Nem for my Percs?

[ken6217]

I have a pair of percs. Actually it is a snowflake perc that I paired up with a small wild caught perc. They have been together for at least a month a are always together.

A that same time I bought a small RBTA and see if it would host. No luck. Neither of these fish were in tanks with nems when I got them.

I know that it is possible that they will never got into a nem, but I just heard that a RBTA is not the favored nem for percs. I was told a Crispa or a Mertensii.

Does anyone know if these will work or if there are any other suggestions? Btw, the tank is only 39 gallons and I am not looking for a huge anemone, especially because this is most an SPS dominated tank.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[garygb]

H. magnifica and S. gigantea are natural hosts for percula. Though H. crispa is listed as a natural host in Fautin and Allen, I have never seen a photo from the wild where crispa is hosting a percula. I have magnificas and when I have put captive-bred perculas (or ocellaris, for that matter) in the tank, the clown is in the anemone within the hour. Though RBTAs aren't natural hosts for perculas, it's not unusual for them to eventually take to them in aquariums.

 

[ken6217]

Thanks for your comments. Any ideas where I can get a Magnifica?

Thanks,
Ken

 

[garygb]

First you will want to research this species. They are considered difficult. In my experience, they are quite hardy once established; however are poor shippers. For that reason, if you can find someone locally who happens to have one for sell, that's ideal. But, that's also a very long shot. The next best thing would be to find a healthy one in a local, good quality fish shop. The last option would be to order one online from somewhere like Diver's Den or Bluezoo Aquatics. You could hopefully speak with someone before purchasing and make sure the anemone is in good shape, not damage to foot, not bleached, etc. I would also say you would want a smaller to medium sized mag for that small of a tank, with the plan to graduate up to a larger tank at some point. For the anemone to thrive you need high light, very low, preferably undetectable nitrates, good water flow, sg 1.026ish, temp 80-82F.

 

[ken6217]

Thanks for the info. I will do some leg wok locally first.

I have had anemones previous (RBTAS and Sebae) with success. My tank parameters are always good so that is not an issue.

I have kept nems under MH and T5. This particular tank I am using an ATI Powermodule T5 which I think should be enough light. I could always supplement it with a Reef Bright LED strip if needed.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[garygb]

An ATI T-5 would be great. Mine have been under t-5s for about a year now and they seem to really like it. If you've had success with RBTAs and sebaes, you should be well on your way. Again, the trick is getting a healthy one to begin with.

 

[Aaarrrggg]

You could wait a little longer on the RBTA too. My B&W occys took a few months to find it, but once they did they loved it!

 

[ken6217]

Would an H. Crispa work?
Ken

 

[garygb]

Although some references say crispa is a natural host, I question the accuracy. I've never seen a pic from the wild with a perc in a crispa. That said, certainly in aquaria they sometimes take to crispa. I would guess it's about as likely as with a BTA.

 

[Mirror Pond]

Like Gary said, be prepared to upgrade tanks if you get a magnifica. I have a newly acquired magenta based mag that would fit great in your tank as it is only 8" across right now. I also have a 5 year old purple based mag that is 16-20" across and could almost fill your entire tank.

 

[ken6217]

I have located and ready to buy a 5" Magnifica (Retteri), for my 39g tank. I just want to confirm that my 4 bulb T5 ATI Powermodule is enough light.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[Toddrtrex]

What are the dimensions of that tank? Mags get rather large, and if they can "feel" any sides of the tank they will move.

 

[ken6217]

The tank is 24x20x20. I'm not concerned about the tank size as I can upgrade when needed as the nem is only 5" right now. I'm more concerned about the lighting at this point. Will my lighting cut it?

I know these are very high light demanding animals. OTH, I can grow any SPS in my tank with my ATI fixture.
Ken

 

[Toddrtrex]

Well, I would be concerned about the tank size, as these anemone will seek out the highest point.

But, since you are only concerned about your lighting, it should cut it.

 

[garygb]

Yes, the ATI will be fine. You will want to center the anemone directly under the lights.

 

[psusocr]

Ken,

Just be carefull where you place it. If its happy and it expands out in a tank that size it may act like a canopy over the top of your corals and shade it out a bit. I know if my nem were up high i would loose that whole corner of my tank do to the movement of the tentacles touching things and blocking things. i got mine at 5" and its double that now easily..I also cant keep any of my sps anywhere near its tentacles with the amount of flow i have on it they blow everywhere and love to touch things and kil them.

 

[sqwat]

just because its 5 inches in the dealer tank means it can be 12inch to 15inch in youre tank once it settles and i do not think youre lighting is strong enough for that type of anenome.in captivity it doesnt realy matter what anenome the clowns pic in the wild cause they dont no wich one is wich just if it works for them at that moment.i would try a basic lta they work fine under t5 and all clownfish lovethem pluss they are easy to put them were you want them just need a dsb of 4 inches then get a piece of pvc that is 3 inch across at one end and 4 at the other and burry it small side down in sand bed.put lta in the whole in the center then bury it completly with sand.this works allmost every time if you have it in a bright part of the tank .gl.i would get halides for any other anenome then lta a bta you will also have to feed him twice a week with t5s.also i found out adding iron in the first couple weeks help them regain the zooanthia they lost in shipment

 

[Toddrtrex]

just because its 5 inches in the dealer tank means it can be 12inch to 15inch in youre tank once it settles and i do not think youre lighting is strong enough for that type of anenome.in captivity it doesnt realy matter what anenome the clowns pic in the wild cause they dont no wich one is wich just if it works for them at that moment.i would try a basic lta they work fine under t5 and all clownfish lovethem pluss they are easy to put them were you want them just need a dsb of 4 inches then get a piece of pvc that is 3 inch across at one end and 4 at the other and burry it small side down in sand bed.put lta in the whole in the center then bury it completly with sand.this works allmost every time if you have it in a bright part of the tank .gl.i would get halides for any other anenome then lta a bta you will also have to feed him twice a week with t5s.also i found out adding iron in the first couple weeks help them regain the zooanthia they lost in shipment

Yes, it does matter what type of anemone, clowns do know which anemone is which.

Do NOT completely bury any anemone.

As for the rest of your post, please put a "space" between your sentences, it is pretty difficult to read.

 

[garygb]

Sqwat I completely disagree with your comments about lighting H. magnifica with T-5s. I have 3 under T-5s and they have been for a year now and are doing fine. They look even better than when they were under halides. I think T-5s are preferable for this species. The PAR value for an ATI Powermodule fixture will be enough to keep anything he wants to keep. It will be important to keep the anemone under the lights, but otherwise that will be plenty of light. Also with the T-5 one has the option of getting the colors more specifically to their liking.

And, as Todd pointed out, to clownfish it certainly makes a difference. You said, "in the wild they don't no wich is wich," that is completely erroneous information. Posting information that you clearly know nothing about is not only unhelpful, it is also irresponsible. Natural hosts will result in an almost certain pairing between clownfish and anemones in aquaria, and often times almost immediately. All bets are off with non-naturally occuring combos (I think it most often happens that the clown will go to the anemone, but it often takes weeks or months...if at all).

 

[sqwat]

allnd im saying is i have seen clowns in all type of anenome and also lps and even in the wild they are in anenome's that are not assosiated with them so it is no completly erroneous.and everything .lps are observed under the sand all the time in the wild i say this to help him settle to attach to the bottom of the tank not smother him.there allways is an exception to the rule with lighting some people have good luck with some lighting and some dont and in most species guides it says to use halides with the magnifica cause you dont makes mr wrong.i have seen clowns host yarn before.nothing i said was wrong at all this is a nd advice site if he doesnt take my advice then so be it i didnt post it for you to disect with what you think by you doing this doesnt help the fellow reefer at all.tell me were in all the oceans were the yarn anenome is found and the clowns associated with it.