Sand dwelling anemone as host for percula

vhuang168

vhuang168

New member
I'm leaning towards a sand dwelling anemone as a host for my percula.

I was going to get a magnifica but I want an sps dominant tank and the mag will just get too big for the 190.

So to confirm, is an H. crispa a natural host for A. percula?

Are there any others I should look at?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Yes -- H. crispa is a natural host of A. percula. It's probably your best bet because they don't get very big compared to mags and carpets.

Keep in mind that there are some magnifica that don't get very big, especially if they're not fed. I have one that's only about 6" and it hasn't grown at all. As long as you keep it isolated it won't damage your SPS.
 
You should look for a Malu before considering a Crispa. They stay small and your clowns will likely love it as much as Crispa. I saw a few of them at Vivid Aquariums this past Saturday and the store will ship if you can't find any locally.
 
Crispa reside on the rock, not sand. Malu stays on the sand and only get to about 8 inches or so max
 
As I understand it, H. malu is not a natural host for A. percula. But I will keep that in mind.

Guess I should have kept that malu I sold u Orion!

I'll head over to AC and see what they have. I know Neptune got a few mags in a few weeks ago, some were prettty small.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I used to lean towards sand dwellars and agree Malu are nice for both color and size, and even though they are not natural to percs they still will most likely take to it, I know all of mine did pretty quickly.
However being mags are natural matches, and they tend to stay put if given good light and moderate flow, just give them a high up perch, that would be my first choice.
 
Yeah, my large purple (approaching 8+" when stretched out) H. malu has seen pink skunks, Allard's, Ocellaris, and now Clark's clowns in it, and never really moves...
 
D-Nak said:
Yes -- H. crispa is a natural host of A. percula. It's probably your best bet because they don't get very big compared to mags and carpets.

Keep in mind that there are some magnifica that don't get very big, especially if they're not fed. I have one that's only about 6" and it hasn't grown at all. As long as you keep it isolated it won't damage your SPS.
Click to expand...
Has that ever been confirmed in the wild? I've never seen a underwater picture of percula in a crispa.

As for the size - if they are doing well in your tank crispas will easily reach a foot or more in diameter - it's a rather big anemone.

Lastly, it seems that percula lose a lot of their black when hosted by a crispa (same as with magnifica) - at least that's my experience.

I think the best bet would be a gigantea. A magnifica should be OK to if it is placed on top of an isolated rock pile.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
ThRoewer said:
Has that ever been confirmed in the wild? I've never seen a underwater picture of percula in a crispa.

As for the size - if they are doing well in your tank crispas will easily reach a foot or more in diameter - it's a rather big anemone.

Lastly, it seems that percula lose a lot of their black when hosted by a crispa (same as with magnifica) - at least that's my experience.

I think the best bet would be a gigantea. A magnifica should be OK to if it is placed on top of an isolated rock pile.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

In comparison to gigantea and magnifica, crispa supposedly have a smaller maximum size. More on that later...

CoralsAddiction said:
Same here. Fautin and Allen's book lists Crispa as a natural anemone host for Percula. I haven't seen a pic or video of it in the wild though.
Click to expand...

I was pulling the information from their book. But, I just did more fact checking and it says that crispa "may exceed 500mm diameter." That's almost 20 inches! So, now I don't know which it is -- a maximum size of 12" or is it 20"? I've read that they max out at 12". It also states that H. crispa "live burrowed into sediment" but does say that the pedal disk can be attached to branching coral.

Looks like it's time for Fautin and Allen to update their book! They could definitely use some new photos -- all of the cover photos show bleached nems!
 
Geez, I missed the part where the OP has a 190g aquarium!

H. magnifica would be my first choice, and could be confined to an isolated rock "tower" as previously noted. A H. malu might "get lost" in a tank that large, and H. crispa can get quite big, although is that a problem in a larger aquarium? Also, H. crispa is not always confined to the substate - mine was nestled in the rocks even with plenty of open substrate/ rock interface available, and they can often be found within rockwork in the wild.
 
I would not call a crispa small by any means, 2 foot diameter is common.
This was my last one in my 180g, solid 2 feet.

 
davocean said:
I would not call a crispa small by any means, 2 foot diameter is common.
This was my last one in my 180g, solid 2 feet.

Click to expand...

WOW. That's a monster.

Vincent -- I didn't realize crispas get that big. Just get yourself a gigantea and be done!
 
Thats the crispa I had for 5.5 years w/ a doreensis at the other end of tank, also 5.5 years.
I have pics of the base on both as well for ID.
The doreensis typically max's out at about 18" and that's about what mine max'd at, but the crispa was indeed a monster.
That pic was under lame light, so color is eh, it got much nicer when I put better light on and took on a nice light purple.
That crispa came from petco way back when, like 3" and totally bleached when I got it, had no idea back then how big it would get, but that anemone bookended 180g was my prize tank for a good while
 
I would agree with OrionN, that is a Doreensis. Tentacles are too far apart from each other and lines can be seen on the main body.
 
Mad Marine said:
I would agree with OrionN, that is a Doreensis. Tentacles are too far apart from each other and lines can be seen on the main body.
Click to expand...

Well, I've been keeping anemone's for about 31 years now so I think I have a pretty good idea what I have in my own tank by now!

Tentacles are not the best indicator, you gotta look at the base, this is crispa.



This is the doreensis


Doreensis on left, crispa on right, this is the pair I had 5 and a half years

 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Ritteri Swollen Mouth
Replies
8
Views
459
Bakeman
B
J
Ideas for new stock for a 200L reef tank
Replies
6
Views
196
Uncle99
Uncle99
xLennie
Which bubble tip anemone should I get?
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
xLennie
xLennie
vlangel
75g Lurking danger and Leafy Seadragons
7 8 9
Replies
172
Views
7K
Billfishbrsin
B
A
Stocking Recommendations for established 92 gal
Replies
8
Views
1K
Aquado
A
Back
Top