PLEASE HELP - Anenome contintues to eat reef fish

[burrcat19]

I have a great looking Haddon's Carpet Anenome that has already eaten 2 of my tangs. Really disheartening since my fiance and myself have become attached to the fish already. I would much rather find a remedy to the situation than try to remove it from the tank and end up tearing its column or otherwise seriously injuring it.

I have had the anenome for about 3 weeks. It is doing extremely well. The anenome established its foot right where it was placed in the aquarium and ate within a day of introduction.

I already have 2 false perc's (tank-raised) but they have not taken to the anenome yet. I was thinking of adding a pair of Saddleback Clowns to the tank, since they associate well with a Saddle Anenome. Would this be beneficial to the other reef fish (for protection)?

 

[George Grogan]

Haddoni=fish eater.

They are some of the most beautiful anemones available for the home aquarium, but they eat fish. Big time.

A hosting pair may help to scare away other reef inhabitants, but if you keep a Haddoni in a community tank, I think you should be prepared to deal with the losses.

Just me $.02

 

[maxxII]

Haddoni's are famous for eating fish. If you want to keep the anemone, I would strongly suggest gatting a pair aggressive clowns, like Clarki's, Saddlebacks, or Tomato/cinamon etc....these types of clowns will go out of their way to chase off intruders. But, you do need to realize that a fish in a panic state might forget about the clowns and blunder into the anemone anyway.
Before adding new fish, I would suggest feeding the anemone also...

Nick

 

[Doc Holiday]

It is disheartening to hear that the place that sold you the anemone didn't tell you that it would eat all of your fish. Like everyone has said, they are agressive fish eaters.

I would also strongly suggest not getting a pair of Saddleback's. They are notorious for beating the crap out of their anemones.

If you do not want to lose anymore fish I would recommend returning it to the place that you got it from if possible.

 

[maxxII]

Saddle backs arent as rough on anemones as Maroons are, and if the anemone is large enough to eat two tangs, its more than likely large enough to withstand some abuse from the clowns.

However, if you are concerned about it, I would reccomend going for the Clarki's instead. They'll do the job.

Nick

 

[Toddrtrex]

I want to know what I am doing right, I have two Haddonis ( one for 7 years, the other 7 months ) and have only lost a yellow watchman goby to them, and that could have happened with any sand dwelling anemone.

 

[Doc Holiday]

Todd,
Are your anemones being hosted by clowns?

 

[Toddrtrex]

One of them is hosting my female clarkii ( the male stays in the BTA )
The blue haddoni doesn't host anything ( that is teh one that I've had for 7 months )

 

[Mattmcf]

You could try to place the carpet in an area that is not used as often by the fish. For example i have 2 carpets, one green and one blue in my 220 and have placed them on opposite sides, almost in the corner of the tank. The majority of open (swimming) area is around the center so that is where my fish spend most of their time. Not to say they do not cruise to the corners but they are not there as often as near the middle.

 

[burrcat19]

How would you suggest moving the anenome? I know that there column is very susceptible to tearing if it is well established.

 

[LPDK91]

I have 3 tangs and a carpet in my 150 gallon. I have not lost a fish yet. The carpet is approx 10 inches and sits in the middle of the tank. It host's a large Clarki clown that will not allow anything to get near it. I feed it silversides every other day. I drop the silverside in and the Clarki takes it to the anemone.

 

[Doni]

Most fish instinctively know to stay away from them but, IME, most fish accidentally bump into anemones during the night. Haddoni's are so incredibly sticky that the fish have no chance to get away. Nighlights are very good at allowing the fish to see anemones during the dark hours. I highly suggest them or at least a lamp on in the room during night time.