My first anemone purchase. Is this a good buy?

[tehpineapple]

Looking to purchase a Condylactis anemone later today.

I have a 24g nanocube. Built in 3 chamber filter. No sump.

Parameters as of 6/12: Measured Nitrate at 2.5 ppm, Measured Nitrite at 0 ppm, Measured Ammonia at 0 ppm, Measured pH at 8.0 pH, Measured Salinity at 1.025 SG, Measured Temperature at 79 F.

Current inhabitants: 8 hermits (small red and blue legged ones) ,3 Turbo snails, 2 Spiny Star Astraea, 3 Cerith, 2 Trochus, and 2 Astrea, 1 Emerald crab and a Watchman goby (about 3" long)

This is a picture of it I took on the 12th. It just arrived in store on the 12th so I wanted to give it a few days to make sure it is well. I witnessed it eating the day it arrived (Neon Blue Goby got too close )

Does this seem like a safe buy?

 

[hotelbravo]

it seems healthy and really depends on the price to say if its a good buy.. condys are only 7.99 where im from so not sure how much your planning to spend on him
it looks good but ive never been a fan of the condylactis anemones. i bought one a few months after i setup my tank and i took it back within a week. it looks identical to the one you pictured.
im just sharing my opinion i dont intend to bash your tastes.

 

[tehpineapple]

$9.99 for this one.

Any input is appreciated. What didn't you like about the condy that made you return it?

 

[hotelbravo]

it just didnt do it for me. it wasnt as appealing as other species of anemone like bubbletips and carpets it seemed plain to me
from the week i had it i bet it never stopped walking around the tank it was constantly moving which to a point is to be expected but my bubbletip took 8 months to move for the first time. he stayed put exactly where i placed him.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Condy's can and will eat fish. Nuff said!

 

[ThRoewer]

It's not a natural host for clownfish, though A. clarkii and the like may accept it anyway. Though don't expect A. ocellaris and A. percula to go into it.

 

[Rippinfrags]

I rate condylactis anemones in the same category as bubble tips as far as their sting goes. Both species rarely are able to take down a healthy fish.

I'm with hotel bravo I prefer E. Quadricolors aka bubble tips over condylactis anemones. I enjoy their bubbling tips, they are able to split creating multiple anemones, which you can later sell, and they host a wider variety of clownfish.

 

[davocean]

Yeah it's cool for what it is but it's not a host nem, Clarki and maroon may deal w/accept it, but they have a much stronger sting, and it can harm fish that make contact.

 

[Rippinfrags]

Maybe I am mistaken, do condylactis pack a pretty good punch? Davocean knows his stuff, which is why I am back pedaling

 

[davocean]

Yeah, they are known for that, partially why they sell cheaper.

 

[albano]

Condys can kill a fish...there are a lot of clown types that can be hosted, such as tomato, clarki, maroons, but as said usually not percs or false percs.

When they go on the move they can kill corals, but if they're happy they should stay put.

I've also had them get very BIG and even change colors.

 

[Rippinfrags]

Good to know thanks for clarifying albano and davocean. I agree to them getting quite large I have seen a couple in the wild that were at least 2 ft. across!

 

[Amoo]

I always think it's a great thing when a new reefer wants to get involved in Anemones. Many things in this hobby are extremely difficult to keep and require special care, but in my eyes, anemones really are on that next level. An anemone at $10 seems like a great deal to somebody starting out, but the key is doing the research, and you made a good start by asking here.

My advice would be this, if you just flat out love that anemone and want to make it the most important thing in your tank regardless of what it might kill/eat, then go for it. If you are instead interested in keeping and raising some of the tougher Nems (which also naturally host clowns, Clarkiis don't count since they'll be hosted by anything) a Bubble Tip Anemone really is a good starter Nem. You can usually pick them up for between $30-$60 and they will host just about any clown you may want to have in your tank. They are a pretty hardy Nem, but they force you to really learn to pay attention to what they are specifically trying to tell you, because if they are not happy, they start walking.

 

[ThRoewer]

There are actually some Caribbean shrimp and crab that use Condylactis as a host, so they for sure have their place in a Caribbean biotope tank.