Have a pair of pink skunks on hold

[FishWife1]

I am starting a 30 gal. cube anemone/clown tank. I found a gorgeous pair of pink skunks at the local lfs and put a deposit down to hold them until my tank is cycled. I debated on a maroon but I had one before and she was so violent she nearly killed my BTA. These skunks are very calm in comparison. The male is sort of hosting in a fake plant and the female swims calmly around the tank. No aggression toward each other or the couple of other fish in the tank.

I am debating which type of anemone I should get for them. I know BTAs are my best bet but they don't host in them in the wild. I have seen one hosting in a BTA in another lfs tank though. I would love to get a carpet anem but am leary because I know they are more difficult and it might outgrow the tank.

Has anyone else had experience with Skunks and their hosting preferences?

Thanks - Laurie

 

[RBTA]

Well you need to tell us your lighting setup to suggest an anemone. And just because a clown doesn't use a certain anemone as a host in the wild, doesn't mean it won't use it in aquaria. I have seen many skunks in BTAs. Also if this is a new tank, it would be good to wait 6months to a year for your tank to become stable and everything before the addition of an anemone.

 

[RichConley]

From what I've seen, skunks host pretty readily.

 

[FishWife1]

Hi - I am going to be lighting it with a 150W 14K HQI plus 2X24 T5 lamps. The tank is 18 - 19" deep and I am going to have a 2" sandbed.

I know I won't wait 6 months to a year but I do plan on waiting a few months for the tank to stabilize.

I have had anemone experience. I had a BTA in my former tank for 3 years and brought it back from the brink of death after my Maroon clown demolished it. It had lost most of its color, wouldn't hold onto food, and was raggedy looking. I figured it was a goner so I started force feeding it. I wouldn't recommend it except as a last ditch effort but it worked - small chunks of food squirted into that semi-gaping mouth every day and within about 3 months it had regained its color and had grown by 1/3. It still wouldn't hold onto food but if I put a pc.right at its mouth it would open up and take it in.

When we broke the tank down I sold the BTA, the rock it was attached to, and the maroon who never came out of the BTA (we just lifted it all out of the tank together) to another reefer. I hope he still has it.

I think I will go with a couple of BTAs even though I would love a carpet. they are easier and don't get as huge.