Should I, shouldn't I...

[Cheech]

many people have differing opinions on the matter...

fact is, I'd love to get an anemone for my tank, but I don't know if it's a good idea...


here's a picture of the tank, and the lighting is adequate. (2x 250 and 2x attinic t5s)...

parameters are all good, and only RODI water is used...


I have a pair of black ocelarus clowns that are hosted by a rock... lol..


My concern is that the tank is almost a cube, and therefore the anemone wouldn't have lots of places to move around. (Ideally it wouldn't have to).

Also, I have quite a bit of rock in there, and I'll be placing quite a few frags in the tank as well.


- Is it a good idea to go for one?

- if it is, what kind of anemone should I get, one that hopefully won't move around so much, and one that will (hopefully) host my clowns...


Any info is always appreciated..

Ideally I'd like to place the anemone where the plate coral is now...


http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2/carlo2478/tank/IMG_0006.jpg

[Almondsaz]

Cheech: I love your tank. If you add an anemone, I wouldn't add anything else until it finds its happy spot and stops moving. I have two in my 125 and the GBTA doesn't move except very little within its same small rock. My RBTA like most, has moved quite a bit.

[Amphiprion]

Any species can move around considerably if they don't like something. I do second the advice that Almondsaz has given, however.

[DoctaQ]

ive never seen an anemone in the sand before so youd prolly need a rock there if you want an anemone there, plus theres a chance your clowns wont host it, especially if theyre tank raised( from what i hear)

[Amphiprion]

There are several species that prefer sand, including M. doreensis, some H. crispa, C. adhaesivum, S. haddoni, and probably a few others I am forgetting. All of these species get prohibitively large (except C. adhaesivum) for all but dedicated tanks, though.

[Cheech]

Thank you very much for the info. I think I'll go for one and see how it goes..

I've read of people sticking pictures of anemones hosting clowns on the side of their tank, which seems to knock some sense into the clown fish, making them figure out that it's the thing to do.

It seems to have worked for some people. I'll give it a try with my clowns as well.

[Almondsaz]

Cheech: I hope you have some luck with putting the pic of the clowns and anem. My pair won't go to either anem and prefer to be with their fuzzy mushroom rock.

[Cheech]

Cheech: I hope you have some luck with putting the pic of the clowns and anem. My pair won't go to either anem and prefer to be with their fuzzy mushroom rock.


Have you tried the picture method? I know it sounds silly, but I;ve read that it worked for quite a few people. lol.

[Almondsaz]

I haven't tried it yet. If you want something that sound stupid...I have tried the "spotlight" method. You shine (via flashlight) onto the anem you want your clowns to take interest in and they are drawn to the highlighted anem. I got a good laugh out of it that I even tried it, but no success. They didn't even swim near the light. So I am up for trying anything.

[Cheech]

Go for it.... I know I've read that it can work. There are forums out there with pictures to prove it .. (I just can't find them)..

Find a good picture of the closest anemone/clown setup that resembles yours, (or photoshop your own pics with the clowns in the anemone), and tape it close to your anemone. you never know!

if it does work, please post pics.. :D

[Cerianthus]

Go for it.
I would move the plate and clams off the substrate until anemone is well adjusted.
Ensure the other inverts on the rock above the anemone from falling into anemone.

[DoctaQ]

that picture thing is hilarious, i would certianly like to try it one day

[Rudy]

Cheech - certain clowns are more likely to host certain anemones. There are several good resources on-line that list the more compatible pairings. I have a maroon for close to a year now and he will not go near any anemone, even the ones for which he is suppose to be very fond.

I ended up getting another marron clown who was aleady hosting in my LFS so when i added him to the DT he wnet right for the anemone. Good thing too. If he hadn't the bigger more establised maroon would have beat him up.

I used the same techinque with the pink skunk clown. The two adidtions ahve been very content in their respective hosts for several months now with no bullying by anyone.

[Cheech]

Thanks for the advice, Rudy...

So I went out and purchased a green bubbletip anemone. At this point, I'm not too concerned on whether or not it will host the clowns. Right now I'm concerned with where the stupid thing is placing itself.


These pictures show where I put it when I introduced it to the tank.. By that night, it managed to wedge sitelf deep inside the center rocks, with no chance of getting any light whatsoever.

After a few hours I managed to move some rocks around, and got him out of there. He's now on a different location.

Let's see where he turns up tonight.


Anyway here are some pics I took with my phone:

[Rudy]

Hi Cheech - I ahd a green BT anemone and it never settled in and ultiamtely died. It was one of our few casualties with our current DT. To the contrary, our Sebae as well as our Long Tentacled anemone settled in quickly and have only moved minimlally (a couple inches here or there) over the past several months.

On the bright side your new anemone looks great!

[Amphiprion]

Give it time. That individual looks mostly healthy from the pics you've shown. It is also relatively common for them to be light sensitive for a while. If it has hunkered down into a crevice, that is partially good news, however. Again, give it time and it should begin to peek out. When it does settle a bit, try feeding extra small bits of meaty foods, like silversides, mysids, etc.

[Cheech]

so the anemone finally seems to have settled in... It found a great spot on the top left of the tank... It anchored itself deep inside the cave structure, which gives it perfect options on how much it wants to expose itself to the lights.

here's a very crappy picture of it (again from my phone)

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2/carlo2478/IMG_0269.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2/carlo2478/IMG_0268.jpg

[nynikki]

Thank you very much for the info. I think I'll go for one and see how it goes..

I've read of people sticking pictures of anemones hosting clowns on the side of their tank, which seems to knock some sense into the clown fish, making them figure out that it's the thing to do.

It seems to have worked for some people. I'll give it a try with my clowns as well.

Does this really work? LOL Clowns are some funny fish!

[Troycool]

your tank is nice