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coral49

New member
I am now one of the many who took the risk in hopes to have a thriving Petco carpet anemone. I have a couple quick questions but first here is my short story.

I've had several mixed reef tanks for over 20 years, ever 5+ years an upgrade to a bigger tank. I prefer the look of mixed tanks always with an anemone (Bulb).

Current set up is a 2+ year old, 300 gallon (8ft) w/LED's supplemented with 2 x 48" T5 10K lights. Tank has 6 Bulb Anemone all in the same area and a bunch of very overgrowth leathers. SPS scattered around.

I have always wanted a carpet anemone but never had space nor confidence. After lurking here for over a year, felt I could handle it. (Thanks OrionN and others). In true fashion I became a stalker. 1st a stalker here on RC, then at Petco. I got prepared, 10 gallon tank bottle of Cipro. Every Tuesday for 6+ months I wandering into the Petco near my house. The "œexpert" claimed a carpet was on the order list and would come when available. Well last Tuesday it actually happened. I saw them from a distance and thank goodness no one was in front of me. I became a bull and would have trampled anyone in my way.

I would have preferred a gig but they had 2 haddons. One looked really good - blue green, tight mouth very full about 8". Other brighter green with bleached stripes, closed mouth and slightly bigger. Plan was to only buy 1 but at that price I had to get both of them. It was silly not to.
I put them in the 10 gallon for observation under a T5 fixture, no treatment. Neither deflated nor expressed black gunk at all. On Saturday put them in DT, prior to lights on. Both are sticky.

The blue green has been perfect so far, the green stays flat the entire time the lights are on, no gunk or gapping mouth. When Lights are off Green is full again within mins, to my knowledge never deflates in the dark. When inflated is actually much bigger than blue green one. Stays full all night. It never deflated in QT tank with lights on.

I thought these guys can handle light, do they need an acclimation period.. or something else going on? Attached are pictures, they suck. I need to start stalking the photo forum.

I also have a couple other basic questions, which I never bumped into along the way.
1) Can urchins and Haddon co-exist? I have a long spine and tuxedo.
2) The blue green one waves around a lot, is that a sign of to much water flow or typical behavior. Neither has moved from original spot. They are somewhat protected by rock.


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thanks
 
Haddoni don't have to have bright light but they will do better, and better color with very bright light. With Hadooni in the tank, there are fish and inverterbrate that will not do well. My sea urchin is fine after several years in the tank, but snail sometime get eatten.
With the number of carpets that I have (about 8 at this time) I lost mandarins (1 pair), Orchid dottybacks (one tair), Leopard wrases(trio), fang gobys(1 pair), and a yellow tang to the carpet. I also lost a beautiful PBT and Atlantic Blue tangs but these losts were during moving. I also lost numerous snails and a large Abalone (7 inches).
Maybe I am very luckly but I have beautiful Regal angel, 5 flame angels, Harlequin Tusk with no problem.
IMO, gradual dimming of light is very importank to keep fish from been spook and become easy prey for carpets.
 
Haddoni don't have to have bright light but they will do better, and better color with very bright light. With Hadooni in the tank, there are fish and inverterbrate that will not do well. My sea urchin is fine after several years in the tank, but snail sometime get eatten.
With the number of carpets that I have (about 8 at this time) I lost mandarins (1 pair), Orchid dottybacks (one tair), Leopard wrases(trio), fang gobys(1 pair), and a yellow tang to the carpet. I also lost a beautiful PBT and Atlantic Blue tangs but these losts were during moving. I also lost numerous snails and a large Abalone (7 inches).
Maybe I am very luckly but I have beautiful Regal angel, 5 flame angels, Harlequin Tusk with no problem.
IMO, gradual dimming of light is very importank to keep fish from been spook and become easy prey for carpets.

Do you think they need a light adjusmtent period, green is still flat when lights on, within 2 mins of no light fills right up. Still closed mouth and not expelling at all.

Good news on urchins.. if it was to be eaten think it would kill the anemone?

Beautiful haddoni. Great find!!

thanks..
 
Do you think they need a light adjusmtent period, ..
I don't think so, unless you see problem with light. I never adjust light for my corals or anemones. I just put them to a light appropriate area for the species but never dim my light for new animals. The may get a little lighter but this is no big deal IMO.

Many reffers do not think like I do on this issue.
 
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