Rose Bubble Tip Anemone or The Heteractis Magnifica

Oracion

New member
So, I'm ordering things off of saltwaterfish.com. My old bubble tip anemone had recently died. ( :( ) So I'm deciding on a new one. I have two Ocellaris clowns (who never really did host in the anemone). I've read that the heteractis magnifica (Retteri anemone) Is the natural host for the Ocellaris clown, which one should I buy, the RBTA or the HM? I also want to know if the anemone will conflict with my fishies (A 6 line wrasse, baby regal tang, and the clowns I mentioned above.)
 
Hi, first you have to ask yourself why did the bta die? If you can't keep a BTa alive odds are you wont be successful with a magnifica. Second can your system support a magnifica. They are one of the most demanding host anemone species too keep in captive environments along with giganteas.

Let us know more about your system parameter wise, gallonage and light wise.

Lastly I dont see any problems with your tank mates
 
Experience in the Hobby
2 months 20 gallon nano, upgrading to 120 gallon soon.

And from this thread it appears that the 120 won't happen until summer. So my advice is neither anemone is appropriate for your tank and experience level.
 
And from this thread it appears that the 120 won't happen until summer. So my advice is neither anemone is appropriate for your tank and experience level.
My experience level might not be sufficient, however my father is watching me along and he's been in the hobby for a good ten years. The 120 is not expected now. I'm getting a larger tank in this or next month.

I'm guessing why the Anemone didn't stay alive was because I had put in the anemone too early for the tank. (I had put it in in the first or second week my tank was up)
 
My experience level might not be sufficient, however my father is watching me along and he's been in the hobby for a good ten years. The 120 is not expected now. I'm getting a larger tank in this or next month.

I'm guessing why the Anemone didn't stay alive was because I had put in the anemone too early for the tank. (I had put it in in the first or second week my tank was up)

Not to be too blunt, but was he watching when you put the first anemone in a tank that had only been set up for 2 weeks, and most likely hasn't finished cycling ? I have been keeping anemones for 15+ years, and would never attempt to put one in a tank that had only been set up for 2 weeks -- it is just too soon, and way too many changes are still going on, and will continue to happen for a couple of months, at least.

IMO, slow down, don't worry about getting an anemone until the larger tank has been set up and running for 6 months, and at that point I would only suggest an E. Quadricolor -- assuming your parameters/lights would allow it. Right now, worry about your current livestock and getting thing under control.
 
Not to be too blunt, but was he watching when you put the first anemone in a tank that had only been set up for 2 weeks, and most likely hasn't finished cycling ? I have been keeping anemones for 15+ years, and would never attempt to put one in a tank that had only been set up for 2 weeks -- it is just too soon, and way too many changes are still going on, and will continue to happen for a couple of months, at least.

IMO, slow down, don't worry about getting an anemone until the larger tank has been set up and running for 6 months, and at that point I would only suggest an E. Quadricolor -- assuming your parameters/lights would allow it. Right now, worry about your current livestock and getting thing under control.
Yes, he was watching, and was about to bring it back to the LFS. He tested the water before he did and the Ammonia and Nitrates were 0. But thanks for the advice. It might be worthwhile to wait?
 
Very worthwhile to wait. Besides, a 20 is way too small for a Mag, and IMO, too small for any hosting anemone.

There is more to keeping an anemone then just Ammonia and nitrates -- what was your salinity, temp, and pH? How did you measure the salinity? What lights did/do you have?
 
Very worthwhile to wait. Besides, a 20 is way too small for a Mag, and IMO, too small for any hosting anemone.

There is more to keeping an anemone then just Ammonia and nitrates -- what was your salinity, temp, and pH? How did you measure the salinity? What lights did/do you have?

My Salinity is 1.023 ppm and I keep my temperature around 89.5, I have CoralLife 24 inch 4 bulb T5's with 10,000K and Actinics. I use a Hydrometer to measure salinity, I push the swing arm down with a pen to get rid of the bubbles around ten times.
 
My Salinity is 1.023 ppm and I keep my temperature around 89.5, I have CoralLife 24 inch 4 bulb T5's with 10,000K and Actinics. I use a Hydrometer to measure salinity, I push the swing arm down with a pen to get rid of the bubbles around ten times.

PPM, is not a unit of measure for specific gravity -- it is a ratio, but is for salinity. Hope that is just a common mistake and not what the salinity truly is. Anyways, assuming you meant specific gravity, it should be a bit higher, 1.026. I would try getting (( or at least borrowing )) a refrac -- a calibrated one -- and double check your levels.

Your temp is way too high -- surprised that your fish haven't had issues. Should be b/t 76-84.
 
PPM, is not a unit of measure for specific gravity -- it is a ratio, but is for salinity. Hope that is just a common mistake and not what the salinity truly is. Anyways, assuming you meant specific gravity, it should be a bit higher, 1.026. I would try getting (( or at least borrowing )) a refrac -- a calibrated one -- and double check your levels.

Your temp is way too high -- surprised that your fish haven't had issues. Should be b/t 76-84.

Oops *Facepalm* I meant 79.5. I'll get a Refractometer when I get the supplies for my fish tomorrow. And thanks for explaining the salinity. I'll slowly add some saltwater into my freshwater topoffs to raise it.
 
If you are bound and determined to get an anemone please get the BTA. Magnifica are difficult anemones to keep even for people with a fair amount of experience in this hobby. Finding a cloned BTA is a better idea instead of adding to the demand for Magnifica that are taken from the wild to usually perish within a few months. I promise you that a BTA will be much eaiser to keep. Maxi-mini anemones would be another good choice IMO.
 
If you are bound and determined to get an anemone please get the BTA. Magnifica are difficult anemones to keep even for people with a fair amount of experience in this hobby. Finding a cloned BTA is a better idea instead of adding to the demand for Magnifica that are taken from the wild to usually perish within a few months. I promise you that a BTA will be much eaiser to keep. Maxi-mini anemones would be another good choice IMO.

Dont worry, when I get a bigger tank, I'll stick with RBTA's. I think its safe for me to not get a Magnifica until I've had a fair amount of experience with anemones and SWF
 
Back
Top