Anemones in Reefs

[Razzagas]

I have two false percula clowns, and i really wanted to get a host anemone for them. I also want a full mixed reef tank. the tank is a 65 gallon with 2x250 watt HQI for lighting. What anemone is best? Which will move the least? I am afraid of it stinging the other corals.
Any advice?
Thanks

 

[afishyonados]

The ocellaris clowns would probably prefer a carpet anemone, but besides being somewhat difficult to keep, they get HUGE! A healthy one may take up over half of your tank!
A bubble tip anemone is less difficult, and may not be so imposing in your tank. I know it's not the appropriate anemone for the clownfish in question, but they are not always that picky in a tank. Ask everyone what thier clowns host in. Everything from star polyps to hammer corals!

 

[AIMFish]

From looking at others pics it seems alot would suggest a bulb/bubble. I take care of a tank with a Carpet, I wouldn't suggest it tho. It doesn't move very often but when it does look out!

 

[rustybucket145]

From my own personal experience and from reading horror stories here at Reef Central I think that by introducing an anemone you are just asking for trouble. They move around. They sting other corals. When they die it is most likely the end of your tank.

Just my thoughts. There are many here that keep anemones with great success for many years. Good Luck.

 

[Anemonebuff]

My carpet has not moved since I put it in.

 

[Andy O]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7050573#post7050573 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rustybucket145
From my own personal experience and from reading horror stories here at Reef Central I think that by introducing an anemone you are just asking for trouble. They move around. They sting other corals. When they die it is most likely the end of your tank.

Just my thoughts. There are many here that keep anemones with great success for many years. Good Luck.

Why when they die is it the end of your tank. Assuming that it is a toxin issue that you are referring to, I have heard of other inverts giving off toxins when they die but was not aware that anemonies did this as well.

 

[bureau13]

Well, if you leave them in there while they're decaying they will be a problem...I don't think its a toxing thing so much as the bioload of a large decaying animal (and nothing smells worse than a decaying anemone). I had a carpet in my 55 w/ PC lighting (I was young and stupid). He seemed fine for a while, but eventually got fed up, climbed halfway up the glass, and then fell face first onto the sand bed. I pulled him out and he smelled horrible, so I knew it was over. I would like to try another one once my 240 is up and established, but not before then.

jds

 

[REV]

Just realize that your clowns still may not actually use the anemone as their host. Were they using a host when you bought them?? I have a pair of false percs and have had an anemone for about 4 months and neither of them has shown any interest ... yet! I'm holding out hope. Just realize that many clowns are tank bred these days and although it is their NATURAL home, they may or may not take to it. Good luck! BTW, mine is bulb/bubble tip.

 

[snulma1]

I bought a nice green carpet (haddoni) and he was in the tank for almost 3 months before the clowns (a. Occ) started to host. But now he is on the move, slowly moving to the other side of my tank while crawling up on the glass. Good thing most of my corals are up high!

 

[kbinkerd@verizon.net]

In my experience anemones in reef tanks are not as much a problem as many people here on RC advocate. The hardiest host anemone and esiest to care for is probaly the bubble tip, and the rose bubble tip is a very colorful addition though a bit expensive. Unfortunately your chances of your percula hosting it are not as good because it is not one of their favorite anemones. If you had a marron it would go to it right away. The long tentacle anemone may give you a better chance of your clown accepting it as a host. Though probably not as hardy as a bubble tip these are still one of the less demanding of the host anemones. As mentioned earlier the carpet is the most likely to be accepted but is a demanding species to care for and are notorious for eating other fish. As for movement and toxicity, usually they will find a place they like in a few days and in my experience don't usually move very far from where you put them. Also if they are not doing well they usually start shrinking and looking a bit shriveled more and more often before they actually die so you should have adequate warning to get it out before it dies and causes toxic problems. But if it does die in your tank it can crash the tank in less than 24 hrs, depending on the size of the anemone compared to the tank size. A bubble tip likes to cling to rocks and will often be happy where you put it if it is close enough to the top of the aquarium to get enough light. Along tenticle likes to bury its foot in substrate so will need to be on the bottom of your tank unless you hollow out a rock and put sand in it for him then he can be placed up higher in the live rock. I did this and the anemone never moved, he is hosted by an occilaris clown.

 

[trippyl]

Dude, don't do it. Trust me. Anemone's grow huge and they will kill corals that they come into contact with. Plus, they do move. They may not move for months and months, maybe years. But they certainly do move, and usually when you are on vacation.

 

[Puffdragon]

kbinkerd has given you very good advise. I have had a LTA for 2-3
years and has only moved once in that time and I caused it to move when I put a wave maker near it. They can take up a lot of
room, mine is over foot in dia. I have a pair of Clarkii's with it and it is neat to watch them feed the LTA and play in it. Also I once had a carpet in this tank before I moved and it ate a 4-5" hippo tang. so a moon light in the tank is a must.

 

[MattToTheMax]

i have 2 false percs hosting in a BTA. My BTA has split a few times so now I have one on the front glass and 3 huddled togeter in a section. Once the BTAs find a spot they like where they can hide there foot, they usually don't move much, but they can and will move. You can create an island for them, i don't think they travel on the sand. I have always just moved corals around them if they move. I really enjoy having the clowns hosting in the anemones. just my experience.

 

[tibbs2]

My BTA has doubled in size since I bought it and is now stinging two of my corals.

 

[NeuroLarry]

You can try using a torch coral, clowns will often host in it and most non-reefers think it is an anemone. Anemones should only be added to reasonably mature ( 6 months minimum) tanks.

 

[LOTUS50GOD]

I added my RBTA when the tank first started... It found its home and has been there for 6 years. It has split several times, and all of the clones are in the same area too....