What kind of anenome should I go with???

Hey everyone I need some help on what kind of anenome I should get. I have two false perculas and dont know what kind of anenome they will host. I have heard that they will only host to carpet anenomes, but I have also heard they are really hard to keep. Thanks for the help.

 

You think Carpet anemones are hard, another compatible one is a Ritteri anemone. I had beginner's luck with one of those years ago, but my 2nd one didn't last. Other than that is the Saddle anemone. I don't have experience with them, but I think they are slightly easier to keep.

Many go with BTAs - bubble tip anemones - which are much hardier anemones although not your clown's first choice. Some have had success getting them to adapt though.

How mature is your tank? Anemones are a different ballgame and I have a hard time actually recommending them because of their high mortality rate in this business.

 

Well, I dont know about the hard to keep part cause all I do is feed my carpet some squid or clam every other day and once in a while blow off any debris on him with a power head. (it loves this)

However, special consideration should be given when you consider a carpet. They will eat anything including any fish in your tank. Yes clowns too! I would suggest some further reading if you going to go with a carpet. Get a carpet and he will be master of your tank. LOL So subtle yet so aggressive.

I love mine. Would trade everything in the tank for it. They are a special creature as far as Im concerned. When stretched out it somewhere in the 18-20" category. Need a bigger tank soon. Good luck!

 

There is no guarantee that the anemone you buy will adapt to your clowns or vis versa. I started out with a LTA, which refused to be a host and moved all over the place. I then got a BTA and it hosted a tomato clown with great success. However, my LTA began dying in the tank while I was hopeful that it wasn't and left it in there. They release toxins in the water and literally wiped out my whole tank. During this, my clown left my BTA and I believe that the LTA and BTA were having toxin wars. Just a note, once this happens you can not just empty out the dead. Those toxins are now in the sand and they stay in the sand for quite some time. I did multiple water changes and sand cleanings and for months every time I tried to put something alive in there it died. I thought I was going to have to rebuy everything in my tank. I just kept doing water changes and sand cleanings and slowly started repopulating. My husband said NO more anemones. We went from a FOWLR tank to a reef tank. We now have about 6 fish and have started putting in several corals. I did talk him into another anemone. I purchased a green carpet anemone when it was about the size of a salad plate. I have had it for about a year and it is almost 18-inches across when fully extended. He is beautiful. I found out the best way to buy clowns in hopes of them taking up home in an anemone is to buy ones from the LFS that are already living with an anemone. I bought a couple false perculas that were just in a tank at the LFS brought them home and they had nothing to do with my anemone and died. Also, don't get aqua-cultured clowns if you expect them to host an anemone because most have these have never seen one. Anyway, I purchased a mated pair of nemos, lol, that were hosting an anemone at the LFS. My carpet killed them. I thought maybe he wanted to be left alone but I wanted him to have clowns, so I bought 2 baby saddle clowns, they have since become a mated pair and live happy in my carpet. I need to update my photos so will try to post one when he is fully extended. They say carpets are hard to keep. Mine requires no maintenance. The clowns feed him, but I read somewhere if you feed them everyday, they can split off into a separate anemone. I don't know about this but I feed him shrimp or whole silver sides about every day or so. He is HUGE!!!! This has been my experience. I would say the best way to avoid anemone deaths and tank wipeouts is to touch the anemone often to make sure that he is very sticky. If so, he is in good health. Mine will almost not let go when you touch him, he stings my husband, and his hand goes numb. I have never gotten stung. They are venomous so handle with care. I don't know if I helped you or not but I know personal experiences have helped me a lot.

Good luck! That is my anemone in my signature several months ago.

 

Hey Jimw369, we must have been responding to this thread at the same time. Is that your anmone in the picture? It is gorgeous! I know what you mean about having to get a bigger tank soon. I am in the same boat with my anemone.

 

I'm assuming that you've adequate lighting for an anemone? If you do, you can keep just about any kind but as has been mentioned, carpets are fish eaters so don't expect to keep more than those two false perculas in the tank with the anemone. I would go with a bubble tip anemone as they're less aggressive than carpet and riterri anemones.

 

This is what my carpet looks like now.

 

BeachBoy..what kind of lights do you have?

 

I have power compacts now and am getting ready to install T-5s. The tank has been up and running for about a year. Thank you everyone for your help and input so far, you all are great.

 

The power compacts = no anemone, except for some flower anemone's. I have one with my compacts and it goes where it likes and is very happy...T-5's, now that's different. Geek would know that one.