Anemone

[kramleigh]

Hi all,

I have a question regarding keeping anemone's. I have had my tank set-up now for just over a month. Currently have 2 common clowns, 20 turbos, 5 red legs, a reef lobster, 2 cleaner shrimps and 2 sexy shrimp. Parameters are currently (and have been for two weeks) at:

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
Phosphate - 0
PH - 8.2
SG - 1.026
Temp - 78-82

Firstly, am I ready for another fish? and can I keep an anemone? I have read a lot about leaving them for 6 months or so, but parameters are ok, and clowns need a new gift . Thanks, K

 

[Randall_James]

I would pass it up for no less than 6 months. The tank parameters just typically are not stable enough for such a sensitive creature yet. You "might" get away with a captive bred animal but it is still pretty "iffy"

Clowns do not care if they have a host or not, and waiting will not hurt them. I think your chance of success goes up with time

 

[ionredline0260]

Depending how big your clowns are (if they're too small they can get eaten very easily) I would reccomend a condi anemone. People say it's a no no but they are very cheap and add live to your tank, I have one in my reef that's going on 3 months and it's doing great, my clarkii female hosts it (very vigorously at that) very fun to watch.

 

[papagimp]

Sounds like alot of livestock for a tank that's only a month old. If I had to take a guess, it sounds like you may be trying to rush things a bit. Not a good option in this hobby. Not pointing the finger, just trying to warn ya before any mistakes are made.

I think your lighting is enough for an anemone, but I don't think the system is mature enough by far. Give it 6 months. Also, do some better research into your clownfish. Either you opted to call them "common clowns" or havn't done sufficient research to know which species you have. If you just prefer calling them that, no biggie, if you don't know the species you currently have, than I'd be apt to say you are not ready for another fish.

Water quality looks good, check for calcium and ALK as well. both are going to be extremely important factors with a reef tank.

FYI, clowns do not NEED an anemone to host in. If they want a home, they will find one. Weather it be a coral, a dugout in the sandbed, whatever. They simply don't have to have the anemone. In fact, mine never touched a single anemone I've stuck in my tank, but they love my frogspawn corals and my large hairy mushrooms.

 

[Randall_James]

I have had baby clowns take to Anemone' in short order, never lost one (yet) as for hairy mushrooms, seen full grown clowns eaten alive by them (have the pic to prove it too )

 

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9515381#post9515381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ionredline0260
I would reccomend a condi anemone. People say it's a no no but they are very cheap and add live to your tank,

It's great that his clownfish is hosting in a Condi, but keep in mind when selecting a "host" for your clowns: A condi is not a natural host for ANY clownfish. They come from the wrong ocean for that sort of thing. Condi's are cheap....so are dominoe damselfish and lot's of other Non-reefsafe specimens. Cheap isn't always a good thing. I would avoid a condi personally. If you wanted a good "host" anemone for pretty much any clown, look into the bubbletip anemone's. Easier to care for than most and more often accepted as a host by more clowns than any other anemone.

 

[papagimp]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9515409#post9515409 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Randall_James
as for hairy mushrooms, seen full grown clowns eaten alive by them (have the pic to prove it too )

And I've watched ever so closely ever single time I seen em in the hairy shrooms. Scared me to death since I have seen em reach well over 12" in diameter. But they never made a go at the clowns. In fact, i've seen my last pair of occellaris, a yellow wrasse, and a regal tang, all playing together in my hairy mushrooms and they never went for a single fish. Weird.

 

[Slphappy]

I wouldn't...
The clowns will be fine with out a host. Wait a while. Be patient... One of the most common mistakes most noobs (and a few old salts that should know better ) make is to rush things and add too many inhabitans too soon.

Let the tank mature and age a bit, at least 6 months (if not a year) before adding the anemone. You'll be more experienced in that time and (hopefully) will have honed your husbandry skills and the anemone (and all your other critters) will have a much better chance of surviving and you will be happy and not frustrated and upset.

Just take things slow and you will be much happier, and you will be proud to show off that awesome looking tank you worked so hard and patiently on.

Just my advice... take it for what it's worth. Good luck...

 

[Randall_James]

 

[bertoni]

The Condylactis might eat the clowns, too. I'd wait to get an anemone, personally. My tank was up for 4-5 years before I got one.