Considering an anemone can you advise?

[rob020880]

Hello,

I am thinking of getting an anemone for my 130 gal reef tank which is filled with sps and a few lps. I have many concerns before I go for it.

What are the odds that an anemone will stay where I place it?

Are there anemones that are more likely not to move around?

Will anemones hurt sps?

Will it eat my fish I have tangs, gobys, anthias, firefish?

Which would you recomend? I like the look of the carpets but they all seem so large, how fast do they grow and do you know of a place I can get small one?

Thanks,
Robert

 

[garygb]

I would say an Entacmea quadricolor is your best bet. They are much less likely to eat your fish compared to a carpet. They are the hardiest of the host anemones. And, once they find a place they like, they stay put. They need a cave in a piece of live rock where they can attach. They might move around and sting coral until the situate where they want to be.

 

[rob020880]

So the carpets will eat all the fish? Even if I feed it regularly?

 

[rob020880]

Don"t the fish know they are not supposed to go near the anemone?

 

[garygb]

Carpets have a reputation as being fish eaters. Your gobies would likely be history and possibly some of your other fish. They are known to capture and eat healthy fish, I have even heard of tangs being caught. No, fish don't necessarily know that. In the wild, some anemone species depend on fish that are ignorant of the dangers that lurk in their tentacles. Also, at night fish might accidentally brush the anemone and zap. Also, shrimp and other invertebrates are at risk of being eaten. Carpets are quite effective predators.

 

[BigJay]

Re: Considering an anemone can you advise?

1. What are the odds that an anemone will stay where I place it?

I'd say the chances are extremely low for all but a few of the sand-dwelling species. You can make the "perfect home" for one, only to have it run off and sting half your tank to find a place that it likes better.

2. Are there anemones that are more likely not to move around?

They are all motile unfortunately, and all of them move to some extent.

3. Will anemones hurt sps?

Yes.

4. Will it eat my fish I have tangs, gobys, anthias, firefish?

There are species that don't, like the bubble-tips.

5. Which would you recomend? I like the look of the carpets but they all seem so large, how fast do they grow and do you know of a place I can get small one?

I'd recommend a bubble tip (rose or a pretty green) because they won't eat any of your fish, their sting is relatively harmless, and they don't get as large as carpets. Just don't get angry when it walks around a bit at first, it will eventually find a place that makes it happy. Feeding it some mysis shrimp or small 1/4" chunks of silverside might entice it to stay put. Setting up a prime spot with moderate flow, a cave, and good lighting helps too.

I hope this helps.

 

[Toddrtrex]

For me, I would never put a BTA in an SPS tank again. Mine pretty much stayed put, but got way too big, then there is the issue with the clones, each of my clones moved away from the parent and stung some SPS in the process.

I have Haddonis ( carpet ) in 2 of my 3 tanks, never had any issues with them and my SPS (( unless a frag falls onto it )). As for fish, over the last 9+ years of keeping them I have only lost 2 fish to them --- a Yellow watchman goby, and a Mandarin