I need advice: Sebae anemone and Sebae Clownfish

I was offered a medium sized Sebae clown and a large Sebae anemone for $50. The clown has been hosted by the anemone for at least a week now at the LFS (I said at least 1 week because last Thursday was the first time I had been to the LFS in quite some time, so it very likely could have been hosted for a much longer time period). I wanted to add a clown fish to my tank (was looking at a tank raised Perc. until he offered me this duo), but I have some reservations about adding these two items to my tank. I would like your honest input, 3reef.

Specs:

20 gallon tank
30 lbs live rock
20 lbs sand
1 gallon HOB refugium
reef Breeders RGB LED unit
19 months wet (7 months with lights on)


Livestock:

0 fish
1 Pepperment Shrimp
1 Favia
1 colony Zoas
1 Bubble Coral
1 Acro.
1 Monti. cap
1 colony star polyps
1 colony GSP
1 colony Trumpet Coral
4 mushrooms

At last check: magnesium 1400, Calc 415, Alk. 3.2, nitrites 0, nitrates 0, pH 8.2.

I don't want to put any fish or inverts into my tank that will be subject to stressful conditions and I have a feeling that my tank may be slightly on the smaller size for these two individuals, which may cause them to become stressed. I do not have any significant experience with anemones (and I know they can be difficult to care for), but what is the care level for a Sebae relative to other anemones?

Thanks!

 

My honest input would be not to do it for these reasons only, the size of the tank, the size of the anemone.

That Anemone will limit your available space greatly. If you do not mind that, and would like an Anemone dominated tank and the Sebae is a healthy specimen with good coloration, that is a different story. Boils down to your long term goal for the tank.

Twenty gallons with 30 lbs of LR and your current corals does not sound like it leaves a lot of room.

Sounds like a good deal and I would be very tempted.

 

The anemone is about the size of a baseball that's been cut in half, FWIW. I have a 55 gallon tank sitting on the floor next to the 20 gallon, with a canopy/stand partly completed. However, that tank may not be up and running until the beginning of the year, or there soon after and the 20 gallon tank will be used as the sump for that setup, so that could pose another issue. You're right though, space is limited. I really wasn't planning on putting anymore than 1 fish in this tank. If I decide againt this duo, I would still possibly by the fish alone and buy an anemone down the road. Would there be any issues with the fish only, in my 20 gallon setup?

 

No not that I see.

One lone Clown should be fine, once it becomes established you will not be able to stick your hand in the tank though, just a thought. My lone female Clown has to be removed for me to put my hand in the tank, she draws blood. After almost 4 years I am thinking of getting rid of her for this reason. :-(

 

I'd prob stick with th clown for now, not sure thats a great enough deal for the trouble it may cause. Ya have a decent amount of coral in a small tank and if that thing starts walking around, it could be adios for alot of them. IMO, I'd wait till the 55 is running

 

She's a little grump! Would the tank bred Sebae or Perc be more hardy?

 

Thanks! That's where I'm leaning to right now.

 

Any tank breed Clown seem pretty darn hardy to me. It's the wild caught that have not been QT that I worry about.