Preventing Rhizo from eating my fish

[mr_cali]

Hi guys. So I just got a Rhizotrochus. I've researched quite a lot before getting the Rhizo but one thing that concerns me is how dangerous it could be to my fish. I currently have a pair of ORA Picassos that are 1.5" and are very curious. My Rhizo is a bit large with tentacles that extend up to 6". For those of you who have experience with Rhizos, are there any steps I should take to ensure the safety and co-habitation of the Rhizo with my fish? Should I keep it in isolation in my refugium for now and wait for my picassos to get bigger or am I being a bit overcareful and should I just move the Rhizo to my display? Any help/advise would be appreciated. Thanks.

Here are some pictures of it. It is currently in a temporary holding container in my aquarium:
<a href="http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/ericcalvario/?action=view&current=IMG_1197.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/ericcalvario/IMG_1197.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/ericcalvario/?action=view&current=IMG_1190.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/ericcalvario/IMG_1190.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[uhuru]

Nice rhizo! I have little gobies that occasionally brush by them without any problems. The only question would be are your clowns dumb enough to allow the rhizo to eat them? For sure they could get away if they wanted. Hopefully someone else can chime in!

 

[mr_cali]

Thanks for the feedback. I just decided to trade out the Rhizo. In the few hours that it was in my tank it already attacked my blasto and acan colonies. It was just too overwhelmingly large for me to feel comfortable housing it in my already packed system, especially with my $250 picassos. It was a beautiful Rhizo though and I will always love that coral...from a distance. Haha.

 

[Aquabacs]

Sorry to hear that you are trading it away. I guess it comes down what you value more your Picassos or your Rhizo. For me, my rhizos have eaten well over the years (currently have 5, largest is 4" in diameter when closed) but I love my rhizos. It comes down to smart aquascaping, planning of flow, fish vs Rhizo feeding schedule, if you plan on keeping them in small aquariums. In larger aquariums there should be no issue at all and if there are, then it is survival of the fittest.



Mike

 

[DCS_888]

Thanks for the feedback. I just decided to trade out the Rhizo. In the few hours that it was in my tank it already attacked my blasto and acan colonies. It was just too overwhelmingly large for me to feel comfortable housing it in my already packed system, especially with my $250 picassos. It was a beautiful Rhizo though and I will always love that coral...from a distance. Haha.

FWIW, I relocated my Rhizo to the sump. Somehow one of my darwin clown make his/her to the sump from DT and it is now hosting one of the Rhizo. (not too sure that is possible) It has been three weeks now; and they both are doing fine. I will get a pic when I got home tonight.

Chi

 

[stunreefer]

Chi, just make sure the clowns do not irritate the rhizo. Many times it won't show any signs at first but down the road will start to go downhill if the clown hosts it too aggressively. Or of course the rhizo will eat it if given the opportunity, but a healthy (decent sized) clown will not give them that chance

 

[DCS_888]

Chi, just make sure the clowns do not irritate the rhizo. Many times it won't show any signs at first but down the road will start to go downhill if the clown hosts it too aggressively. Or of course the rhizo will eat it if given the opportunity, but a healthy (decent sized) clown will not give them that chance

Hi Austin, thx for the tip. I will keep an eye on it. The clown is only 3/4" big; i thot for sure it was trying to commit suicide :eek1: when I found him/her there.

Chi