magnifica (ritteri) anemone question

yongpanda

yongpanda

New member
For those with experience in handling and caring for h. magnifica anemones, would you say that a 36 gallon display (around 22"x20"x20") with a 8 gallon sump will suffice in keeping a single h. magnifica with two clownfish?

If I get a h. magnifica, I don't plan on getting many corals besides a few zoans of acan on/near the sand bed.

It'll be like a species tank almost.
 
i think it is to small heck i think my is to small it is 130 Gallon with a 40 Gallon sump if you are thinking of getting one i would get a much bigger tank H.Mags get really big mine is close to 15" maybe more
 
Average size is 18 inches in home aquariums, but 36 inches in the wild. There have been some people on here who have reported their's growing to 30 inches. So you wouldn't have room for the fish, much less corals.

Additionally, they are one of the most temperamental anemones, and are hard to acclimate even in large, stable systems. Odds are very good that, unless you have already cared for one of these anemones successfully in a large aquarium, it would not go well in a small one.

BTW, Heteractis Malu is the one that averages 10 inches. Someone may have gotten their sources mixed up. :)
 
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Thanks for correcting me on size. I am pretty confident in keeping it alive and healthy and have no problems keeping just the anemone and clownfish and no others.

The one and only question is regarding size but seems like everyone has different experiences, some 18" other 30"...

decisions decisions
 
yongpanda said:
Thanks for correcting me on size. I am pretty confident in keeping it alive and healthy and have no problems keeping just the anemone and clownfish and no others.

The one and only question is regarding size but seems like everyone has different experiences, some 18" other 30"...

decisions decisions
Click to expand...

18 is average full size for captivity. 30 is max recorded in captivity I believe.

Let me warn you that they are not like any other anemone when it comes to acclimation and sensitivity. If it touches the side of the tank from where it perches (they like the highest rock ledges BTW) it will go over and climb to the top of the glass. It will also do this if the flow isn't what it likes, as they like to be just under the edge of extreme chaotic flow. Check out the videos on youtube. I'm not even sure how you would manage the right flow in such a small space, but if you did, you would need to cover all powerheads or it could get sucked into one if it walked up to it looking for more flow.

All that said, it is inadvisable, but technically possible. If somehow you get one to settle in such a small tank, just don't feed it more than every other week. It can live off what the clowns drop (and lighting obviously), and this will slow the growth, likely keeping it at the average full size.
 
I agree that it is too small. I'd say a 60 gallon cube would be the smallest tank you could even consider for a small mag, and to me, that's stretching it. My gigantea is quickly outgrowing my 120 gallon tank, and I don't feed it that often anymore.

As Bradley mentioned, if the mag can touch the side of the tank, it will climb up it. So with such a small tank, even if it's perched on a rock in the center of the tank, it will most likely be able to touch the side.

Unless you're planning to be extremely meticulous with cleaning and general maintenance, it's going to be very tough to keep alive for any period of time.
 
Although it can be done, I don't think you should try because you are not experienced enough. I keep a small Magnifica in my 20X18 20H aquarium for 4 years before I move him to a larger system.
You should plan for an area of 24X24 inches square with high flow and high light for a Magnifca.
Here is my Magnifica in the small tank mentioned above.
There are 5 PH in that tank. None can be reach by the anemone

IMG_0471.jpg
 
I agree with Orion, a small magnifica can be kept in a small tank. In time it will grow and need a larger tank. Excellent water conditions is the challenge with this species and the smaller the tank the more challenging that can be.

I have read so many times that magnifica will move if they feel something higher than them, such as the wall of the tank. That has not been my experience. I believe that if conditions are to their liking (light, flow, undetectable nitrates, etc.), they will not move. If you notice a magnifica shifting around, moving at all, something is bothering it. When mine are happy they stay in exactly the same place, very tightly secured.

As far as how to reduce their propagation, like Bradley said, that sound like more of a problem with BTAs than magnificas. I've had mine for many years and they have only divided a few times. Compared to my BTAs, I would say asexual reproduction for mags is a rate of 20% or less. I suppose it's possible some clone lineage may divide more quickly, but BTAs customarily divide quickly.
 
Magnifica will not move if they are happy with light and current and water condition. Here is a picture of one of my magnifica that is stationary on this rock for the last 8 months. He moved a little but not going up the wall behind him. He is under 3 Radion G3 pro at 100% output. The lights are about 1 foot above the water and the anemone is about 2 feet under the water surface. The Par there is about 750. He also have good current there too. I just took this picture a few minutes ago

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