Rose VS Blue Carpet

[TheBadGuy]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for some experienced opinions here on an upcoming decision. I finally have my water perfect, my lighting right and am ready for an anemone.

I have it narrowed down between two I really like. Those two are a Blue Carpet anemone and a Red Rose (bubble tip).

Which of the two would you choose and why? Anything I need to know about either selection?

The Blue Carpets seem to be easier to find, but I have found a place to get the Rose now as well so whichever I decide on, I plan to get within the next week or so

Thanks in advance

 

[dantodd]

What species of blue carpet?

 

[TheBadGuy]

Stichodactyla haddoni

 

[jdieck]

I would rather go for the bubble tip, carpets seem to grow too large and will take a lot of space in a mixed tank. Besides Rose seems to be less delicate than the carpet

 

[dantodd]

BTA and haddoni are similarly difficult to keep in captivity so there is little difference in your choice as far as husbandry goes.

If you have other fish, particularly benthic fish, the carpet may make a snack out of them. This may be a deal breaker for you, I don't know.

Percula and ocellaris seem particularly reticent to host BTA. I don't know much about their interest in hosting haddoni so others will have to chime in there.

Finally, if you don't yet have clowns in your tank but you are interested in keeping a pair then think about choosing a natural host for either anemone you choose. The anemone FAQ posted in a sticky at the top of this forum will help there.
Aside from those issues I would suggest that you simply pick the anemone that you like the looks of best.

 

[OrionN]

Picking a S. haddoni in a community reef tank and you will lose some fish to him. Sometime even clownfish that are not using this carpet as a natural host. This may sway you from choosing this species.

 

[TheBadGuy]

Picking a S. haddoni in a community reef tank and you will lose some fish to him

OK, thats enough to make up my mind. I have only found one source for the Rose Anemones. (Marinedepotlive.com)

Can anyone point me to a secondary source or another direction for comparision shopping purposes?

 

[dantodd]

BTA, including roses, split quite often and regularly in captivity. Your best source will be local reefers. I'd post to the boards for local clubs looking for one. It will be in as good or better shape and will almost certainly be cheaper not even taking shipping into account.

 

[Nikon_Guy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8173423#post8173423 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dantodd
BTA, including roses, split quite often and regularly in captivity. Your best source will be local reefers. I'd post to the boards for local clubs looking for one. It will be in as good or better shape and will almost certainly be cheaper not even taking shipping into account.

I concur!

As far as clowns being reticent to host in a Rbta, I guess it depends on the fish. Mine took oh, about 15 seconds to host in this one when it went into the tank. Had to fight to keep them away while it planted its foot.

 

[vthondaboi]

IME carpets have been harder to keep then BTAs.

I keep 6 RBTAs and 1 Blue Carpet. I've killed a few other carpets and no BTAs yet.

A BTA lived in my lightless sump for over a month before. Another time one was half over the overflow and it split in two after I saved it.

 

[rkelman]

"Picking a S. haddoni in a community reef tank and you will lose some fish to him. "

Not necessarily. Some do some don't.

 

[racrumrine]

Since you have never kept an anemone and are bound to make mistakes, you would be much better off with an easy to keep, captive raised, RBTA that has already adapted to living in a tank. Take the time to find a clone that has split in another reefers tank. If a local reefer doesn't have one, you can look on the for sale threads.

The carpet was most likely recently pulled out of the ocean and they don't split by themselves (like RTBA's do). If it dies on you, it would be a real tragedy to take a creature out of the ocean and kill it due to lack of experience.

After you have mastered taking care of an RBTA, you can consider having a carpet.

About a year ago, I traded a clone of my RBTA for a green carpet. The reefer who bought the carpet was smart enought to realize that he couldn't properly take care of it and he decided to switch to an easier to keep one.

Best of luck,

Roy