SteveJakubiec
In Memoriam
What makes them so hard to keep, I'm tired of BTAs and Carpets, and was wondering why they're so hard to keep?
Ritteri's, what makes them so hard to keep?
- Thread starter SteveJakubiec
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SteveJakubiec
In Memoriam
Do you know of anywhere online where my best bet would be to find one in good health?
delphinus
New member
To me, the difficulty is two-fold
1) Very often, and as is the case with many anemones, there is an initial "break in period" that they often don't survive. H. magnifica happens to be one with a poor track record of surviving this period. Or, more simply, as phender puts it, they ship poorly. They basically die as a result of shipping stress.
2) If they do make it past this break-in period then they tend to be fairly resilient. However, they require a fair amount of light and current, and can grow to a size that is impractical for most tanks. If unhappy, they can wander the tank looking for the perfect spot and if they run into an overflow or pump intake it can spell trouble.
1) Very often, and as is the case with many anemones, there is an initial "break in period" that they often don't survive. H. magnifica happens to be one with a poor track record of surviving this period. Or, more simply, as phender puts it, they ship poorly. They basically die as a result of shipping stress.
2) If they do make it past this break-in period then they tend to be fairly resilient. However, they require a fair amount of light and current, and can grow to a size that is impractical for most tanks. If unhappy, they can wander the tank looking for the perfect spot and if they run into an overflow or pump intake it can spell trouble.
SteveJakubiec
In Memoriam
Would 2x250watt HQI MH + 4x54watt T-5 be enough (120g Tank Standard Measurements) and 3 Koralia 4's and the output of sump be enough for the lighting and flow they want?
vincent6396
New member
Yes, I have a ritteri under 6 54w T5 and it's doing great for a few months now. It hangs out at the top of my tank, right under the water line. Moved him down onto my rocks but he kept going up the so I gave up and let him be.
Newreeflady
New member
Steve, seriously? You're in high school and your profile says 6 months in the hobby and you're sick of the other anems? What makes you think you won't be sick of this one in a few months??
Vincent, I hate to be a party pooper, but a few months is nothing... it's great that it is doing well, but the fact that it's right under the water line makes me wonder if it needs more light.
Disclosure: Not an expert by any means, just pointing out the obvious. Hoping not to offend, but just to shed some light on the subject.
Vincent, I hate to be a party pooper, but a few months is nothing... it's great that it is doing well, but the fact that it's right under the water line makes me wonder if it needs more light.
Disclosure: Not an expert by any means, just pointing out the obvious. Hoping not to offend, but just to shed some light on the subject.
vincent6396
New member
Newreeflady, I read somewhere that they're known to do that and also seen another's reefers tank with a retteri like that also. I know that might be bad but I spot feed it silverside 3-4x a week.
Newreeflady
New member
Cool. I don't have Ritteri experience, it was just a thought. But, it sounds like you've done your homework. When the others said it needed high light it didn't sound like you really had enough...
A few months isn't long, but hopefully you're through the worst of it. I hope that it does great for you for many years to come!
-A
A few months isn't long, but hopefully you're through the worst of it. I hope that it does great for you for many years to come!
-A
Newreeflady
New member
x
Vincent, you might find that if you make a "hill" of liverock in the middle of your tank so that the anemone is within a foot or so of the bulbs that you willget it to stay there. Also, if you have an acrylic shield between the bulbs and the water, that might be diminishing your light. Mags are generally thought to climb up the sides to the top of the water when they are seeking out more light.
SteveJakubiec
In Memoriam
Oh, I haven't updated that info in awhile, I'm now going on a Year and a half, but that doesn't really make much difference, I had a BTA and RBTA and they were in great health, I gave them to my lfs because they were stinging the hell out of some nearby corals. I tried a haddoni, which I had for the better part of my tank life (1.5 yrs) and it did very nicely, I gave to a member of my local club so I could have more room for corals to go into my 120g next year.
SteveJakubiec
In Memoriam
Oh, and I was just wondering what makes them so hard to keep, not like I was going to jump in and get one anytime soon.
Kris, H. magnifica will stay put and not try to seek out brighter light (or higher terrain) when they are happy with the lighting and other conditions. For that matter, I've seen my go down to get away from the light when it's increased in intensity quickly. I don't know what you are referring to as "perimeter instinct." As with other species of anemones, there is an "instinct" to seek out appropriate light intensity, water flow and substrate. If any one of these is not to the anemones liking, it will move.
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