Basic care for an anemone

[Troender]

I've been trying to read in topics here on the forum, and I've tried to look in the FAQ (which didn't work), but I really don't find some absolutely basic information on keeping nems. At first I had planned not to have one, but it is getting tempting. So I am trying to find information to make med decide once and for all if I want to have one. I feel I don't know enough to even know what to ask about. I know they can move around, that they have a potent sting, and that they need to be fed. But that's about it. Can you tell me what you think I need to know before I make a descision? I have some questions though:
Is a nem a danger to other corals? How and why? Is it a danger to fish (which I would think it is)? If it is, how will it go together with a lawnmower blenny and a mandarin? What kinds of fish should not be kept with a nem? I don't have to ask about my clowns. What's the basic requirements when it comes to current and light? What and how often to feed? And everything else I need to know...?

 

[garygb]

Each species is different. So, I would suggest you research one of the commonly kept and hardier host species, such as Entacmaea quadricolor and then come here with your questions. Wetwebmedia or googling E. quadricolor would be a good place to start.

 

[Troender]

I've checked my two favorite places for information on the species you mention, and they do of course not agree. :hmm2: One says it's reef safe, one says with caution, and that it can sting other corals. What are your experience on this? That's what I am the most worried about, besides it taking any of my fish.

 

[OrionN]

Clownfish hosting anemones are not for new reefers. From your statement above I think you fall into this category.
Anemones are not the same. Clown fish will not always to into anemones that are not their natural host. Often Clownfish and anemones are what draw people into reef/marine aquarium. It was for me in 1080. Clownfish are easy but anemones are not. Needless to say, I killed my share of anemones.
If you absolutly have to have an anemone, decide on the species then we can talk about how to keep it.
Easiest anemone to keep is the Bubble Tipped Anemone (E. quadricolor). Maroon and Clark will easy go into these anemones. They live on the rock structure and can go wander around and kill coral or run into a PH or over flow and kill themselves.
If you have a sand bed in your tank, one of the sand dwelling anemones is an option, but they are harder to keep and need much more stable tank. Carpet anemone (S. haddoni), LTA (M. doreensis), Sebae (H. crispa) or Delicate (H. malu) are possible option. Healthy ones in a stable good tank will settle into the tank quickly and will stay there unless there is something that make them unhappy. Change in tank stability and deterioration of water chemistry usually set them wandering.
Other than the above, I would recommend against attempt to keep any other species of clownfish hosting anemones.
Some particular of the above anemones:
BTA requires the least amount of light IMO, forgiving. Often walk into PH or down the sump and you end up with three or four small anemones. Common clowfishes, Ocellaris and Percula, often will not go into this species.
Haddoni Carpet anemone will likely eat multiple fish in the tank. Many reefers lost hundreds due to it eating prized fish. Do not keep fish that you absolutely cannot loose with this carpet anemone (or any carpet anemone). It have been know to eat clownfish that just put into the tank. Bottom dwelling fishes (like Mandarin Dragonnet) will be gone in a week or two. A 6 inches Haddoni Carpet can and will eat a 6 inches tang. Fish that got stung by a healthy carpet will died even if it got away without been eaten.
Crispa and Malu anemone are about the same in requirement. Fish are safe with them in the tank. Common clownfish will go into these anemones. Crispa gets really big while Malu stay small. It is not easy to find a Malu. You may not able to tell the different between the two.
Doreensis requirement is also similar to Malu and Crispa. This anemone will eat fish but usually don't eat big fish.
Avoid H. magnifica (Ritteri or Magnificent anemone) and the other two carpet anemone species S. mersentii (truly giant of the carpets) and S. gigantea (True carpet or Giant carpet (actually the smallest of the carpets))

 

[Troender]

Thanks for your information. You're right, I am a new reefer. And that's why I seek information first. It's not the clowns that make me want an anemone (all though I think about them too, when considering an anemone - BTW, I have a pair of tomato clowns). If it had been, I would have found something easier to keep. I know clowns can move into anemone-like things, so an anemone is not neccessary. They seem to love my fluffy mushrooms (I have no ID on them), but haven't exactly moved into them. They just stay there sometimes, and sometimes in another place. It's not Clowns and nems that brought me into reef tank keeping. It was no spesific fish that made me want to do this, all though the Lawnmower Blenny absolutely did increase my desire to try this. What I am trying to say is the reason why I am considering a nem: The reason why I think about a nem is that I find them fascinating. But I am still not sure it's something I want to invite into my tank. Again, that's why I seek information. I want to know cons and pros before making a descision - if it is more than I can handle, and if it will make trouble for my other tank inhabitants. That is what is important to me.

If I choose to keep one, it seems like it probably will be a BTA, so lets concentrate on that one. Do you mean it's too difficult to keep for a new reefer, or do you mean it's difficult to make the Clowns move into it? I didn't quite catch that. You say they can kill corals? That's definitely something that will stop me from keeping one - and that's what was confusing when I tried to read up on them - my two different sources didn't agree on this. Will it be a danger to any of my other inhabitants? Beside the clowns, I have a Lawnmower Blenny, a cleaner shrimp, two peppermint shrimp, and some snails (turbo and bumble bee). I am thinking about one or two more fishes, but haven't decided on what yet - but I am pretty sure I will have one more bottom dwelling fish.

My PH is protected against anything going into it. It has to be veeery small to get into that one! I don't think anything can get into my overflow either. That one too seems to be well protected - but I am a too experienced tank keeper to be absolutely 100 % sure. I have found that fish (and other living things) can do things that surprises us.

 

[OrionN]

BTA is the natural host of Tomato clowns so you will not have any problem with your clown go into one of BTA.
How big of a tank do you have and how much light ? Circulation? How much rock?

BTA will stay in a crevice and expend out to the light. If they are happy, they will stay put. They don't have too powerful of a sting so they often do not kill coral if they happen to touch it. The diameter of the anemone need to be at least 3+ time the size of the clown. Tomato clowns and be rough on the anemone.

 

[Troender]

Sorry for jumping back on you Orion, but I felt for a while that you were jumping on me for asking the questions. I am truely seeking information to help me make a right descision.

My tank is 35 G with a 17 G sump. Not a big tank, and it seems to be about the limit for keeping a nem. The PH is a Maxi-jet 600, which provide 680 l/h output. It's intake is pretty well covered, where only things as thin as thin fish fins would be able to come through (I have to clean the intake a lot though). The output from the pump I pump water back into the tank with is 1000 l/h, and that makes quite some current too.
The lighting is 4 X 39 W T5. Or, I rather should say 3 X 39 W, as the fourth is for a blue light. I have actually no idea how much rock I have. I have no way of weighing it. I think the first LS I bought was 10 or 15 kg. And I have added some after that - but that wasn't very much. I'm sorry I can't give you a better answer on this.

There is a small crevise on top of the highest rock (the clowns now live under that rock), and I would guess that can be a spot a nem could like. If it does move in there, it's the best place for me as well. The few corals there (and they are small) are very hardy, and are also easy to frag, in case of emergency. But I know nems have a mind of their own of where they like to live, so I wouldn't be sure we agree on that nice spot.

Would it eat or kill any bottom dwelling fish?

 

[windyridge]

I guess I was lucky as I got an RBTA with a 3 month old tank. I found out later you needed an established tank, but I guess I didn't. The RBTA was on the back of a turbo snail (see my profile pic). But all is well and it has since quadrupled in size. I found the perfect rock for it and there it lived until a bulb started to grow dim. It told me it was dim as it moved up to the light on the glass. I got a new bulb, placed it back on the rock and it has been happy there and hasn't moved. After 4 months my percs finally dove in. Only the female sleeps in it, but the male has gone in for a back rub or two. As far as care I have read of people that never feed it and those that feed daily and those that feed weekly. I feed when I think of it but now that the clowns are hosting I don't worry about not feeding it at all and I'd rather it didn't grow so fast anymore. Otherwise I haven't had any problems at all and it has been very hardy. I have a lawnmower blennie and it does not bother the RBTA or the RBTA bother it or any other fish. I have a tiny yellow goby that swims near the tentacles but so far so good. I've had my 6 line wrasse get up close and personal with it too and no problems. I love my RBTA and the clown relationship with it.

 

[OrionN]

Troender,
I think your tank shouldbe OK for a BTA. It won't stay near the top of the tank. BTA usually don't like that much light. Just keep the water condition good with normal water change schedule and it should be fine. Often the anemone will pick a place and stay there I hope this will be the case with you.
Usually BTA are safe for fish, although you will hear that BTA eat fish, often I find out later that the anemone was missed ID.

 

[Troender]

Thanks!
The nem moving around is actually one of the things I find fascinating, all though it's best if it stays still.

 

[Troender]

If you wonder what descision I made on this, it is that I will get a nem one day, but not now. I will wait for quite a while. I think I can handle one, but I am thinking about the inhabitants of the tank would do better without it right now. So I will wait. And in that period, I will be more experienced, and that is not a bad thing...

But thanks for your advice! It helped me make a descision, and now I know what I need to know when the day comes that I will get an anemone.