What kind of anemone are perc clowns MOST likely to host ?

[velvetelvis]

I agree that a 12 g tank is much too small for any clown fish hosting anemone. I am sure somebody out there will said that they have done it in a 10 g tank but I would be careful listen to that person's advise. I would also really be careful about the advices of exchange an animal for a smaller one when it out grown the tank.

This is very good advice, and it comes from someone who has a lot of successful experience keeping anemones.

 

[SoFLreef]

I agree that a 12 g tank is much too small for any clown fish hosting anemone. I am sure somebody out there will said that they have done it in a 10 g tank but I would be careful listen to that person's advise. I would also really be careful about the advices of exchange an animal for a smaller one when it out grown the tank.

ok ill leave the nems alone in a 12 gal lol

 

[bohannbj]

I've kept carpets in a 10 gallon with a clown and had perfect success. As far as waffles goes, I think your batter is burned. If you have a good LFS they will work with you on trades and let you bring back items that outgrow their surroundings. It is the best case scenario; big tank owners get a big anemone and little tank owners get to keep fun things. I guess some people can't understand the nano thing. The idea that everyone has to have a huge tank with tons of money in order to keep anything nice is ridiculous. Most animals don't like open spaces. Humans like space, because we don't fear being eaten. Most things in the ocean are direct food for a bigger organism and find comfort in a small, safe place. It's like living in a war torn area and then someone offers you a luxury apartment with a catering service and maybe a mate. Never mind the fact that an anemone is an organism without a brain. As for difficulty in water parameters, that's is entirely what you make of it. If he wants to do water changes, upgrade filtration and/or spend more time than others then I say go for it. Sorry for the rant, but I am tired of hearing all the "don'ts and cannot's." Difficult doesn't mean impossible. I started with a 20 and have gone from 12's to my current 5 tank 215 gallon system. Bigger tanks don't equal better, just less work (unless you start off cheap) and more money.

 

[SkullV]

I've kept carpets in a 10 gallon with a clown and had perfect success. As far as waffles goes, I think your batter is burned. If you have a good LFS they will work with you on trades and let you bring back items that outgrow their surroundings. It is the best case scenario; big tank owners get a big anemone and little tank owners get to keep fun things. I guess some people can't understand the nano thing. The idea that everyone has to have a huge tank with tons of money in order to keep anything nice is ridiculous. Most animals don't like open spaces. Humans like space, because we don't fear being eaten. Most things in the ocean are direct food for a bigger organism and find comfort in a small, safe place. It's like living in a war torn area and then someone offers you a luxury apartment with a catering service and maybe a mate. Never mind the fact that an anemone is an organism without a brain. As for difficulty in water parameters, that's is entirely what you make of it. If he wants to do water changes, upgrade filtration and/or spend more time than others then I say go for it. Sorry for the rant, but I am tired of hearing all the "don'ts and cannot's." Difficult doesn't mean impossible. I started with a 20 and have gone from 12's to my current 5 tank 215 gallon system. Bigger tanks don't equal better, just less work (unless you start off cheap) and more money.

You should stop giving advice. It has nothing to do with the LFS being willing to do trades. The issue is that carpets do not move well, taking them out of their tank, moving them, and acclimating them to a new tank is extremely stressful to the animal and often kills them. ESPECIALLY in a LFS environment when the animal may not get the proper re-acclimation into their system.

 

[bohannbj]

Sounds like you don't have a good LFS. The last LFS I did business with in Florida was perfect. He made trades and kept everything alive no problem. Granted he was the best I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with, but Florida (where the creator of the thread is from) has some of the best LFS in the country. And its nice that you think I should stop giving advice, which has worked fine for me in the past, since you offer nothing more than complaints.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

keeping this constructive

keeping this constructive

I must agree that suggesting a small carpet anemone for a 12 gallon cube is not good advice.
Haddon's carpet anemone is as likely to eat a percula as it is to host it.
Stichodactyla gigantea is probably the most difficult great "host" anemone one can attempt to maintain- although it is a natural occurring symbiont of percula clowns.
Merten's carpet is rarely seen in the trade.

My suggestion for this cube is a Sarcophyton (coral).
Easy to keep and percs often adopt them.

 

[SkullV]

Sounds like you don't have a good LFS. The last LFS I did business with in Florida was perfect. He made trades and kept everything alive no problem. Granted he was the best I have ever had the pleasure of dealing with, but Florida (where the creator of the thread is from) has some of the best LFS in the country. And its nice that you think I should stop giving advice, which has worked fine for me in the past, since you offer nothing more than complaints.

Actually I gave advice that a hosting anemone would not fit long term in the tank that he has. Which is the correct advice in this instance. Purchasing an animal to return at a later date is not only bad advice but cruel to the animal. I bet you are one of the people that purchases puppies because they are cute and then brings them to the humane society later just to turn around and purchase another puppy.

 

[WaffleWalffle22]

You can't keep a carpet anemone in a tiny tank. You just don't do that. Would you put two camels in a tiny car like this person did? Two Camels in a Tiny Car

The camels seemed very upset in that video and the carpet anemone would too if it were in a small tank.

 

[Sebastian J.]

I'm not sure about availability on the other side of the ocean, but for that tank size a group of Cribinopsis crassa might be another suitable option. I've also read of clownfish accepting Majano colonies as hosts, but they aren't really as desireable.

As for the fish accepting a host anemone, some friends of mine swear by releasing the fish in the immediate vincinity of the target anemone after acclimatization.

 

[Blitzburggirl]

I've been keeping tanks, and nems, for a decent amount of time. I have a large reef, and a 12 gallon cube. In my 12 gallon cube, I've kept a LTA and her two picassos, for 3 months, prior to moving them into the larger tank. Everyone was happy, and given the small volume, I was able to perform quick easy waterchanges without worry. I've also kept RBTA's (with 2 picassos, not hosting... ggrrrr.) and GBTA's (with 2 picassos hosting) in my 12. Hahahahahaha before someone goes over the top with this, NO it was not all at the same time!!! LMAO. I've been doing this thing for a while

I would NEVER try a carpet in there... for alot of reasons.
1. They aren't aquacultured. And small tanks can go downhill quick if you don't stay on top of it. I can swallow losing a bta clone, but a carpet that's a shame!!! The big thing here is that they are literally dirty bags of water. Just don't do it. Carpets, at this point, are not aquacultured, so we are pulling them out of the ocean. It's not worth the risk.

2. They are HUGE!!! Even if you get a small one.. it's bigger than you think LMAO. The 7" gig that I ordered from the LFS (trusted, GREAT LFS) turned out to be 13" when happy.

3. The acclimation process is much more difficult for carpets than for LTA's or BTA's. It needs the larger water volume to dilute any wastes expelled. I run a EuroReef skimmer on my 12. It still had trouble keeping up when I target fed the LTA and the larger GBTA (again, not in the tank at the same time!!! LOL) My gig did not go through the expelling and deflating process but it is VERY common. I got lucky. We get sometimes get lucky in this hobby and tend to think it's talent.

4. Given the flow necessary for a gig, I would think the powerhead options in a 12 to get that flow would be dangerous... Big nem, powerhead.... = disaster!!! I have a mp 10 in my 12, smaller footprint, and still, I wouldn't chance a carpet in there. Or the LTA for that matter. But a bta or lta doesn't need as much flow.

So, now, what am I saying? It doesn't make sense. My LTA was happy in the cube for a while, but I had a ready home, in the larger reef. It grew quickly. And it's much happier in the 180. But it CAN be done. Even though it's not supposed to be a natural host for percs, mine (tank bred) are in it like glue. Now they all three live in the 180. On the other hand, I've had a gig in the 180 for almost a month, and I think it's doing well. I'm hoping the picassos jump ship from the LTA and move into the gig (natural host.)

If it was me, and I didn't have a larger tank, only the 12, I'd do a rbta or gbta with itty bitty baby clowns. Another pair of clowns I had, loved to host frogspawn

I don't see anything wrong with passing along an animal, if that's your kind of thing. Mine are kind of like family pets though. I hate my mag fox, but he's part of the family. He's not going anywhere. But if you can find it another home, and you are doing your best to make sure it goes to a good home.. why not? If my clowns go to the gig, I already have another reefer lined up for the LTA.

 

[jeff@zina.com]

Maxi-Mini carpets will do fine in a 12 gallon for quite a while, though it can be a toss-up whether clowns will take to them. Condylactis do fine as well, though not a natural host for anything (Carribean, no clowns) and they have been known to eat a clown or two.

BTAs do okay in small tanks as well and there are several good LFS in the Fort Lauderdale area that will take trades. FWIW, my clowns prefer a rock full of hairy mushrooms to any anemone.

Jeff

 

[Blitzburggirl]

Maxi-Mini carpets will do fine in a 12 gallon for quite a while, though it can be a toss-up whether clowns will take to them. Condylactis do fine as well, though not a natural host for anything (Carribean, no clowns) and they have been known to eat a clown or two.

BTAs do okay in small tanks as well and there are several good LFS in the Fort Lauderdale area that will take trades. FWIW, my clowns prefer a rock full of hairy mushrooms to any anemone.

Jeff

Sorry man, but clowns don't host Maxi-mini's.

+1 though on the hairy shrooms

 

[Conrad25]

Clowns will host just about anything in your tank you have. So the possibilities are endless. If you are looking for something kind of like a anemone where clowns will dive in, than go for a nice Hammer,Torch or Frogspawn coral. From $10.00 to $50.00 you can have one and the $50.00 ones usually are as big as smaller RBTA's. I would never put your clowns with a anemone in such a small tank. That size tank doesn't have room for that much of a bioload. Clowns will host anything. I have had clowns host a powerhead in my tank before or mushrooms,torches,hammers etc. They are just as likely to pick any coral in the tank vrs a anemone. I would not buy a RBTA as people have said due to the fact of the bioload let alone the small volume of water.

As I have said to many people previously. "Just cause I have done it or can do it, doesn't mean it will work out for anyone" Its bad advice to tell the OP to put a anemone in the tank of any species especially in a 12G tank

Just my .02............

Conrad

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I agree with Blitzburggirl- I've never heard of a mini (or maxi mini) carpet anemone Stichodactyla tapetum host ANY clownfish.

I have pictures somewhere of percula hosting in Majano and "Strawberry" anemones. (Similar small species that could easily work in a 12 cube.)

I like the hairy green mushroom suggestion a lot.

 

[OrionN]

Maxi mini carpet will eat clowns. I have never even seen a picture of any fish in a Maxi mini carpet other than dead fish that ended up as food. These guy are extreem fish eater (from experience of 2 years) and 6 Maximini.

 

[velvetelvis]

I have pictures somewhere of percula hosting in Majano and "Strawberry" anemones. (Similar small species that could easily work in a 12 cube.)

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't strawberry anemones a cold-water species? The only ones I've ever seen or heard of are from places like the Pacific Northwest.

I never knew that about the majanos...at least somebody's found a use for the little SOBs! :lol:

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't strawberry anemones a cold-water species?

those are Corynactis spp. (and perhaps others)

I dislike common names. The only reason I used the term "strawberrry anemone" is because (to date) I don't know if the anemone I'm referring to has been properly identified.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

 

[velvetelvis]

those are Corynactis spp. (and perhaps others)

I dislike common names. The only reason I used the term "strawberrry anemone" is because (to date) I don't know if the anemone I'm referring to has been properly identified.

Ah, thanks...those are the ones I was thinking of. I hate common names too.

My LFS (which to be fair has really good, healthy livestock, but is weak on scientific names at times) had a Pseudocorynactis in its own display for a while. I'd never seen one before. The first time I asked what it was, they told me it was a "ball anemone". Being the research nerd that I am, and liking to know what stuff actually is, I went home and looked it up. Next time I went in, I mentioned that I'd looked up the so-called ball anemone (in a book I got from them, mind), and that it looked like the Pseudocorynactis, and that it was actually a polyp, not an anemone. I even offered to show them the entry in the book. In response, I got a nonplussed look and, "It's a ball anemone!"

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

large Pseudocorynactis spp. would likely eat a clownfish.

I never had a clownfish try a smaller species.