Pink skunk questions.

[matty0206]

I am currently cycling a 29g biocube and will be purchasing 2 pink skunk clowns on Monday as my QT tank is now ready, I have a couple of questions.

When purchasing the clowns, should I buy 2 the same size or 1 say 1" and the other 2"?

What would be the best anemone for them? They and whichever anemone I choose will be the only inhabitants in the tank.

Tank is lit by a Kessil a150 and flow is from an Mp40 on the lowests eating along with a spin stream on the return of an Emeim compact 1000. I am also running a Hydor slim skim skimmer.

I am by no means a pro but I have had my share of tanks and this kind of species tank is something I have wanted to do for quite some time. I mention this because I am hoping for anemone suggestions other than the standard BTA.

Thanks.

 

[zooman72]

1) If you can two smaller clowns that have not matured into females one will on its own, otherwise try to ensure that the smaller is definitely a male - I have seen a 1" skunk already a female due to being separated, and she tore into another almost the same size.

2) Skunks will be hosted by BTA's (I have a small pair in my office living in one), but their natural hosts are Heteractis crispa, Heteractis magnifica, Stichodactyla gigantea, and Macrodactyla doreensis (LTA). Of these, only the LTA is as "easy" to keep as the BTA, but they do get quite large and prefer a deep sand substrate. The others are quite a bit more challenging (lighting, infection, size, etc.). See other forum threads/ topics for examples.

3) Your light may not cut it for BC29 and anemones (maybe for BTAs?) - for example, I have a H. magnifica in a NC28, and it is lit with a Kessil A350N at 75% on both channels (about 10" from the light). It moved everywhere under a Kessil A150W, but has stayed put under the A350N, and could probably accept even more intensity. The A150W would work for a BC14, but then you are definitely limited to either BTAs or a Heteractis malu size-wise.

You could do a "biotope" tank with just the clowns and a LTA in a relatively deep sand bed, or you could upgrade your light and even keep a H. magnifica on a rock pedestal, but the mag is a much more challenging anemone to procure in good health - I got lucky and got one that did not need treatment. Or you could just accept that BTAs are pretty cool and give them a shot too - good luck either way...

Oh, and watch the MP40 around anemones - best to use the foam cover to keep from making anemone soup...

 

[matty0206]

Very good info, thank you. I was going to ask next if that light would be enough, I think I will upgrade after your experience and more reading I have done this morning. There is a guy on here who has 350n's for sale right now.
I would really like to try a Mag or even a Haddoni but Lta's are also very cool. I have had quite a few BTA's and while I love them, I'm wanting to try something different this time. It sucks because a guy local to me had 2 long lived Mags for sale a few months ago but I wasn't ready then.

 

[zooman72]

You are welcome.

I would maybe cross Haddon's off of the list - I have seen them get huge quick, and they may eat your clowns, especially being that they are not a natural host. I have also seen my Haddon's eat two to three fish (not sure about one), but strangely enough, it is currently hosting a pair of tomato clowns without issue (another non-native clown for that species of anemone), although tomato clowns are tough. It did try to eat the smaller male after adding him, and he looked rough for a few days, but has been slowly healing since.

Mags and LTAs are natural hosts for pink skunks, but keep in mind that Mags can also get quite big, especially if you feed them. Mine has not really grown much, if at all, in the 5+ months I have had it (is about 8-10" across), but I also do not feed it.

Too bad about missing the mags locally too - I have had stuff like that happen to me as well, but got lucky with an online vendor. I actually spoke at length with them, and they had a few that had been in their care for several weeks - I got to pick the one I wanted. Let me know via PM if you would like to know which vendor I dealt with.

 

[matty0206]

I sent you a PM.