Picking up Tomato clown

[55semireef]

Hey guys, I have finally decided I want a pair of Tomatos. The one I am getting today is a female thats slightly bigger than 2 inches and has been alone for a while so definately a female. I have some questions.

1.) I am going to get a BTA anemone soon. Right now I have a little pink tube anemone and a Condylactis anemone. I doubt the tomato will host my Condy. It might host my Hammer Coral but its not likely. Alright so my question is, how big of a BTA should I get? I don't want my tomato to love it to death. Also, when I introduce the BTA, should I quarantine it in my tank for a little bit so it acclimates for a couple of days?

2.) Now that I will have a female Tomato, all I got to do is get a small juvi tomato and put it in my tank and then it will turn into a male and then they will pair up right?

 

[SVXH6]

for the most part ,yes about the pairing up.. it will take a little bit but they should as long as you have a juv. .. you want the anemone to be about 3 times the size of the clown, this way it ensures the anemone can take the abuse the clown may give it.. so for a 2 inch tomato i would get about a 5 or 6 inch anemone(bta is what you want).. also the condy might not like the BTA.. no need to QT it for a few days(the anemone)..usually the clowns hosting the anemone helps it settle in a little better..as long as there is a good size difference between the two..

 

[OCDP]

Yeah.. what he said

You shouldn't have too much trouble pairing them up, just ensure you have a juvi.

Tomato's are known to be agressive with their anemones, so make sure you cherry pick a nice big, healthy specimen. I wouldn't bother QT'ing, but that's me (do what you'd like)

I would be weary of adding two different species of anemones in one tank. It could get ugly, and there is a chance there could be chemical warfare between the two anemones. So, having said that.. plan ahead to get rid of one of the two, and keep a close eye on things. I think the only way two different species can be kept together successfully is if there is large water volume, and each anemone is on seperate ends of the tank.

Good luck, let us know how it goes,, and don't forget pictures

 

[55semireef]

Yeah I was planning on putting them seperate. But won't carbon help remove the chemicle warfare? As long as they are not touching each other and carbon runs in the tank, it shouldn't be a problem right? And if I am going to get rid of one it would be the Condy. But hopefully that won't be the case. In fact, the only reason why I am getting a BTA is because I want the Tomato to host. So if it hosts the Condy, than thats that.

 

[stykthyn]

I had a flame clown host a condy for over a year. try it she may like it.

 

[colby]

Yeah every tomato I have owned has loved Condy's, same with clarks and Maroons. I would say give it a shot and if she takes to it, get a few more considering they are so cheap and easy to care for. Feed em like crazy and they'll get to be 18" for you..

Colby

 

[55semireef]

I already have the Condy:

Sorry for such a large picture. Anyways the Tomato so far has shown no interest in the Condy> Maybe more time?

Will a BTA and Condy really have a conflict? Can you guys go into detail on this?

Thanks

 

[stykthyn]

unless they are touching you shouldnt have any probs with the 2 nems. just realize that the condy is like the tourists of the anemone world and there is no part of your tank that they wont explore during their travels