Carpet

[michael_cb_125]

Megan has been on me for a while about putting sand in the tank, and getting a nice anemone.
I do not like the sand Idea, but I do like the idea of the Anemone. Now here are some questions for you Carpet Anemone people.
First off, My water quality is amazing. My Nitrate level is ZERO , and I have NO water staining. Tank has been up for 7 months, and I plan on waiting at least another 3 or 4 before adding anything.

Lighting: 1x 250watt Metal Halide and 4x 24 watt HO T5s. So I have plenty light.

Current: I can vary this, (MPW40W)

Now for the main question: I KNOW THESE DUDES EAT FISH.
But are fish pretty good about steering clear of these death traps? And would keeping a pair of clowns in the tank help to reduce the risk of a fish+anemone encounter?
I saw an amazing 9" Electric Blue Carpet a while back on the DD, and I almost took the plunge. But I held my ground, and yelled "NO" to my Credit Card.
~Michael

 

[Toddrtrex]

I am assuming that since you mentioned sand and eating fish that you are referring to a Haddoni carpet.

I have had fairly good luck with mine. I have been keeping them for 9+ years (( currently have 3 )) and have only lost two fish to them -- a yellow watchman and a Mandarin. In both cases, the Haddonis were hosting clowns.

 

[michael_cb_125]

Sorry, yes I was referring to the Haddoni carpets. I have a few very nice fish in my tank, but none of them are bottom dwellers. They are all either angels or Butterflies. Actually here is the fish list: Regal Angel, Potters Angel, Bellus Angel and my little Mitratus Butterfly. I have had the Regal and Potters for almost one year, and the Mitratus and Bellus for around 5 months. I would hate to lose any of these fish, but the carpets are really grabbing my attention.

I wonder how these fish would fare with a haddoni?
~Michael

 

[Toddrtrex]

I would be concerned about the butterfly picking on it.

I have a blue face angel that will pick on a Haddoni if it isn't hosting.

 

[michael_cb_125]

I did think about that. But I have him in the tank with many LPS, and no issues at all. But to be totally safe I can always move him to the new FOWLR. Then I would have an awesome Butterfly trio (Mitratus, Declivis, Tinkers)

~Michael

 

[minesinger]

I've had a green Haddoni with no host for about 9 months. The only fish that turn up missing are the bottom dwellers. Mandrin, two spot goby, watchman goby etc. It took me a while to figure out where they were going till he puked up the remnants of the mandrin. It seems like most of the fish know better than to get anywhere near him. I do have a yellow headed goby that hasn't fallen victim for many months now.

 

[millerp]

I would like to address the fact that you don't have any sand. Carpets most of the time from my experience , attach themselves at the base of a rock with some to most of their foot buried in the sand. Maybe someone here has experience with housing a haddoni in a bare bottom aquarium and can chime in, but if not I would definitely try and research this first be for you purchase a $150-$200 blue haddoni only to have it perish especially since these creatures and getting more and more rare.

 

[romanr]

I've had a neon green haddoni in my bare bottom tank for about 3 months now. No problems. The reason I bought this particular specimen is that it had been housed in my LFS for over a month and it was attached to a rock that laid on top of a nice sand bed. It seemed this nem preferred the rock it was on. I bought the rock and the anemone and the nem has never moved from it's original attachment. Very happy, very beautiful, very hungry! My Mandarin fell victim but no others. No clowns to host yet. I've been contemplating but I've had a Tomato in that tank for over 5 years now and he is big and can be very mean to any new additions. Tomato has no interest in carpet and I wasn't thinking he would. I'm afraid that if I get a clown it would have to be one that would immediatly take to the shelter of the carpet for his survival!