Tankmates for a clown/anemone display

[pncstod]

I have a 30 cube that will be a display tank for a breeding pair of clownfish and a host. I am thinking that corals will be out because I want the main attraction to be a large anemone and I don't really want any other fish, but I am looking for colorful, interesting additions. I thought about an orange linkia....but stars risk a good chance of being eaten, right? I could add some macros, but what else? How about fire/blood shrimp....will they likely be a $25 meal for a nem? Anyother ideas?

 

[grink dude]

blood shrimp are expensive, and they are mainly nocturnal shrimp, so you won't really see it. Maybe get a cleaner shrimp, hilarious to watch, great personality

 

[maww]

If you are going for a BTA, I would avoid cleaner shrimp of any type. They are prone to eating polyps, including anemones. I don't think a starfish would be an issue with anemones. But I think a 30 cube would be plenty full with just a pair of clowns and their anemone.

 

[traveller7]

My favorite female clown has decided cleaner shrimp are tasty, most of my clowns don't care but she will not let one last the first night.

No guarantee's in this hobby

 

[pncstod]

If you are going for a BTA

I'm on the fence....either a BTA/true perc or haddoni/clarki display. I'm thinking that I'm pushing the tank size on the clarki combo though.

Interesting...I didn't know that about cleaner shrimp and eating polyps. I've always liked them but never had one.

wow traveller7, your female must be on the large size



I guess the only safe thing will be some macros and your right, it will look pretty full. I just don't like the sterile look. If anyone happens to think of anything let me know.

 

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8921734#post8921734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pncstod
wow traveller7, your female must be on the large size

I always thought she was a "large" chrysogaster, but then I saw two of Marina's female's.....my old girl is a Medium chrysogaster :>(

IME: Full size clarkii complex pair would be a bit cramped in a 30gal.

 

[adtravels]

I agree about the clarks. in the wild you will always see clarks several feet away from their anemone free swimming and this becomes apparent in a tank as thay will tend to use all of the tank as a territory even if they have an anemone. so they need a larger tank

However I think that tomatos, melanopus or even eppiphiuum are quite ok in a smaller species tank and will stay very close to their nem as they do in the wild. I would even go so far as saying it is possible with maroons due to their behaviour

I have a standard 29 with liverock bommie, a pair of eppiphium, a bta, a coralbanded shrimp and a diadema pseudochromis.

all get along well and they are thriving I change 20% of the water weekly and add cbalance I have 110 watts of pc lighting

 

[Random Aquarist]

I have a question similar to pncstod, except I will definately have a BTA and a maroon pair. I might have a couple of corals too. As my signature says, I will have an 86g Fiji biotope. What tankmates would you recommend for this tank?

 

[keefsama2003]

Below are 2 pictures of the tank i just setup for my clowns only other life i may have in there are some snails definately and maybe a pair of harliquin shrimp but not too sure.

Im hoping now that they are out of my 300gal tank they will get to business as my female keeps chasing my angels when they get too close and seems to be more of a distraction more than anything but im not sure if im going to put my anemone in this tank yet i have it still in the 300 with a pair of true percs i have.

I like ocellaris and percs because they dont move far from their home territory but i would say clarks wouldnt do good in a 30 i had a pair in a 90gal when i first started and the whole 90gal tank was theirs they would harass everything in the tank.

 

[bwest]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8929342#post8929342 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by keefsama2003
...im not sure if im going to put my anemone in this tank yet...

What about the yellow one that's in there?

 

[pncstod]

harliquin shrimp, hummm. Refresh my memory though...are those the ones that eat stars?

What size tank is that?

I've concluded that clarkii wouldn't be a wise choice . Can someone tell me briefly about saddle backs personalitys, and if you know someone breeding them with intentions to sell to other reefers?

Also keefsama2003, I see the tile in there. I was just thinking about that and I have a question (I'm not a premium member anymore so I can't search unless it's very early in AM). Will just any tile do?

 

[pncstod]

Also scott, I was checking out your gallery last night to see your chrysogaster. You have some nice things going on there.

Great tank Adtravels, thank you

 

[keefsama2003]

Im using regular ceramic floor tile that i had that was broken up i soaked it in vinegar/water solution for a few days then rinced with water.

the rough side of the tile is what the clowns seem to really like to lay on so i hope they take to it but i have the rock in there just in case and may add another piece but not too sure yet

and the harliquin shrimp eat stars yes i have some local starfish in my refugium that are reproducing at an alarming rate so i can just supply the fish with one of them as needed.

the shrimp eat the tubed feet so i dont think it matters what kind of star fish is in there.

 

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8932165#post8932165 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pncstod
Can someone tell me briefly about saddle backs personalitys, and if you know someone breeding them with intentions to sell to other reefers?

My pairs of saddles would not tolerate small spaces well, the females harass the males far too much after settling in. IME the Black Saddles are worse then the Brown Saddles in this regard. While I would skip A. polymnus for the 30gal project, if you had to go that route, ORA has Brown Saddles available on occasion.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8932240#post8932240 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pncstod
Also scott, I was checking out your gallery last night to see your chrysogaster. You have some nice things going on there.

Thanks Quite a mess in there eh