Anemone for mated pair???

[reef_researcher]

1. What type(s) of anemones would you reccomend for a mated pair of tomato clowns?
2. what min. size would you reccomend? female (4inch), male (1.5- 2 inches)
3. is is better to have an anemone that is too small or no anemone to go with the fish

 

[ezhoops]

Larger anem is better, Tomato clowns are very rough on anem's and I would opt not to have one unless your heart is sold on one.

for a tank your size a BTA would be best

 

[reef_researcher]

thank you for your reply, we currently have a BTA but it's looking real bad and I think it's due to the female clowns aggressiveness with it. about 1/5 of the tentacle are missing (all from the same area) and it is often deflated. We have tried to feed it but she will take the food from inside it's mouth.

 

[km133688]

BTA is what hosts my two TC. In fact I have two of them and they are smaller sized anemones. the mama clown barely fits into the biggerst one. Still, she like to dive right in.

It may be something else that is causing your anemones to not do well. I feed mine quarter inch pieces of raw shrimp. Feed the clowns heavily on mysis shrimp before and during you attempt to feed the anemone. Also consider getting two.

good luck, I find BTAs trend to wander about so cover up those power heads.

 

[criccio]

I agree with EZ, if you don't need one I would probably pass since it sounds like your tomato's are too aggresive.

But, if your set on it, assuming your talking about your 32g, I would only get a bta, but it needs to be a few x's larger than those tomato's. Is there anyway to "protect" the bta until it recovers and grows, or a new (larger) one settles in?

FYI, your tomato's don't need an anemone to live happy, healthy lives, and even spawn.

 

[ricordiaking]

I have a nice spawning pair of tom's that spawn every 2 weeks without and anemone, but if you want to give them a BTA.

 

[km133688]

it is true, they don't need an anemone when in captivity in order to breed. you can see this if you look online at pics of "professional" fish breeders doing it. No anemones at all. but in these cases, the two clowns are the only living things in the tank minus maybe a few snails for cleanup.

fwiw, I had my fish for a while with one, without one, and with one again and I can definitely say they are way happier with one.

good luck, Kevin

 

[reef_researcher]

thanks everyone for your responses. I'm pretty sure that the anemone we have now won't make it. I would seperate it but I really don't have a way until our new tank is up an running. As for another anemone we definentally won't put it in with the clowns till it's plenty big enough.
thanks again