Is there an anemone that is right for me?

[mcliffy2]

If possible I'd like to get an anemone for my black saddleback clowns to host in. Their urge to host is strong and they tried about every coral in my tank before settling on a trumpet coral (odd, I know). Now I'm setting up a new 60x36x26 tank which will have an open aquascape. I'd like an anemone, but dont want one that will be moving around constantly or splitting like mad and taking over (I already have mushrooms to deal with). The tank will be primarily SPS, so the moving around thing is big.

I've heard you can create an "anemone spot" by making rockwork that they like so they will stay where you put them, but am not sure how to do this. So my questions are:

1. what anemones should I look at for the black saddlebacks?
2. since I can think ahead and design a "spot" for an anemone, should I do this? and how?

Thanks in advance.

 

[sgarron]

A nice blue or purple Haddoni would be a great choice for saddlebacks. Just give it a large open area of sand that backs up to a rock and it should sttle right in and if happy wont move.

 

[mcliffy2]

those look very cool - would this be a better choice than a purple tipped sebae anemone? I actually like the look of the blue Haddoni better, but I kinda wanted an anemone w/ longer tentacles as I like the contrast of movement against my SPS.

I had my eye on something like this, but again not sure if it would split and be a terror.

 

[sgarron]

It wont split and they pretty much stay put once they find they're spot. Let me give you a bit of advice, if you're concerned about the nemone moving, no matter the type, get the anemone in the tank first let it get settled than add sps.

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12227284#post12227284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
those look very cool - would this be a better choice than a purple tipped sebae anemone? I actually like the look of the blue Haddoni better, but I kinda wanted an anemone w/ longer tentacles as I like the contrast of movement against my SPS.

I had my eye on something like this, but again not sure if it would split and be a terror.

it wont split but dont be surprised if it is 26 inches across a year from now.

 

[GSMguy]

here is my LTA after 6 months in my 29G when i got it it was 6 inches across..

 

[mcliffy2]

wow - so LTA is not the way to go. The tank is pretty big, but I don't want a 2 foot across anemone.

 

[mcliffy2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12227372#post12227372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sgarron
It wont split and they pretty much stay put once they find they're spot. Let me give you a bit of advice, if you're concerned about the nemone moving, no matter the type, get the anemone in the tank first let it get settled than add sps.

Always heard you should wait 6 months before getting an anemone. I'm directly transferring all the livestock from my old tank tho (including about 200 lbs of rock), so would the anemone be ok if added fairly quickly - it would have to be like a week or two after the transfer if I'm going to put it in before my corals.

 

[GSMguy]

Mcliffy2 i gave that nem to a dude with a 180G and it outgrew his tank and he gave it to a guy with a 300g, i lost track of it after that.

 

[GSMguy]

you dont have to wait 6 months if you are transferring all your old live rock

 

[sgarron]

Iwaited about 2 weeks and everything turned out just fine.

 

[mcliffy2]

nice tank sgarron. ok, well I guess I'll look into a carpet anemone, any good source you guys recommend for purchasing online, or best just to buy local?

 

[GSMguy]

best to buy local and dont get one that needs TLC get a healthy well inflated tight mouthed one.

 

[sgarron]

I agree. I have not had any luck with any shipped anemones. jus go store to store and find a healthy one. Some of the better LFS will actually let you go to the wholesaler with them and pick it out yourself.

 

[mcliffy2]

unfortunately in the midwest, we don't really have any wholesalers (liveaquaria divers den up in WI is the closest thing)...I will keep my eyes peeled at the Chicago stores.