily attained. You are much more likely to be able to find a captive-cloned RBTA or GBTA than the other hosting anemone's, which I would highly recommend. No reason to steal an anemone from the wild if it isn't necessary, and you already know those anemone's do well in aquariums.
If you go down this route, please do tons of research beforehand, and if you intend to keep the anemone in a 29gallon cube long term, best to probably make it a dedicated aquarium to the nem and the clowns. Good luck!
1) You should not buy them at the same time unless you want to wait at least 6 months to get the clowns. The clownfish are nearly bullet proof and are a great starter fish that you may want to get early on because they are awesome
. Hosting anemones are more fragile and require a very stable environment in which to thrive, so it is generally recommended that you not try one until at least 6 months for the heartier ones (ie Entacmaea quadricolor).2) Yes, some anemone's host clowns, and others do not. Also, certain anemones will only host certain species of clown, although in captivity those boundaries often get blurred. (ie the popular Amphiprion ocellaris being hosted by an Entacmaea quadricolor isn't found in nature, but relatively common in aquaria).
3) All hosting anemone's will get large. Even bubble tip anemone's can grow to well over a foot in diameter. The other common hosting anemone's seen in reef aquaria are long tentacle anemones (can grow to about 2 feet), carpet anemones (can grow to 3 feet), and sabae anemone's (Ive seen up to 1.5 feet, but don't know how large they get maximally).
4) Bubble tip anemone's are generally recommended as the best starter hosting anemone. They are heartier than the rest and more easily attained. You are much more likely to be able to find a captive-cloned RBTA or GBTA than the other hosting anemone's, which I would highly recommend. No reason to steal an anemone from the wild if it isn't necessary, and you already know those anemone's do well in aquariums.
If you go down this route, please do tons of research beforehand, and if you intend to keep the anemone in a 29gallon cube long term, best to probably make it a dedicated aquarium to the nem and the clowns. Good luck!
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
x2
rose and rainbow anemones = BTA Entacmaea quadricolor = best choice for 29 gallon
my 2 cents: black ocellaris look awesome in those anemones
bladen.adam nailed it.
One extra thing though. Make sure you get an anemone large enough for the clowns. Clowns can be rough on any anemone, but they can actually kill one that isn't large enough to handle getting beat up a bit.
One extra thing though. Make sure you get an anemone large enough for the clowns. Clowns can be rough on any anemone, but they can actually kill one that isn't large enough to handle getting beat up a bit.
My first nem (a condylactis) died within 6 weeks of acquiring it due to my inexperience (water issues and consistency). He came with my existing set up when I bought it. After about 6 months and a lot of learning I purchased an RBTA clone locally for $30 when they were going for double that at the LFS. Within a week my True Percula discovered it and the rest is history. They're a real treat together. The RBTA even cloned itself after a couple of months so now I have 2. Last week I added a 2nd True Perc to the fray and he, too, quickly took to the nems and is in the process of acclimating himself to the stinging tentacles.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
probably not. Elaborating on what's already been posted:
If you are new to reefkeeping it's generally not advisable to attempt an anemone right away. (See the RC Anemone FAQ at the top of the Clownfish/Anemone Forum)
Clownfish are generally okay to introduce early on. (Again- read the Clownfish FAQ at the top of the Clownfish /Anemone Forum)
The catch 22: the most ideal way to do this is introduce an anemone FIRST and let it get acclimated/established BEFORE introducing Clownfish.
The good news: this allows you to do your homework before wasting money on animals you might kill or not pair up correctly
Remember: Clownfish do NOT need an anemone. They will "host" in almost anything. Sarcophyton "Toadstool" corals are a good substitute for an anemone.
Thank you for all the Advice. My plan is to buy the anemone around August just to make sure my tank is established. I just needed to know if getting clowns first was good/bad/indifferent. I've been trying to find more info on anemones but mostly i find just make sure you acclimate them properly and and make sure your parameters are correct. No different than any other creature you would add to a tank.
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I would never agree to that statement
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