Bangaai Cardinal and Anemone

[nasek718]

So for a few weeks I've been noticing that my cardinals keep getting dangerously close to the White Tip Long Tentacle Anemone I have in my tank. On a few occasions I've noticed them all buddy buddy even with the Black Ocellaris close that host it and it looked a lot like they were all playing in it.

This morning I awoke to find them laying in the anemone. Then as soon as the lights came on they took off out of it. So now here's my question. Has anyone else ever seen this happen before?

 

[progman2000]

I was actually just googling last night about this. I just got a pair of Bangaai Cardinals and they don't leave a mini maxi I have that's about 6-8 inches big. Seems common for these guys to "host", although I haven't read about them actually lying in an anemone before.

 

[nasek718]

I have never read about them and anemones. Figured I'd see if anyone else has seen or heard of it. I'm trying to catch them in the act so I can post pics. Which just means it probably won't happen when I have the camera lol

 

[Whip316]

i have heard of them "hosting" a nem before. but i think they might be getting the nem confused with an Urchin. i think the babies in the wild hosted or hung around urchins.

 

[theronsta]

leave the lights off and use the camera flash

 

[nasek718]

leave the lights off and use the camera flash

I am tomorrow if they do it again.

 

[wfournier]

from what I've seen and I think I read in places too this is normal behavior for them.

 

[DeePDiSHeD]

Mine doesn't seem to mind the sting from a BTA. It doesn't sleep or play in it though.

 

[Winwood]

Anemones are natural refuges for them. Here's a good video to illustrate it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAblRkS5J-0

 

[atreis]

They naturally co-exist with LTAs... Mine generally hangs just (barely) not touching the tentacles of my LTA, and I sometimes see it hanging around the RBTA too although not usually as close as to the LTA.

Last weekend we were at the Columbus zoo and in one of their tanks I saw a baby Bangaai Cardinal floating inside, just barely above the tentacles, of a carpet anemone. My youngest daughter loved seeing that.

 

[8220]

hehe Bangaai babies host anything. They loved to hang out in my Heliofungia all the time. Funny little fish..

 

[nasek718]

hehe Bangaai babies host anything. They loved to hang out in my Heliofungia all the time. Funny little fish..

These are adults but glad I'm not just going crazy. Lol

 

[2reefnutz]

I feel better now, mine are hosting my LTA with a huge maroon clown pair. Thought it was crazy but now at least I'm not worried about the nem killing them