carpet anemone and hawkfish

[monicaswizzle]

I have a 90 gallon display tank (50 gallon sump) that houses a mated pair of common clownfish and a mated pair of longnose hawkfish (also a purple tang, coral beauty and horseface blenny). I would like to add a carpet anemone (S. gigantea), but I have some concern that the longnose hawkfish might be particularly vulnerable to the anemone. (The hawks love to perch on everything from the rockwork to the 5 Koralia pumps I use to create alternate flow.)

Anyone with experience combining these two species (S. gigantea and Oxycirrhites typus), I would love to hear how it turned out.

Thanks!

 

[Haddonisreef]

I know that haddonis will eat fish and pretty sure that a gigantea would be no different!

 

[rssjsb]

I don't think giganteas are known to be as bad about eating fish as haddonis. I don't know if this helps, but I've got three BTAs and what I think is a little magnifica in a tank with a coral hawkfish and he never comes near them. I don't know if longnose hawks come from a region that has anemones, but if so, they may know better than to perch on one. Of course if the gigantea takes up much real estate (as it might if it is healthy and happy in a 90) the equation may change.

 

[Grunt]

I wouldn't chance it due to the "perching" nature of the hawkfish. One day might be fine, but you never know what tommorow holds.

 

[monicaswizzle]

Thanks for the opinions guys. I do like the hawks (not to mention that a mated pair cost me a fair amount), should have probably thought about it more before I bought them since I have always wanted to add an amenone when the time is right. My budget is more than spent now, so putting it off is fairly easy. I just hope that the perfect carpet anemone doesn't come my way and tempt me to try it.

If anyone has had longnose hawks and S. gigantea in the same tank, I still would love to hear the outcome.

 

[E.J. Coral]

My gigantea is housed with a pair of clown gobies ( they perch on everything!) a purple tang, and clowns of course. The gobies have been with the gigantea for a little bit under a year with no problems. The tang has been with the anemone for a month. The tang is very daring and actually swims in to the anemone on occasion. I am honestly hoping that the $100 bastard gets eaten as it terrorizes my shrimp, snails, and gobies.....plus my gigantea hasn't tasted fresh fish in a while....lol.

IME, gigantea don't eat fish. Honestly, you biggest problem is going to be finding a healthy gigantea, they are super hard to come by! Most that you find will be iffy at best. S. gigantea are not natural hosts for cinnamon clowns FWIW. Good luck!

 

[monicaswizzle]

Thanks E.J. If I find a healthy looking gigantea that I can afford (two big "ifs") I may decide to risk it.

Not sure about your comment about cinnamon clowns. Perhaps there is some confusion due to using common names. The clowns that I have are Amphiprion ocellaris. According to the reference books I have looked at, they do host with S. gigantea in their natural surroundings. That may not mean much since my clowns are tank raised and probably have never seen an anemone of any kind. (Actually, the female was in my tank when I had a BTA for about six months before the BTA retreated under the rock work and died. The clown never showed any interest at all in the BTA.)

Thanks again--