white sebae anemone and maroon clown

[Wattman]

I have a 5 gallon tank established almost 6 months now. Good coralline algae growth and 4 or 5 different types of coral growing successfully under some 3w LEDs. I do weekly water changes around 10-20%. Nitrates are around 5ppm.

I currently have a small gold bar maroon clown that's been in the tank for a month now. It was the smallest I could find at just under an inch. I know they grow the largest of all clown species and I have a 28 nano cube that's going to be started this next month.

My LFS just received a white sebae anemone with purple tips for $25. It looks healthy and is about 3 inches across. Liveaquaria states a tank of 30 gallons or more, but I'm wondering if it could be successfully kept in the small tank and transferred in the next 3-4 months. Also are they compatible with maroon clowns?

 

[Reefahholic]

I have a 5 gallon tank established almost 6 months now. Good coralline algae growth and 4 or 5 different types of coral growing successfully under some 3w LEDs. I do weekly water changes around 10-20%. Nitrates are around 5ppm.

I currently have a small gold bar maroon clown that's been in the tank for a month now. It was the smallest I could find at just under an inch. I know they grow the largest of all clown species and I have a 28 nano cube that's going to be started this next month.

My LFS just received a white sebae anemone with purple tips for $25. It looks healthy and is about 3 inches across. Liveaquaria states a tank of 30 gallons or more, but I'm wondering if it could be successfully kept in the small tank and transferred in the next 3-4 months. Also are they compatible with maroon clowns?

Not ideal, but if you're going to transfer in a couple of months, you shouldn't have a problem.

Yes, the clown is compatible.

Sebae is a host anemone.

 

[Wattman]

Thanks for the answer! So when I go and pick up the anemone tomorrow, what is the best way to acclimate it? Drip?

How do I transfer the specimen into the tank? Can I place it where I want and hope it stays? I'm guessing it will find a spot it likes? High/low flow/light. On top of live rock or near the sand? What do I feed it?

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Sebaes are sand dwelling anemones.

 

[davocean]

First there are two types of sebae, Malu and Crispa, crispa being most common and w/ blue tips as you describe most likely being a crispa, and those get 2' in diameter, a bit big for a 5g.
White is not a natural color, it is bleached.
No matter what, if it does regain health, it will be up against glass and pumps/intakes.
Your maroon will actually outgrow that tank very quickly.

 

[Reefahholic]

Thanks for the answer! So when I go and pick up the anemone tomorrow, what is the best way to acclimate it? Drip?

How do I transfer the specimen into the tank? Can I place it where I want and hope it stays? I'm guessing it will find a spot it likes? High/low flow/light. On top of live rock or near the sand? What do I feed it?

Drip acclimate for 45 minutes.

Place it on edge of reef and sandbed.

Medium flow with good lighting.

Feed it a frozen seafood mix from your local grocery store.

Just make sure you transfer the NEM when you get the other tank up and running. One thing I forgot to mention is that most Nems including Sebae's like an established aquarium. I would use a lot of sand, rock, water, etc. from your current system and let the tank stabilize for a week or more after putting the sand and rock in. Otherwise, you're gonna have problems.

 

[Wattman]

Thanks for all the tips. While it sounds exciting to get an anemone, I'm starting to have second thoughts. I'm really happy with my corals and do not want to move them because the NEM decides to move next to them.

I think I will be buying some frogspawn and see if my maroon will pair up with that until I have the bigger tank up and running and established.

 

[davocean]

I'd say that is a better plan.

 

[Reefahholic]

I'd say that is a better plan.

X2...

But not sure if it will host frogspawn.

 

[Wattman]

X2...

But not sure if it will host frogspawn.

I'm not sure it will host as well, but either way I get a new coral lol. My current maroon clown is really young and it loves the power head nozzle in my tank lol. Its even showed interest in my candy cane coral when it shows its tentacles for feeding. Weird little fishes haha

 

[Wattman]

So I ended up getting a head of frogspawn and a frag of torch coral. I'll post updates in the coming days whether either of them successfully host the clown or not. They ad a lot of color and movement to the tank though

 

[shred5]

Beware of it being white, Sebaes come in bleached allot... Cream colored but not white....

 

[Wattman]

The LFS had it labeled as white sebae anemone. Upon closer inspection it had little bits of tan running up and down the tentacles with purple tips. Not bleached but definitely looks like it could darken more with some TLC

 

[davocean]

Many LFS do not really know all that much about sea anemone's, and I see mislabeling all the time.
Maroons are one of the most eager to accept a host, I would suspect it to take to just about anything you throw in there, and frogspawn is an excellent alternative.