Anemone Eating all my fish...ID?

[JustinReef]

I was under the impression it was a mini but clearly not. Bought this off a fellow reefer. It only seems to get 4"-5" and then splits. It has eaten many fish, corals, crabs and snails. Anything that touches it is gone. I can't even touch the thing without a lot of pain!

This is it although the pic was taken after lights out and its not fully open.

Anyone know an ID? Obviously a very aggressive nem!

 

[JustinReef]

Stichodactyla haddoni?

 

[marc price]

stichodactyla helianthus

 

[elegance coral]

It looks like haddoni, but your description does not sound like haddoni at all. It sounds more like helianthus, but it does not look like one. I honestly don't know what it is. LOL.

 

[JustinReef]

Yeah it acts and eats like a stichodactyla helianthus but looks nothing like one I don't think.

Splits too much to be a haddoni I think. Looks just like one though.

I think either way it has to go. Doubt I am going to find anyone who wants the stupid thing though.

 

[JustinReef]

Anyone?

 

[Lmecher]

What ever it is, it sure is a beauty! I'd love to find one or my mini carpet tank. : )

 

[Lmecher]

Could it be Stichodactyla tapetum? I found this and aside from the color, looks very similar. There is a variety that grows to 30cm. Just a thought.


http://uglycoral.com/JOOMLA/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=17&Itemid=30#

 

[Lmecher]

Sorry, the whole page came up on the link, I am referring to the one in the fifth row middle photo.

 

[JustinReef]

Someone on my local forum though tapetum too. But I am pretty sure its not. Too aggressive. Wrong colors. Just looks different.

It really is beautiful! I want to keep it so badly but my plan had been to stock the tank with small gobies and blennies. Thats obviously not a good mix! It splits quite often and they have eaten all my gobies and only one blenny remains.

 

[JustinReef]

Actually the pic you were talking about looks just like it except a different color. Hmmmmm....

 

[Lmecher]

They are known fish eaters, I set up a tank just for them. They are extremely sticky. I was removing some for sale and one stuck to the side of my finger, had a heck of a time getting it off, I had quite a welt, red and swollen. Just saying it could be, fits the description. I think you'd be fine as long as you don't keep bottom dwellers. In my mini tank I have a wrasse and a damsel, both of which are going, they're not mine. I kept a maroon w/several minis for months. Thinking about putting a clown in that tank. Cool, cool anemone.

 

[Lmecher]

I bet you could find many who'd buy your clones, I would for sure. There is a market for maxi-mini's.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13941853#post13941853 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lmecher
I bet you could find many who'd buy your clones, I would for sure. There is a market for maxi-mini's.

Yeah I would actually sell them to you but I can't ship to the US.

My problem is that I have (had ) a tank full of small gobies and blennies. Its a 130G tank that was suppose to be FILLED with nano fish. Nothing much bigger than 3" or so. Although I do have a pair of clowns too.

So these guys don't fit into the plans. It actually looks like the mother anemone is splitting again. I see three mouths now in the mother. I have been feeding it some months and not other months. Just to see what happened. If I don't feed, it moves around a bit but stays about the same size or grows slow. When I feed them, they split once a month. If I feed a lot, it splits even more.

 

[Slakker]

What you've got there, my friend, is a cash cow. Perhaps set up a small tank to propagate them and supply one of your LFS with a steady supply of them?

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13941984#post13941984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
What you've got there, my friend, is a cash cow. Perhaps set up a small tank to propagate them and supply one of your LFS with a steady supply of them?

LOL...I was just thinking that. I have an empty fuge right now. It only has PC lighting but I could up that to a MH I think. Darn I just sold a 250...should have kept it I guess.

I think thats a good idea though.

 

[Lmecher]

I have 30 or so at last count. They split very often when fed. You see I have a different point of view, I have been wanting one for sooooo long, I would not hesitate to set up a tank for them (I did) if I were you. That sucks that you lost so many fish and I love my blennys and gobys so I feel for you. Maybe your plan has to change or else the green fish eating machine has to go. One thing is for sure, it is really beautiful. Sorry, I am repeating myself. Good luck with the plan which ever way you go! : )

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13942027#post13942027 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lmecher
I have 30 or so at last count. They split very often when fed. You see I have a different point of view, I have been wanting one for sooooo long, I would not hesitate to set up a tank for them (I did) if I were you. That sucks that you lost so many fish and I love my blennys and gobys so I feel for you. Maybe your plan has to change or else the green fish eating machine has to go. One thing is for sure, it is really beautiful. Sorry, I am repeating myself. Good luck with the plan which ever way you go! : )

Yeah you know what, I am actually thinking of changing my fish plans to fit in with these guys. I do love them that much and could imagine at least an area of the tank full of them. I would not however be willing to dedicate the whole 130G tank to them so I have to figure out if this would ever work. I know keeping them to one area will be hard but I have a lot of open sand between the rocks where they are and the next closest rocks. When they travel across the sand, it is super easy to catch them and put them where you want...so I could sell any that move too far. They don't seem to want to leave the bottom of the tank either and only move when they first split. The tank has only a 17" water level and 400 watt halides, so they a crazy amount of light, even on the bottom. Actually when I acquired it, it was a greyish color. Under my lights, it has gotten quite green.

So what fish should I be able to keep with it?

Right now I have:

Yellow Tang
Pair of clowns
Mandarin (hopefully stays away)
Fang Blenny (doesn't go near the bottom)

I have lost about 5 gobies and two other blennies in the past two weeks since starting to add small fish.

How big of a fish could these guys eat? Seems like they would have to be fairly small since the anemone doesn't ever get too big.

 

[Lmecher]

I set up a 15g. for mine, 130g never ment you should dedicate that to them.
I would stay away from bottom dwellers that may stumble upon them. Your mandarin and blenny (only takes one trip to the botton) are in danger. I'd think any free swimming fish should be fine but there is always the chance that they'd make the mistake of getting too close. I think they'd try to eat almost anything that touches them, even a fish that is too big and even if it can't eat it , sting the heck out of it. The clowns and wrasse I have kept with mine never were bothered. That would be a judgement you'd have to make. I would not put any really expensive fish in with them, just incase. I am glad your keeping them. as I said really cool anemone, I am so jealous!!

 

[JustinReef]

Yeah its a hard call to make. I am going to go ahead and leave the fish I have in there but certainly not add more bottom dwellers. I won't purposely put more fish in danger.

I actually think I may just put a big school of chromis or something and leave it at that.