UnderwaterExotic
In Memoriam
What is the longest that you guys have kept a Ritteri alive for?
Ritteri
- Thread starter UnderwaterExotic
- Start date
Flighty
Premium Member
It seems like very few make it past the 6th month mark even under good conditions, but if they do, they seem to be long lived. I have not heard of any lasting over a year and then deteriorating except for rapid loss in something like a tank crash.
The frustrating thing is that very very few of them are healthy enough to survive the first six months. It is also interesting how many of the people who thought they had a healthy magnifica actually had a BTA, so there are some inaccurate care stories floating around out there.
That Magnifica is stunning, Tony. Do you plan on moving it to the 280 (in your sig)?
I am trying to get one transshipped dry to me in the spring and see how that goes. Also looking at getting a group of them and trying out a post shipment treatment on them for a LFS near here.
The frustrating thing is that very very few of them are healthy enough to survive the first six months. It is also interesting how many of the people who thought they had a healthy magnifica actually had a BTA, so there are some inaccurate care stories floating around out there.
That Magnifica is stunning, Tony. Do you plan on moving it to the 280 (in your sig)?
I am trying to get one transshipped dry to me in the spring and see how that goes. Also looking at getting a group of them and trying out a post shipment treatment on them for a LFS near here.
delphinus
New member
Hi Cindy, thanks. Actually, although the 280g would make a good tank for it, I'm not planning to at this time. I just don't really trust the anemone anymore enough to house fish in with it. Although most of the time it's OK, it's just that anytime I've had to 'handle' the anemone (move from one tank to another, or when I moved a couple years ago and had to move the tanks from one house to another), fish die. It seems as if it's some kind of defensive activity, I'm not sure what it is, a huge explosion of nematocysts maybe, and that gets caught up in their gills and they die a rather unpleasant death. So not being able to take anymore of the heartache of losing all the fish in a tank (except for the clowns which survived every incident), I've self-imposed a rule onto myself "no fish other than the symbionts who live in the anemone". At the moment I have no clowns in there because the pair of ocellaris I had in there, took residence in a carpet instead, and I'm going to leave them there (here's a pic if you're interested, I won't imbed the picture because I fear I'm hijacking the post badly enough as it is: http://members.shaw.ca/hobiesailor/aquaria/anemones/greencarpetandfriends.jpg )
Espescially frustrating because when I moved the ritteri into the 115g cube it is in now, I made sure to have the 115g ready (and fishless) before the move. In the 2 minutes or so of handling that it took to remove the anemone out of the old tank (it is quite large, so it is quite the little challenge to pick up), it emanated enough of whatever-it-is to kill the two non-clownfish in the tank half an hour after its removal. How's that for a kick in the stomach? I had no idea that I was subjecting the fish that were staying behind in the tank I was taking the anemone OUT of to risk. I guess hindsight is 100%, if there ever is a 'next time' all the fish will have to be removed into temporary quarters for the move, in both target AND source tanks. It seems after about a day or so the danger is past and then it would be OK. So anyhow that's why I won't keep this anemone anymore in with any other fish, it's just too risky.
I talked briefly with Calfo about this after the last incident. He told me I made a "compelling case for some kind of exudation" but that he still doubted it, or it could be my tank husbandry skills or who knows.. I wanted to discuss it some more with him, .. but then he left RC and well that was sort of the end of that. Anyhow, HE may have doubts, but I don't, not really. All I know is that anytime this anemone has been handled, fish have died (whether I'm a good or bad aquarist aside ... having 100% mortality within hours of each event cannot be a coincidence).
But onto happier thoughts, I think a 6' tank would make an awesome dedicated species setup. Here's why: these anemones love a surging current (can you see where I'm going with this?) It would make an incredible display, IMO, to see one of these in a tank with a Tunze wavebox. My 115g cube (30x30x30) is not too bad, I have 2x6100 streams on a multicontroller giving some alternation of current, but I think the wave action would be even better. Maybe this will be my next project for down the road (assuming my family has enough patience with me
)
Espescially frustrating because when I moved the ritteri into the 115g cube it is in now, I made sure to have the 115g ready (and fishless) before the move. In the 2 minutes or so of handling that it took to remove the anemone out of the old tank (it is quite large, so it is quite the little challenge to pick up), it emanated enough of whatever-it-is to kill the two non-clownfish in the tank half an hour after its removal. How's that for a kick in the stomach? I had no idea that I was subjecting the fish that were staying behind in the tank I was taking the anemone OUT of to risk. I guess hindsight is 100%, if there ever is a 'next time' all the fish will have to be removed into temporary quarters for the move, in both target AND source tanks. It seems after about a day or so the danger is past and then it would be OK. So anyhow that's why I won't keep this anemone anymore in with any other fish, it's just too risky.
I talked briefly with Calfo about this after the last incident. He told me I made a "compelling case for some kind of exudation" but that he still doubted it, or it could be my tank husbandry skills or who knows.. I wanted to discuss it some more with him, .. but then he left RC and well that was sort of the end of that. Anyhow, HE may have doubts, but I don't, not really. All I know is that anytime this anemone has been handled, fish have died (whether I'm a good or bad aquarist aside ... having 100% mortality within hours of each event cannot be a coincidence).
But onto happier thoughts, I think a 6' tank would make an awesome dedicated species setup. Here's why: these anemones love a surging current (can you see where I'm going with this?) It would make an incredible display, IMO, to see one of these in a tank with a Tunze wavebox. My 115g cube (30x30x30) is not too bad, I have 2x6100 streams on a multicontroller giving some alternation of current, but I think the wave action would be even better. Maybe this will be my next project for down the road (assuming my family has enough patience with me
)
UnderwaterExotic
In Memoriam
THis is my first time trying one and i dont know if its doing well or not. What are signs to look for in a Ritteri? I mean he attached and about as big as a dinnerplate if he was to sprawl out! Not very long tentacles though, ShalloW!
UnderwaterExotic
In Memoriam
it dosent look like it is super closed!
UnderwaterExotic
In Memoriam
He looked real good yesterday, but they got him in yesterday too, do you think it could just be from stress?
Flighty
Premium Member
That is the goal, my friend, even if I have to go to the pacific and hand carry them back 
I'm looking at a way to try getting them transshipped dry and also looking at getting multiple ones shipped through regular channels and doing a post shipment treatment on them. Someday I will also look into force splitting them the way Calfo has been doing with other types of anemones.
I'm looking at a way to try getting them transshipped dry and also looking at getting multiple ones shipped through regular channels and doing a post shipment treatment on them. Someday I will also look into force splitting them the way Calfo has been doing with other types of anemones.
UnderwaterExotic
In Memoriam
Today is looks like it is splitting, i know its probably not but it looks like a part of it wants to stay in one spot and the other is pulling away! ???????? I really think that its dying!
UnderwaterExotic
In Memoriam
AM i correct in saying this? Is this how they go? This morning before the lights came on it was huge though, filled all the way out, nice full tentacles!
UnderwaterExotic
In Memoriam
its so hard to get a pic cause of where it is in my tank! Let me go try! BRB!
UnderwaterExotic
In Memoriam
You can see the purple base on the left and the right, it looks like each half of that is trying to go their own way!
UnderwaterExotic
In Memoriam
It looks today as though it is splitting or whatever it is doing and on both sides the tentacles are full!
