carpet vs. ritteri vs bta

[Flighty]

Don't mistake taking a long time to die for almost surviving. These anemones almost always die within the first six months, but they often take six months to do it.

ca1ore, It sounds like you have been successful with a magnifica which is pretty rare. It does seem that once they survive the transition from ocean to tank (which at least 95% do not) They can do very well for a long time. Has yours ever spawned?

As for the light comments above, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't recommend that anyone do a magnifica tank with less than serious flow and strong MH lighting, but I think there is a lot more to the problem than that. Lack of light is probably way down on the list of things that cause these guys to die. I was just trying to make the point that just because they move toward brighter light it might not mean that they need brighter light. These are very primitive critters with no brain, so towards brighter might be the end of the decision process.

Still looking for evidence of a female magnifica, keep your ears out for me

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7129254#post7129254 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by annetate
i had a H magnifica and it lived for abotu 3 months when i didnt even have a sump, stupid hang on the back filter, so i imagine if i was properly set up like i am now, it would have lived with no problem?

Don't count on it.
Get some experience keeping the easier types of anemones first.
Let's see how it goes with your green carpet anemone. What type of "green carpet anemone" did you purchase?

Here's a link to the RC Anemone FAQ, one of the best sources of information available on anemone care:

http://www.carlosreef.com/AnemoneFAQ.pdf

 

[annetate]

i got an electric green carpet, there are pics in my gallery.. but bad news, it didnt make it... it was doomed to begin with I think. it was kept under VHO that were far away from it at the fish store for over a week. its mouth started to open the day i picked it up...so i dont know for sure, but my phosphate levels were .5ppm... i need to get that to zero and maybe try again.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Just because it's mouth opens wide doesn't necessarily mean an anemone is doomed. Haddon's anemone often goes through serious contortions when acclimating.
I don't believe high phosphates had anything to do with the death of your anemone.
I would recommend researching the RC anemone FAQ and purchasing a BTA as a "first" anemone- a captive propagated specimen if at all possible.
Black ocellaris look spectacular in RBTA's.

 

[annetate]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7129846#post7129846 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
Just because it's mouth opens wide doesn't necessarily mean an anemone is doomed. Haddon's anemone often goes through serious contortions when acclimating.
I don't believe high phosphates had anything to do with the death of your anemone.
I would recommend researching the RC anemone FAQ and purchasing a BTA as a "first" anemone- a captive propagated specimen if at all possible.
Black ocellaris look spectacular in RBTA's.

what causes them to be doomed if its not the phosphates?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7129940#post7129940 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by annetate
what causes them to be doomed if its not the phosphates?

Many things. It all boils down to knowledge, skill and a little bit of luck.

 

[ca1ore]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7129485#post7129485 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flighty
ca1ore, It sounds like you have been successful with a magnifica which is pretty rare. It does seem that once they survive the transition from ocean to tank (which at least 95% do not) They can do very well for a long time. Has yours ever spawned?

No, it has never spawned.

I think part of my sucess is that I got the specimin from a really good store and took it directly from a shipment - in other word, it never had to acclimate the the store tank, just my tank.

The other thing I noticed when I first got it was that it was very pale - almost as if all the zooanthelae had died or been expelled. Consequently I backed off on the light levels a bit and made sure to feed it regularly with silversides and frozen clam. It took about 3 months for the anemone to color up. Also, I waited until the anemone was looking good before introducing clown fish so that they did not 'beat it up' too much.

Plus, as I said earlier, I did set this tank up specifically for a Magnifica.

Otherwise may have been just dumb luck.

Simon