I have a couple of False Clowns that I am now reading they host with carpet and mag anemones...are these really as hard to keep as the books say or are the books siding on precaution? I have a 90g that has been up for about 5 months with 3-4" sand bed, 150lbs of rock and a 150w x2 HQI + 130w x2 actinic Current USA fixture. Would I be able to keep such an animal after my tank is a little more established? Would an upgrade to the 250w HQI fixture be the better option? Is there an easier anemone or coral these guys will go for? TIA
Carpet or Mag?
- Thread starter Fuzznutz
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phender
Active member
Yes, the two anemones, giant carpets (S. gigantea) and H. magnifica, that false clowns (A. ocellaris) are found with in nature are by far the most difficult anemone species to keep in aquariums. Those who keep them well, usually have tanks dedicated to those anemones. Yes, you would need to upgrade your lights to 250watt, but even then without any experience keeping anemones, your chances of success would be very slim.
Your best anemone options are BTAs, haddoni carpets or sebae (H. crispa) anemones. Each has its drawbacks.
BTAs are one of the easier host anemones to keep if you start with a healthy one. (They are still not considered easy, just easier). The draw back is that some ocellaris are a little slow to accept them. Although most eventually do, acceptence time can range from a few minutes to 18 months. I've had pairs on both ends of the spectrum.
Haddoni carpets are about the same on the difficulty meter as BTAs. They have a double downside. Again ocellaris may be slow to accept them, in rare cases they never accept them. Haddoni are very capable of catching and eating other fish in your tank, even fish as big as the anemone. The ocellaris clowns themselves have been know to be eaten as well if they rush the acclimation process.
Sebae anemones (H. crispa) are usually accepted by ocellaris clowns in aquariums and only a little more difficult than BTAs and Haddonis. The difficulty lies largely in the fact that most come in bleached (white with purple tips) and/or with very short tentacles. If you can find one with long (over an inch) tan tentacles and a tight mouth, etc.... The chances for success are pretty good.
As far as non-anemones, fuzzy green mushrooms work as hosts sometimes as do green star polyps, and both are very easy to keep.
Some people have luck with LPS like frogspawn or hammer corals, but I don't like to suggest that, because I don't think its alway good for the coral in the long run.
Can you tell I have a lot of free time this week?
Your best anemone options are BTAs, haddoni carpets or sebae (H. crispa) anemones. Each has its drawbacks.
BTAs are one of the easier host anemones to keep if you start with a healthy one. (They are still not considered easy, just easier). The draw back is that some ocellaris are a little slow to accept them. Although most eventually do, acceptence time can range from a few minutes to 18 months. I've had pairs on both ends of the spectrum.
Haddoni carpets are about the same on the difficulty meter as BTAs. They have a double downside. Again ocellaris may be slow to accept them, in rare cases they never accept them. Haddoni are very capable of catching and eating other fish in your tank, even fish as big as the anemone. The ocellaris clowns themselves have been know to be eaten as well if they rush the acclimation process.
Sebae anemones (H. crispa) are usually accepted by ocellaris clowns in aquariums and only a little more difficult than BTAs and Haddonis. The difficulty lies largely in the fact that most come in bleached (white with purple tips) and/or with very short tentacles. If you can find one with long (over an inch) tan tentacles and a tight mouth, etc.... The chances for success are pretty good.
As far as non-anemones, fuzzy green mushrooms work as hosts sometimes as do green star polyps, and both are very easy to keep.
Some people have luck with LPS like frogspawn or hammer corals, but I don't like to suggest that, because I don't think its alway good for the coral in the long run.
Can you tell I have a lot of free time this week?
LOL Thanks for all the info! I currently have Condi and Flower Anemones---but they came free with my rock. They seem to be doing well although sometimes they are "deflated". I guess I will look for one of these you suggest and hope for the best. At what point should I look to get one since my tank is only 5 months old? Again, thanks!
phender
Active member
It depends on your aquarium. The whole point is to wait until your aquarium is stable chemically and biologically. Are you get hair algae break outs and then it goes away and then comes back again? Are diatoms doing the same thing. Having a constant hair algae problem is actually better than having die offs and regrowth, because at least things are stable. Your nutrient levels are too high, but at least they are consistant. Are your alkalinity and pH stable or are you still experimenting with additives, etc. to try to get it dialed in. I know a deep sand bed is suppose to help with that, but my sand bed tank is much more difficult to keep steady than my bare bottom tank.
If your tank is stable, and you know what, how often and how much to feed. If you know which anemone is right for your tank and why. Then you are probably ready to get an anemone. I your tank is still bouncing around, and at 5 months, it probably still is, then wait till you get things dialed in a little better. Your anemone will reward you will many years of enjoyment.
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