Anemone alternatives

[seeingred]

I currently have a 22g nano with a false perc clownfish. I will not add an anemone to such a small system, but I have heard of cases of clownfish hosting in corals. What corals can be used as alternatives to anemones that a clownfish may host? I was thinking maybe frogspawn, but I don't really know. Thanks!

Pete

 

[Aquarist007]

chances are that the perc won't host at all.
Consider a tube anemome--the purple one in the pic-- I bought that about a month ago---placed it on the substrated and mounded the substrated in a circle around it---anchored itself immediately and has been happy since:

 

[ReefNeck]

There is no gurantee but sometimes, Frogspawn, Hanner Coral or Torch (all related). I have never seen them hosting a tube anemone but I don't see why they would'nt. Just depends on the fish itself.

I have a Pair of Clarkii that host in hairy mushrooms. (Which reeally are anemones).

 

[brandon7491]

if u have the proper equiptment u can add an anemone to ur tank

 

[Embowe]

I just added a few heads of frogspawn and my false perc is already taking a intrest in it....may or may not host I am still unsure

 

[ezcompany]

sarcophytons (toadstool leathers) make an excellent alternative. frogspawns aren't a good choice as chances are the clown will beat it to death or in reverse the clown will develop a disease in its mouth as it nibbles on the coral tentacles.

 

[Slakker]

My Ocellaris host in a Frogspawn and a hairy mushroom. However, while the hairy mushroom is a Corallimorph, it's not technically an anemone.

I would avoid adding any type of anemone. There's the chance the tube anemone would eat your clowns, as it's not a natural symbiosis and tube anemones are fairly aggressive.
My brother has a tube anemone in his nano, and I have not seen the clown show any interest in it and hope this continues.

Edit: I've never heard of the mouth problem from hosting frogspawn...got any links? I may have to separate them if it seems to be a common problem.

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11135644#post11135644 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
chances are that the perc won't host at all.
Consider a tube anemome--the purple one in the pic-- I bought that about a month ago---placed it on the substrated and mounded the substrated in a circle around it---anchored itself immediately and has been happy since:

i dont think thats a tube anemone looks like a purple M. Dorensis.

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11135681#post11135681 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefNeck
There is no gurantee but sometimes, Frogspawn, Hanner Coral or Torch (all related). I have never seen them hosting a tube anemone but I don't see why they would'nt. Just depends on the fish itself.

I have a Pair of Clarkii that host in hairy mushrooms. (Which reeally are anemones).

tube anemones are not natural clown hosts and are known to be fish predators...

 

[GSMguy]

Mouth fungus from Euphyllia sounds myth like to me as i have never seen this anywhere credible.

 

[BangkokMatt]

Here are my osc hosting in my elegance coral (though your tank is a bit small for an elegance)

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11137284#post11137284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by brandon7491
if u have the proper equiptment u can add an anemone to ur tank

curious--what's the proper equipment?

 

[Reefynewby]

stay away from anemones, especially tubes. Like slakker said, tube anemones carry a more potent sting, and can cause danger to your clowns and other tank inhabitants, besides the fact that the clowns won't get hosted in it and the anemone might not survive.

Furthermore, there is, unless you're willing to upgrade ALL your equipment, install a new refugium, and suspend better lights over your nano, there is NO proper equipment. A nano, is simply, for simplicity and ease of care. nano tanks are made for display, not demanding difficult species.

My recommendation: buy a frogspawn or torch coral (im not much for hammer) or if you MUSt have the anemone look, get a long tentacle plate. corals are an easier, beautiful alternative, and if your lucky the clowns may host. However, a forewarning, hosting may not be a benefit. Hosting can often hurt the host coral, as it's not natural, and isn't beneficial to the corals, solely the clowns.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11139666#post11139666 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefynewby
stay away from anemones, especially tubes. Like slakker said, tube anemones carry a more potent sting, and can cause danger to your clowns and other tank inhabitants, besides the fact that the clowns won't get hosted in it and the anemone might not survive.

Furthermore, there is, unless you're willing to upgrade ALL your equipment, install a new refugium, and suspend better lights over your nano, there is NO proper equipment. A nano, is simply, for simplicity and ease of care. nano tanks are made for display, not demanding difficult species.

My recommendation: buy a frogspawn or torch coral (im not much for hammer) or if you MUSt have the anemone look, get a long tentacle plate. corals are an easier, beautiful alternative, and if your lucky the clowns may host. However, a forewarning, hosting may not be a benefit. Hosting can often hurt the host coral, as it's not natural, and isn't beneficial to the corals, solely the clowns.

before I had the anenomes I had a clarkie clown who hosted in the torch and hammer---it bugged the heck out of the coral--they simply did not like it.
---but everytank is different as are the conditions maintained withinin. All these anecdotal comments simply make you aware of posssible problems----try it out with a well informed eye

 

[Reefynewby]

it would make sense though...

The coral is like a person, and a person likes wearing cotton, silk, w/e floats your boat. But naturally a person won't be comfortable w/ clothes made of pure steel. It's not right, and not natural, so the same goes for the corals.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11137608#post11137608 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
i dont think thats a tube anemone looks like a purple M. Dorensis.

GMSguy---do you have a link to more info on this---I tried searching --all I get for Dorensis is carpet anenome--it doesn't look like a carpet--I have those also.
The coral place I go to has always been really reliable-----this one had a long orange tube on it if that is any help.

 

[Reefynewby]

mm reading back further i agree... that doesnt look like a tube. Tubes have VERY VERY skinny tentacles. They're like spaghetti noodles, except skinnier, and longer. They are in an almost perfect circle in like a very thin, neat line. The mouth is often a different color, and clearly designated seperate from the line of tentacles.

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11139714#post11139714 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefynewby
it would make sense though...

The coral is like a person, and a person likes wearing cotton, silk, w/e floats your boat. But naturally a person won't be comfortable w/ clothes made of pure steel. It's not right, and not natural, so the same goes for the corals.

either you or me have enjoyed one too many cold ones tonight:lol: I am sorry I can't make any sense out of the analogy that you posted

what's your recommendation on plate anenomes--do they stay put. I've been lucky with my rose and tube--they have stayed right where I put them.
Ps--please don't use an analogy if you chose to answer this:rollface:

 

[Reefynewby]

eh he he he... i was having second thoughts about that one post-posting =) long tentacle plates are sometimes difficult to keep, hit or miss. it depends on your specific tank conditions. They WILL sometimes move, by expanding and shrinking very very slowly.

PS- No analogies:eek2:

 

[Slakker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11139715#post11139715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by capn_hylinur
GMSguy---do you have a link to more info on this---I tried searching --all I get for Dorensis is carpet anenome--it doesn't look like a carpet--I have those also.
The coral place I go to has always been really reliable-----this one had a long orange tube on it if that is any help.

That is odd...it could be a tube anemone, but the tentacles look much thicker than other's that I've seen.

I guess if it has a tube, then that's probably what it is. Are their tubes normally colored? I don't recall reading anything on that, nor have i done much research on tube anemones in general.

As for the frogspawn, my A. Ocellaris currently go back and forth between the frogspawn and a hairy mushroom. They don't spend a ton of time in the frogspawn, not much more than rubbing their bellies on it at night, but so far it doesn't seem to be irritated at all. I guess only time will tell, though.