Two part question re: hosting and anemone species

[rachelcb80]

First question I have is in regards to the clownfish finding a host. I know a BTA isn't the perfect choice of hosts for A. Percula's but is it at all likely the fish will take to the anemone? I put the two in the tank together a week ago and so far the fish haven't given the BTA a moments thought. Does this relationship normally take awhile to come about or is it something that should happen soon?

Second question is in regards to having multiple species of anemones in a single tank. I haven't found much info on this but the little bit I've read said it isn't a good idea, that they will likely come in contact with each other at some point. Does anyone here have multiple species and if so, which ones and how big of a tank?

Rachel

 

[phender]

Hi Rachel,
Perculas can be a little fussy about their anemones. IME, wild caught perculas (and ocellaris) can take a while to recognize BTAs as something good to go in, especially if the BTA is small. It may take a couple months, but most of them figure it out sooner or later.

As far as multiple anemones, I have a 20 gal. tank that houses a large BTA and a small purple H. crispa(sebae) that almost touch. There is a haddoni carpet in a tank that shares a sump with the 20 gal tank. I have had all three anemones for over 3 years and all of them have grown.
I have a 60 gal tank that has a gigantea carpet and a H. crispa at opposite ends of the tank that are also doing very well. I know that it is said that anemones can release chemicals into the water that can harm other anemones. I have not experienced that, but I do run carbon in my tanks just in case. (I don't change it very often though )

Since you are just getting started, I wouldn't start going anemone crazy yet. Give yourself some time(a year?) to get a real feel for your BTA and what makes it happy and what doesn't, before you attempt more difficult species.

 

[OrionN]

I saw a H. crispa that I cannot pass on so I bought it. I don't do this as a norm but this one of a very fiew times that I did. I am setting up two new tank in the future and this is a very small H. crispa. I put the H. crispa in my 24 g tank with a small S. haddoni in it . They are not toughing. Both stay put where they are and doing very well. They will both have their own tank in about 6 more weeks.
I do change water very often. 6 gallon every weeks. I will continue to do this because I don't run any carbon, and add any calcium for my three clams and hard coral in the tank. In the past I have H. magnifica, S. haddoni and H. crispa in a 450 g tank without problem.