Clowns and Nems

[Reef Ruler]

Hey

I am preparing for a 90g corner reef tank as we speak, and I have come to a fork in the road. I cannot decide what the heck I want to do when I comes to clowns and the anenome. for the nems, I am deciding between RBTA and a Ritteri. I understand how much more difficult the ritteri are to keep, but one of my LFSs has two in a tank, and have had them for a year, and they are more than willing to help me out with it. One of the major reasons I want one is because they are more prone to being paired up with clownfish. At also looks nicer IMO. The care makes me lean to BTA, but the fact that its not as common for percs (T&F) to host kind of pushes me away. I am at a loss.

So heres my other problem...I really want some Rods Onyx and B&W ocellaris, is it a wise choice to mix the two? Would they not fight, especially if the Rods are already in a nem? Or are they pretty much garunteed to fight, ocellaris and percula? Pretty much whatever I have, I want it to host. Rods Onyx ARE true percs, right? So theyd be more likley to host a RBTA, correct? Should I risk mixing them with B&W ocellaris, and If I do, which one goes in the tank first?

I have so much going through my brain about this right now, I am at a loss. I cant even organize all my questions to make sense in one post lol. Especially with the clowns....sorry for the bombardment of q's but I have no idea at all on what to do...

Thanks
Brian

 

[douglam]

its probably not the greatest idea but not one of the worst ive heard. i would say if you really wanna give it a shot just put the nems on opposite sides and introduce the clowns on opposite sides and if they take to the nems they might just ignore each other. my clown never leaves its nem for the most part

 

[Reef Ruler]

Yeah its not as big as a difference in clowns as say maroons and ocellaris, but Its still a risk IMO. Anybody else have any thoughts?

Thanks
Brian

 

[heap]

in a 90g tank, even if there is no aggression between the 4 clowns, it will muff with their social order.

if your intent is two pairs in a 4 foot tank, you may be sorely disappointed. if your intent is taking a pair of ocs/percs and hoping they just fly into an bta...the disappointment odds are about the same.

it's not really a situation like putting 2 maroons and 2 saddlebacks in a tank and watching thunderdome play out in your living room, it's more the odds of getting what you want out of the situation not being that great.

 

[Reef Ruler]

i was more hoping that i could 2 perc/occ (pair of each) in a 90 corner without problems. at the same time i was wondering what would be the best nems to get them to host

 

[Massengill]

I would go with the bubble, it is probably the easiest anemone to keep besides a Condy and will host any clown to my understanding. Maroon Clowns will accept any anemone as a host, correct me if I am wrong? As far as mixing species, your best bet would be a pair of Ocellaris and a pair of Percs. Ritteris and Sebae anemones are the most difficult to keep, with carpets right behind them. I had great luck with a Long Tentacle, it only died due to a bristle worm infestation I assume, judging by what happened to its base/foot.

 

[heap]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12366717#post12366717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reef Ruler
i was more hoping that i could 2 perc/occ (pair of each) in a 90 corner without problems. at the same time i was wondering what would be the best nems to get them to host

well...again, you can put two pairs of clowns in a 4 foot tank. i just don't think the odds of those two pair bonds working out how you think they will....aren't that great.

 

[rkelman]

If your just setting up that 90 you shouldn't have any anemones in it for a long time. Never mind something as difficult as a Ritteri. Also 4 clowns in a 90 won't work. They will kill each other most of the time. Sorry to be negative but none of it is a good idea

 

[Reef Ruler]

yeah i figured itd be 6 months before a nem is added...also figured theyd all fight...if not immediatly than eventually.

keep in mind its a corner tank not a standard 4 foot tank so its probably even worse of an idea.

are rods onyx true percs? if they are i think ill go w/ a bta and rods...unless the occ are known to host btas...anybody know/have pics?

thanks
brian

 

[reefman13]

I wouldn't try it dude. It really is not a big enough tank for 2 diff. pairs of clowns. And truly, in that shape tank, a ritteri would take up the entire center portion of the tank, right under a nice 10K 400W MH and some nice wave making action. BTA's are BY FAR the easiest to take care of and get healthy. I would go with one of those, and get either one or the other when it comes to the clowns you wanna get.

 

[rkelman]

That's right a corner would be worse. Rod Onyx are true Percs yes. Them and a BTA would be an awesome addition to any tank.