Looking for Suggestions - Unusual/Pest Nems for a Nano Tank

[bradleym]

So the background is that I have just set up a 3g Picotope at my work. I have a serious interest in anemones and collect every kind I find, ESPECIALLY if it's a random hitchhiker that noone is familiar with. As a result I am going to be putting these kind of things in my 3g.

So far I only have 2 in there:

I will also have a maxi mini carpet, an all red mini carpet, and (if I ever find one again) a green mini carpet (considered a pest by some). I don't wan't majanos, mostly cuz they end being too much green for one tank, and aiptasia is ugly IMO :thumbdown but otherwise I am open to ideas, and if you guys have some, I'm all ears!

Small nems are best, obviously, but if you know of a wierd pest or something that could look cool I want to hear about it. Thanks!

 

[velvetelvis]

One LFS in my area periodically has to trim down its collection of hellfire anemones that hitchhike in on imported live rock. They're probably hardy as all git-out and worthy of their own display...not sure if they'd play nice with other nems, though (or with aquarists doing tank maintenance)!

I like your idea. I already have a BTA tank and recently converted my FW 50G into a planted tank/maxi-mini garden. My next dream, after seeing coldwater nems at the Monterey Aquarium, is to someday have a coldwater anemone tank.

 

[OrionN]

I suggest one of these. They are beautiful and they do reproduce in captivity but to the pest level. I bought one for 20 dollars 10 years ago and now I have about 20 in my 24 g tank.
They get to about 2-3 inches or so and split. They split horizontally. The foot become one small anemone while the top pinch off and re attach to form another,

 

[accordsirh22]

rock/flower anemones. small and cheap

 

[velvetelvis]

Probably not suited to the same system as your current livestock, since they're a coldwater/temperate species, but I like these pretty little anemones. I've seen them offered on a couple of vendors' sites.

 

[bradleym]

One LFS in my area periodically has to trim down its collection of hellfire anemones that hitchhike in on imported live rock. They're probably hardy as all git-out and worthy of their own display...not sure if they'd play nice with other nems, though (or with aquarists doing tank maintenance)!

I never thought of them as a hitchhiker! That would be pretty cool if I got a small one. Thanks for the new idea! Now I just gotta find one, lol.

 

[bradleym]

I suggest one of these. They are beautiful and they do reproduce in captivity but to the pest level. I bought one for 20 dollars 10 years ago and now I have about 20 in my 24 g tank.
They get to about 2-3 inches or so and split. They split horizontally. The foot become one small anemone while the top pinch off and re attach to form another,

Very good idea too! I actually have 2 in my home tank, but they haven't split yet. I wasn't sure if they did, but now I'll start watching for a new one to take. Thanks!

 

[bradleym]

rock/flower anemones. small and cheap

They get about 6-8 inches, but if I got a small one that's pretty colorful, I bet I could fit it, lol. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[bradleym]

Probably not suited to the same system as your current livestock, since they're a coldwater/temperate species, but I like these pretty little anemones. I've seen them offered on a couple of vendors' sites.

Oh man I wish! The tank sits at 76f. I think that's too hot, right?

 

[velvetelvis]

I will also have a maxi mini carpet, an all red mini carpet, and (if I ever find one again) a green mini carpet (considered a pest by some).

Not sure if this is the exact morph you're looking for, but Tidal Gardens has a nice green maxi-mini. I bought a blue maxi-mini from Than that is beautiful and doing really well.

 

[velvetelvis]

Oh man I wish! The tank sits at 76f. I think that's too hot, right?

Yeah, the temp range I've seen given for coldwater/temperate critters is 55F-60F. On the other hand, that gives you an excuse to set up another anemone tank...

 

[bradleym]

Not sure if this is the exact morph you're looking for, but Tidal Gardens has a nice green maxi-mini. I bought a blue maxi-mini from Than that is beautiful and doing really well.

I... actually bought that exact one, and a blue one as well, about a year back from them! But I am actually looking for a smaller carpet, kinda purple/green mixed, and only gets about 3 inches. They split almost monthly when healthy. Unfortunately I traded all mine when I broke my tank down and can't find any more.

 

[AquaticEngineer]

If you go coldwater there are lot of different anemones available now like these ones:

 

[AquaticEngineer]

 

[AquaticEngineer]

 

[bradleym]

Interesting! Do you have sources for those species? I've only found the actinia equina and actinia tenebrosa. If I could find a few more species it might be worth buying a chiller.

 

[velvetelvis]

There's a site called Coldwater Marine Aquatics--they sell all the nems I saw at the Monterey Aquarium (and a species I saw in a tidepool there too). I have drooled over their anemone selection ever since...someday...

 

[AquaticEngineer]

Interesting! Do you have sources for those species? I've only found the actinia equina and actinia tenebrosa. If I could find a few more species it might be worth buying a chiller.

Yup, every single one of them

There's a site called Coldwater Marine Aquatics--they sell all the nems I saw at the Monterey Aquarium (and a species I saw in a tidepool there too). I have drooled over their anemone selection ever since...someday...

That's it

 

[bradleym]

Thanks guys! I think I'm gonna stick with tropical species for the time being. I'll be drooling over there too, but first I gotta learn how to keep a coldwater system healthy. :reading: After I get the gist of that, I may just go for another tank.

 

[Chihuahua6]

I had two of these and one split to three so I had four. They're very sticky. I thought they were cool until one detached during tank maintanance and got stuck on my finger. I quickly shook it off and continued cleaning my tank. 1/2 hour later my finger was red, burning and itchy. It swelled up a little too. This lasted for several days. After experiencing that I removed and disposed of them.