Chaetodon + Carpet Anemone

[jonnybravo22]

Wondering if these butterfly fishes are compatible with carpet anemones (stichodactyla gigantea specifically).

I understand they eat sessile inverts and have seen glass anemones as an example of something they would eat. Does anyone have insight as to whether they are compatible with carpet anemones? Do you think the fish is likely to attempt to eat or perhaps get eaten by the anemone?

Also, anemones are high light, it seems chaetodons are deeper water fish, do you think a highly lit tank would present an issue for the fish?

I'm specifically researching these:
Chaetodon tinkeri
Chaetodon declivis


Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

I think you are worried about the wrong direction. Carpet anemones eat fish. The ones you are interested in would make a very expensive meal.

 

[Big E]

I'd only be worried about Haddoni's eating fish. Unless this is a small tank with a big Gig it's not an issue.

If you have a pair of clowns I wouldn't be worried about the BF's nipping the nem. If you already have the clowns & nem I'd say go for it. What size tank is this?

 

[5h3rW1N]

+1 carpet anemone eats alot of fish lol

 

[5h3rW1N]

history of menu
carpet anemone

blue spotted jawfish = 1
green chromis = 3
sailfin tang = killed it
sleeper goby = killed it and ate it
blue manderin goby = ate it
and alot more...

 

[jonnybravo22]

Re: Chaetodon + Carpet Anemone

Well I'm asking both ways. Agree nems eat fish but since the diet descriptions for these fish includes anemones I was wondering if a butterfly might make an attempt (potentially a fatal one).

Thanks for input all, please keep it coming. Elos 70.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[massman]

Well I'm asking both ways. Agree nems eat fish but since the diet descriptions for these fish includes anemones I was wondering if a butterfly might make an attempt (potentially a fatal one).

Thanks for input all, please keep it coming. Elos 70.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The anemones referred to as part of the diet, are not talking about haddonis, more like aptasia and other other colonial anemones. Tube anemones, may also fall in the likely diet.
Hosting anemones are most unlikely to get eaten.

 

[AuroraDrvr]

Hosting anemones are most unlikely to get eaten.

While I agree for the most part. I wouldn't be surprised, if say an 8" Saddleback took down a 4" BTA or 6" Carpet.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Heck, if I hadn't intervened, my old blue face angel would have most likely destroyed my 10"+ Haddoni. At the time the angel was only about 5" long.

 

[jonnybravo22]

The anemones referred to as part of the diet, are not talking about haddonis, more like aptasia and other other colonial anemones. Tube anemones, may also fall in the likely diet.
Hosting anemones are most unlikely to get eaten.

Thanks for confirming. That's what I'd hoped.

Heck, if I hadn't intervened, my old blue face angel would have most likely destroyed my 10"+ Haddoni. At the time the angel was only about 5" long.

Hi Todd! Care to elaborate? Was it "eating" / harassing? Is that normal for angels? How did it get away with touching the haddoni and not getting stuck / eaten?

You have any insight on butterflies?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Hi Todd! Care to elaborate? Was it "eating" / harassing? Is that normal for angels? How did it get away with touching the haddoni and not getting stuck / eaten?

You have any insight on butterflies?

No insight on butterflies -- never wanted to take the risk, my Haddonis mean too much to me.

As for the blueface, it would eat individual tentacles. It would come in head down, and pick them off. Not sure how it never got eaten, but it managed it somehow.

 

[jonnybravo22]

thanks.

anyone have thoughts about lighting? will high light stress out a tinkeri or declivis butterfly?

 

[massman]

Large angels have more destructive capabilities toward hosting anemones than butterflies.
They have larger mouths, greater body mass and are generally more ferocious eaters.

A declivis or tinkeri isn't anywhere near as big a threat as any large pomacanthus angel.
Blueface, sixbar, koran and macs are definitely capable of eating ANY anemone. Emperors to a lesser extent.

As has been said, I would be more worried about a haddoni eating a declivis/tinkeri than the opposite.

Anemonefish are also great at keeping any would be predators at bay.

Todd, how exactly did you intervene? Remove the blueface?
Did you try throwing in a nice pair of clarki clowns to keep the blueface away?

EDIT: just reread op. Giganteas are less predatory than haddonis, so you should be fine there.

 

[Toddrtrex]

...........

Todd, how exactly did you intervene? Remove the blueface?
Did you try throwing in a nice pair of clarki clowns to keep the blueface away?

I sold it, for that reason and it was getting too big. When I bought it (( as a juvi )) I made the mistake of thinking I would get a bigger tank. I actually had a pair of Clarkiis in there -- mated pair -- but they were wimps.

 

[jonnybravo22]

thanks all for the input. haven't seen the light situation addressed, or flow for that matter.

i understand these are deeper water fish, would the high light and flow required for anemones stress them?

 

[AuroraDrvr]

High flow is more than fine. High light is fine, if you acclimate the fish slowly to it. Use layers of window screen and gradually remove them to brighten the tank up over the course of a week or two.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

fwiw certain Butterflyfish species do eat carpet anemones.

with declivis/tinkeri/gigantea I'd be most concerned about the anemone eating the fish.

 

[jonnybravo22]

fwiw certain Butterflyfish species do eat carpet anemones.

with declivis/tinkeri/gigantea I'd be most concerned about the anemone eating the fish.

meaning you think it is likely to happen or just more likely to happen than the reverse?

it is a combination you would avoid for this reason? thanks.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

the anemone is most likely to harm the fish rather than vice versa

 

[jonnybravo22]

giving it a try with a burgess. wish me luck!