Condy

[o2zen]

I picked up a Condy for my new tank and now I am wondering if that was wise. Its a new tank so nothing is in there yet except the condy, a cleaning crew, and a firefish. I have no other corals yet but I want to get some soon. My Condy has perched himself in the middle of a group of mussles I have which is the tallest spot in the tank and right in the path of my Hydor flow so he has tons of flow and light. I am worried he will get up one day and walk off and harm something else (once I have those somethings).

Can I get any Clowns to pair up with it?

Is the Condy going to be killing my other fish as I get them, or the shrimp?

Ideas?

 

[zoomfish1]

Condilactis Giganticus are from the Atlantic ocean and are not a "host anemone" although anything can happen. Anemones normally do not survive in a new set up due to the unstable water conditions found in tanks the 1st 6-8 months of life. Probably not a wise purchase and you may be fortunate to have it survive.

In answer to some of your q's for future reference, they like a good amount of flow, and yes if they are not happy where they are they tend to move around. They can sting and damage anything in their path.

I think you would be $$ ahead to return it where purchased and trade for something your tank might be ready to house.

Has the tank finished it's cycle? If not, wait for 2 or 3 weeks after the cycle completes to add any fish. Then only 1 every week or so. Go slow, be patient, and return the nem.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8965352#post8965352 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zoomfish1
Condilactis Giganticus are from the Atlantic ocean and are not a "host anemone" although anything can happen. Anemones normally do not survive in a new set up due to the unstable water conditions found in tanks the 1st 6-8 months of life. Probably not a wise purchase and you may be fortunate to have it survive.

In answer to some of your q's for future reference, they like a good amount of flow, and yes if they are not happy where they are they tend to move around. They can sting and damage anything in their path.

I think you would be $$ ahead to return it where purchased and trade for something your tank might be ready to house.

Has the tank finished it's cycle? If not, wait for 2 or 3 weeks after the cycle completes to add any fish. Then only 1 every week or so. Go slow, be patient, and return the nem.

Just letting you know there are two types of Condy anemones out there which are Condylactis Gigantea and Condylactis Passiflora.

zoomfish1, what o2zen said above is basically true. Although Condy anemones are more forgiving than most anemones, it is best to wait at least 9 months before purchasing them. A new tank does not have the stability that a more established tank does therefore its chances of keeping anemones alive are slimmer.

What type of clowns do you have or plan on getting? I have seen Tomato clowns and Clarkii clowns host Condy which were both mine. However, Condy anemones don't make very good hosts. Sometimes Condy anemones will host but there have been reports where people's clownfish went missing yet their host was a Condy anemone. Condy anemone most likey ate them.

There are shrimp that naturally host Condy anemones but I am not quite sure the name of them. I am sure a little research could help you though.

 

[o2zen]

Thank you both. While it looks nice I think I will return it once I start getting other corals/fish. If I am lucky maybe it will zap my gorilla crab which is hiding in a hole next to the condy. I have been unable to get him to come out at all.

 

[Slakker]

You might want to return it BEFORE you start acquiring new specimens...anemones tend to release very harmful toxins into the water when they die, and they have a very low survivability rate in less established aquariums such as yours.

 

[55semireef]

Edit: o2zen, what zoomfish1 said above is basically true.

There...that makes sense now.^^^



"You might want to return it BEFORE you start acquiring new specimens...anemones tend to release very harmful toxins into the water when they die, and they have a very low survivability rate in less established aquariums such as yours."

Anemones don't release anthing toxic when they die. Its when anemones die, they cause ammonia levels to spike depending on the size of the anemone and the amount of water volume. The ammonia spike due to the anemone's death is what kills fish or other corals. Not to mention, you can spot an anemone dying before it actually does so you know when it is time to remove it so it doesn't actually cause an ammonia spike. An anemone's death won't happen all at once unless it went through an overflow or got sucked up by a PH.

 

[o2zen]

It is eatting good for me and very active while at the same time it is staying at the top of my LR right in the path of the Hydor Flow. I test my levels every other day and it seems everything is good but what levels do I need to test for these guys.

How can you tell when they are unhappy, dying, etc. What signs do I look for that things are not going good for him.

I added the rest of my cleaning crew last night so now I am set there for awhile and will wait until next week to add another fish to the mix.

One of my LFS told me to flush it down the toilet and that anything priced under 10bucks for a saltwater tank is bad for you and priced that way for a reason. People come in and buy 10 Condy before a party so everyone will be like WOW nice tank then they flush them after the party which I found sad.

 

[55semireef]

That is pretty wrong of people to flush Condy anemones.


A sick looking anemone will either have:

1. Mouth is gaping open. A healthy anemone should have a tightly shut mouth.

2. The anemone's tentacles are not sticky.

3. The anemone on a FREQUENT regular basis deflates. All anemones deflate to emit wastes and to adjust to new water paramters but if any anemone keeps on deflating, there is something wrong.

4. If any anemone is constantly on the move, it is not happy.

So far o2zen, it sounds like you have a healthy Condy but your tank is still new and so is your Condy. Wait and see what happens.

 

[o2zen]

Thanks 55semireef,

As long as I have the little guy I want to make sure he is healthy and happy.

Any water parameters I want to check for to make sure he is getting everything he needs in the proper amounts?

 

[Slakker]

I was under the impression that anemone's more or less dissolved when they died, and that the chemicals released by the dissolving flesh was incredibly dangerous and has been known to nuke even established aquariums...

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8974739#post8974739 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
I was under the impression that anemone's more or less dissolved when they died, and that the chemicals released by the dissolving flesh was incredibly dangerous and has been known to nuke even established aquariums...

Got any references or links? Sounds "interesting."

 

[o2zen]

Today I am seeing something in the middle of the Condy and I am not sure what it is. I am also seeing some tiny darker blue tenticles in the center and what looks like slime in my tank which might not be the condy's at all. You can see what I mean in the movie.

http://landwave.com/images/bc29/condy.mov

The movie is 31 megs in size which sucks I know but I wanted to know what the slime and stuff in the middle might be.

Thanks

 

[55semireef]

Your Condy is emitting waste. Very normal.

 

[Slakker]

Maybe it's just that nems decay rapidly and cause huge ammonia spikes.

 

[o2zen]

Thank you. I was worried.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8981734#post8981734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
Maybe it's just that nems decay rapidly and cause huge ammonia spikes.

Thats what I said.

 

[Slakker]

Yeah, I know...but it's probably what others have been referring to when they talk about nems nuking tanks and whatnot.

 

[o2zen]

My cleaner shrimp is constantly hanging out with the Condy. I kept thinking the Condy is gonna get him. The Shrimp will not leave its side. 24/7 it is sitting next to the Condy facing the Condy.