Rbta vs carpet.

[hotelbravo]

I have a RBTA who I bought when he was about size of a half dollar (full "bloom"). I picked out the smallest because I wanted to watch him grow. I did a rough measure the other day he was 11 inches across. Its been about 8 months. I found that I havent had any problems with him. He found a conch shell that my wife put in the tank and has been in that shell since around day 3 of having him. No matter where I move that shell he refuses to leave it he is very happy.

SO.
I have been wanting a haddoni carpet since I fell inlove with one at my lfs. However some have warned that they are harder to keep. No one explained why.. can someone offer some incite as to why it would be harder to keep a carpet than to keep a RBTA? Is the difficulty really that different?

I currently feed my RBTA 1-2 times per week a mixture of locally caught and frozen squid, shrimp, fish, and scallops. I take one portion of each and finely chop it up mix it all together and put it in one TBSP (tablespoon) then feed it to my anemone around morning after my lights have been on for around an hour. Its kind of a ritual.

 

[Blue spot]

Hi bravo, you should have no trouble with the carpets maybe people mean they are a little more sensitive to tank conditions flow, lighting , water quality, all except the last they will find their own spot as your rbta did. The only thing I've experienced is that they are a lot more predatory than the bubbles, if a fish gets by it, bye bye fish. Even when they are well fed.

 

[hotelbravo]

Does the same advice go towards the "true carpets" or just the haddoni? The true carpet (I cant remember specific name of this anemon) are classified as expert only but haddoni is only "difficult"

 

[frog.pauley]

A true carpet or s.gigantea has a bi of a trick to it....get a healthy one! And that is somewhat hard to do. If you wanted a gig, read up on the thread for protocol on treating in HT. A hospital tank and the defined antibiotic treatment will be a must before purchase of a gig. Most gigs have a infections and problems from collection and shipping practices.
Although my gig has been in for less than 1 month, I would assume it would be just as predatory as a haddoni.

 

[clownfish123321]

Haddonis are a bit more predatory from what i have read. If you love your fish i would forget about haddoni or true carpets and get an H Magnifica

 

[D-Nak]

Haddonis are a bit more predatory from what i have read. If you love your fish i would forget about haddoni or true carpets and get an H Magnifica

All anemones are and will eat fish if given the opportunity. Some are just more opportunistic than others. My mag ate a few of my blue chromis.

Not only are gigantea hard to acquire, and as mentioned healthy ones are nearly impossible to find, but they can also spread their ailment to other Stichodactyla anemones. I recently lost a haddoni as a result of not QTing a gignatea for a long enough period of time (which should be at least two weeks IMO).

Haddoni are better shippers than gigantea, so healthy specimens are relatively easy to find, unless you're looking for a rare color such as a blue one.

 

[hotelbravo]

Im pretty stuck on haddoni I understand they are predators but which fish a really at risk? I cant imagine my tang would be dumb enough to swim into him, however a dartfish, blenny, or damsel I can see that. Honestly as long as he doesnt kill my clown or my tang I would love to have him. Ill just have to be careful adding certain fish

 

[frog.pauley]

I seen a pic here sometime ago of a full grown Naso Tang half inside a haddoni's mouth. They can take down anyone they want. lol I have a kole tang, midas blenny, and a trio of pajama cardinals, along with a pair of Picasso's my gig hosts. The other fish seem to know, even the tank bred, to keep clear. As the nem grows and takes more space, I will have to make more space, or the fish will need to be really fast and smart! lol The tang has pushed the limits already. I think he might have gotten nailed trying to tail swipe the female clown.

 

[Breadman03]

Any fish, even clowns, can be taken. Fish that dwell on the rock or substrate are at highest risk, with open water swimmers at lowest risk. That isn't due to their resistance to the sting, but solely the likelihood of accidentally brushing into it.

I lost a healthy foxface when it's tail brushed my gigantea. It was instantly stuck and only fought for a moment before it was toast.

 

[OrionN]

If you have a stable reef tank, you can keep a healthy Gigantea, Haddoni or Magnifica. All of these anemones are very sensitive to water condition change, especially the pH, alkalinity changes. My SPS looks fine when I added Kalk, or even bicarb too fast, but my anemone will show displeassure right away.

The trick to Magnifica and Gigantea is to get a healthy speciment, or treat the sick one quickly. Once you get a healthy, non infected one, you have good chance of keeping them long term. Stability of water condition and adequate light is essential. Certainly fish are much more prone to been eaten by carpets. In the many years that I keep magnifica (15+) I never lost a fish to one.
So far this year I lost a 4 inches Yellow eye Kole tang to one of my carpets. I got 7 (4 Gigantea and 3 Haddoni) in my tanks.
Madarin (both of my pairs), wrasses (three healthy Leopard), Dottyback (3 Orchid), Fang Blennies (Green head pair) do not stance a chance in Carpet tank.
Having light go up and down slowly really help. Not spook you fish also really help in keeping them a live in Carpet tank.