New Skunk pair, what anemone to choose?

[Cliving1]

While I posted a bit ago about which anemones host the skunk clown (and got great responses), I wanted to see if anyone had pics or suggestions on a specific combo. My haddoni has been on decline for a few months but wont quit. I likely will ask my lfs to qt and bring it to life, or move it to the other side of the tank and hope for the best. That being said I have a new pair of orange skunks and would like peoples suggestions on a medium size anemone that is a good fit for these guys. I am in Tampa, so I have some stores that can order in based on your suggestions. Thanks!

 

[Cliving1]

Would be happy to try a gig or ritteri, just not sure on care levels and what not.

 

[JustAClownFish]

Have you tried googling? I found tons of pictures of skunk clowns hosting carpets. I also found a lot of clownfish/anemone compatibility charts. However, only one chart included the orange skunk. According to the chart, a leathery sea bae or carpet should work.

 

[Kinetic]

Magnificas (ritteri) are not that hard to keep alive. They're just really bad after being imported. As long as they're treated correctly, they are really hardy.

Not sure what you mean by "medium" sized, but these all get pretty big, even a BTA.

A magnifica can get up to 24" or more. Mine only has a 3" foot, but opens up to 8" at least.

Just look up and be all ready to do a cipro treatment when a magnifica arrives and it'll be hardy after it's treated.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

You didn’t mention which skunk clown type but H. Crispa (Sebae) should work.

 

[Cliving1]

Its a pair of orange skunks, sorry about that. The reason I say medium size is because until I upgrade tanks, I am still using my IM 40 which can offer about 12" or more in diameter until that time. Well I will be off to the lfs today to see if they have any that you folks have mentioned, thanks!

 

[Postal]

My skunks (A. sandaracinos) have their choice of a purple LTA, a blue gig, and a purple malu. They spend about 95% of their time in the LTA with one of them occasionally spending nights in the gig.

BTW, Coral Corral had a nice green LTA available today for $60.

 

[Cliving1]

Thanks Postal. Exactly whay I was looking for. I was talking to a few lfs, seeing what it would be to order a gig in. Do you know if saltwaterfish.com is reputable for gigs? Looking into that LTA now!

 

[Cliving1]

Saltwater fish .com has a blue gig for 150, would this be an acceptable host? Also, does anyone have experience in buying from them?

 

[elegance coral]

The natural hosts to A. sandaracinos are S. mertensii and H. crispa.
S. mertensii is by far the most common host to these fish in the wild.
S. mertensii is very very very rare in the hobby, so I would look for a healthy H. crispa.
H. magnifica, while there's no evidence of it being a natural host to these clowns (that I'm aware of), it should be accepted as a surrogate in captivity with little problem.

 

[Cliving1]

I will try to find a mertrensii, but as you mentioned, probably will be hard to find. Crispa on the other hand should not be difficult to find. Will start comparing prices and what not, thanks for the info. Oh and will look for a magnifica too.

Any of them hard to keep in an aquarium or require strong qt protocal?

 

[Cliving1]

So I was not able to find a malu, gig, mertensii. I did come accross some LTA's, but not the coloration I decided. My lfs had a carpet anemone coming in, so I picked it up, the clowns have no interest. I had you guys ID it as a haddoni, thought it was a gig. This is more of a, I made a bad impulse choice post. Looking back I should have been more patient. Now I have a huge haddoni in my tank and no clowns in it!