green Carpet Anemone eating my fish

SUPERSTOCKRACER

SUPERSTOCKRACER

Member
is this a common problem with all carpet anemones. this carpet must have eaten a dozen fish including 4 wrasses, 4 gobies, 5 tangs. and i just saved a true percula from getting eaten. whats going on here? i thought carpets and clownfish are symbiotic.
 
I am guessing that it is an S. haddoni -- known fish eaters.

I've been keeping them for 15+ years and "only" lost 5 fish to them -- and that is a great track record.

You have to make a choice -- fish or anemone.
 
SUPERSTOCKRACER said:
is this a common problem with all carpet anemones. this carpet must have eaten a dozen fish including 4 wrasses, 4 gobies, 5 tangs. and i just saved a true percula from getting eaten. whats going on here? i thought carpets and clownfish are symbiotic.
Click to expand...

i do agree with tod

presumably its a haddoni and perc isnt its nature host so... it eats it up
 
Hmmm...the only reason my fish even get close to my haddoni is stress/fright. Most fish recognize them as dangerous. I have a dragonet that gets close enough to pick mysis or brine shirmp from the outlying tentacles, but darts back with the quickness!

If I had lost that many fish to it, I would be getting rid of it. Here's a list of clownfish known to associate: Amphiprion clarkii, A. sebae, A. akindynos, A. chrysogaster, A. chrysopterus, and A. polymnus.
 
Haddonis are the most notorious fish eaters of the clown anemones. I have lost more fish to haddonis over the years than all other anemones combined. I can't recall ever losing a fish to a BTA (though I am sure it has happened to others - just not to me).
 
I really love carpet nems, but I wouldnt dare add one along with the fish I plan on adding to my 90. I was thinking later on I might attach a 30-60 gallon cube to the main system to house 1 haddoni and a pair of clowns. But its only dreaming/planning for now.

P.S. do you think a haddoni would do okay in a smallish cube if it was linked onto a larger system?
 
ReefingWerewolf said:
I really love carpet nems, but I wouldnt dare add one along with the fish I plan on adding to my 90. I was thinking later on I might attach a 30-60 gallon cube to the main system to house 1 haddoni and a pair of clowns. But its only dreaming/planning for now.

P.S. do you think a haddoni would do okay in a smallish cube if it was linked onto a larger system?
Click to expand...

Yes, the cube could work. 2x2 hooked up to larger volume and good filtration + decent lighting.
 
My Haddoni has so far only snagged one fish since March. It was a genius one spot Foxface that decided it was a great idea to sleep next to the nem. Gone next morning, then spit out on the morning of my birthday. I can hear the Haddoni saying, "Happy Birthday dad!" With a half digested fish floating around the tank.

Anyway, most fish know to stay away.
 
I have had extensive experience with haddonis and I think a major factor is tank size. I have kept carpets in a 210 gallon for at least 5 years and have only lost two fish: a newly introduced pipefish and a copperband. On the other hand, I had a red carpet in a 93 cube that ate 4 fish in the span of 3-4 months before I got rid of it.

This makes sense - in larger tanks, fish recognize the danger and have plenty of space to avoid the nem. In smaller tanks, although fish may realize the danger, there is not as much room to maneuver and mistakes are inevitable.
 
This stopped me from getting a Haddoni, couldn't risk losing fish. It's unfortunate because I love the coloring on some of them.

I ended up with a Mertensii which has a much less potent "sting"
 
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