Rouge anemone? Clown killer?

[jpndave]

Has anyone ever heard of a RBTA eating healthy percula clowns? Mine devoured both of my picassos (OUCH!!!) over the past two weeks. The tank and anemone have been fed and both clowns were healthy, paired and hosing well. The clowns were 1 1/2 to 2 inches. The first one dissapeared a week to a week and a half ago. I was extremely busy so wasn't positive what happened to the fish. The 2nd was yesterday and the clown was healthy and hosting well. It suddenly came up missing and I found it inside the anemone, dead. What gives? Do I flush the anemone, is it not a bubbletip? HELP! I want to get another pair (and certainly a different anemone!)

Obviously these are "before" pictures.

 

[tgfrench]

I've never heard of a BTA eating a "healthy" perc. Also I certainly wouldn't advocate flushing it either. Trade it off if you must.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

Did you quarantine the piccassos before adding them to your display? If not, then how do you know if they were healthy to begin with? I also haven't heard of a rose bta eating a "healthy" clown.

 

[jpndave]

Both clowns were healthy and in the tank with the anemone for 4 1/2 months. No signs of any sickness or anything other than very healthy. Is there a chance this is another variety of anemone?

 

[jpndave]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12957816#post12957816 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wicked_NaCl_h2o
Did you quarantine the piccassos before adding them to your display? If not, then how do you know if they were healthy to begin with? I also haven't heard of a rose bta eating a "healthy" clown.

Yes, clowns were quarantined. They are NOT new additions as I mentioned above.

Thanks for the replies! I really would like to get to the bottom of this!

 

[elegance coral]

That is a bubble tip, and it didn't kill your fish. Something in the tank did, but not the anemone. I would keep the anemone, and look for other causes before getting any more fish.

 

[Slakker]

Agree, BTA probably not the culprit...but stranger things have happened.

 

[jpndave]

I'm certain the nem killed at least the second clown, I pulled the fish from inside the anemone. I assume that is what happened to the first but did not see it happen.

 

[fishybusiness]

Well I think some people forget that entamacea quadricolor(bubble tip) is not the natural host for percs. or occellaris clowns. I think it is somewhat similar to condys. eating clowns. Its just speculation on my part. I do know that maroons and a few other species are often found in bubble tips.