keeping nems still

[Reef Ruler]

Hey

When I upgrade my tank, I am hoping to get atleast one anenome, preferabbly A riteri. I would be getting it after corals, so how would one go about getting it to stay where you wanted it to? Maybe 1 BTA and one Ritteri. Or, two ritteri or two BTAs. I realize Ritteri's are known for being hard to care for, but im willing to give it a shot. My LFS has three, and theyve been in their care for over a year so I'm sure I can get some help from them If i need it.

Some questions though...Out of those two nems, what type of substrate do they like their feet to be in? The ones in the LFS (ritteri) have their feet in rock crevices I believe. Anyway, Once I start adding corals, I am pretty much screwed because the nem can move anywhere and sting my corals, SO I was wondering if anybody had any tips and tricks to getting them to stay in a spot? Or should I just wait on the corals and add the nem first? About how long should I wait untill adding the nem? a month after its been cycled?

Thanks
Brian

 

[reefman13]

Seriously research them. I would have to say they are a VERY high maintainance anemone, and will almost certainly need a whole island of LR under powerful halides to itself.

I would advice against two different kinds of anemone in the same tank...it does depend on system volume, and how big of a display.

 

[garygb]

I suggest you just go with BTA's. I have both ritteries and BTA's and the BTA's are definitely a better choice unless you have a lot of experience with anemones. As Dave said, you don't want to keep a BTA in the same tank with a ritteri. I tried that once and, although they weren't touching, the BTA that was fine in another tank just withered over a few months when placed in the tank with the ritteri.

 

[lildraken]

What about getting anemones that live on different substrates. Like a sand dwelling one such as the LTA and then a different one that lives on rock like BTA's. Not sure where Ritteri's live.

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12242194#post12242194 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lildraken
What about getting anemones that live on different substrates. Like a sand dwelling one such as the LTA and then a different one that lives on rock like BTA's. Not sure where Ritteri's live.

its not touching that you should worry about, but putting any anemones in the same tank as a magnifica is a bad idea.

 

[WDLV]

I wouldn't get a mag. That said, if you're gonna do it anyway, I'd make sure that your rockwork comes to a peak under your lights in such a way that the nem cannot touch or otherwise detect a higher point (the glass in particular.)
Also make sure it can never find a pump intake or overflow.

 

[Reef Mongoose]

I second that, I have a ritteri and they definatly go for the highest point that they can find. If they find the glass they will climb all the way to the top to sit under the lights. But if they think they are at the top of the rock work they will just move around slightly in that spot.

 

[Reef Ruler]

Thanks to all.

I really would love to have a Ritteri, especially because I saw that the three in the LFS all had clowns in them (percs or ocellaris...I think percs though). Plus, the Ritteris just look sweet. From what I have read, it probably will be a better choice for me to get a BTA first, and then later on get a Mag if I have the proper lighting. The actual tank size (display) I am thinking will be anywhere from 75-100, and with total water volume anywhere from 95-130. Would the two of them be alright together in that size of a tank?

Which is more known to host BTA's, true of false percs? You guys have luck with occelaris hosting any variety of BTAs?

Im probably going to make a Peak in the center of the tank, Just incase I decide to get the ritteri, or trade in the BTA for it. Any suggestions on how I would get either to stay put, wherever it is? I figured if I were to get a ritteri, just plop him down (after acclimation of course)onto the peak, and he should stay. What about the BTA?

Thanks
Brian

 

[garygb]

BTA's like their foot in a cave or the underside of an overhang on the liverock.

 

[WDLV]

I'd pretty much agree with that on the BTAs.

 

[Reef Ruler]

So, Rocky outcrops/caves for the BTAs, and nobody on the Ritteri?

Allright, I was reading up on the BTAs, saw that they (percs/occelaris) dont typically host BTAs, so whats another easy choice for a beginner? LTAs (M. doreensis)?

Granted, this article was from 2003, and I have been seeing alot of pics with true and false in BTAs. Is there a particular anenome that occelaris and percs tend to host the most?

Thanks
Brian

 

[Twz]

My only suggestion is place the nem in before anything else
let it find it's place then keep every thing very stable.

 

[WDLV]

I have five RBTA clones at the moment. My BTAs will attach in caves, under overhangs, in crevises, in prominent position like a mag, or pretty much anywhere that meets their lighting and circulation needs but usually with their foot hidden.

 

[Reef Ruler]

Hey

Thanks Walt! They look good. What type of clowns do you have hosting them?

 

[reefman13]

That last guy has either a Latz or a pair and we can't see the other

 

[salty316]

I have 4 occ's that readily accept the BTA's in the tank. I only had one clown and one BTA initially. Hosting was slow, but putting a picture of my Clarki on the the glass did the trick. I had 3 occ's in another thank hosting my LTA (had anem for over 10 years now) They took to the BTA's (5 clones now) immediately.

 

[WDLV]

I have a pair of latz hosting them at the moment, but I'm tearing down the 210 gallon and putting the RBTAs in several 100 gallon rubbermaid sumps with two latz pairs, a leuc pair, a leuc/sandaracinos pair, two nigripes pairs, an ocellaris pair, a black polymnus pair, a perideraion pair and a sandaracinos pair. I may trade out some of the less rare ones if I find something more interesting.

 

[Reef Ruler]

Sounds good. I guess I'll go with the BTA then. Im hoping i can find a RBTA, but it shouldnt be that hard.

Thanks To all.
Brian