Symbiotic Relation Compatibility

[cohazard]

I have a 55 gallon SW that is fully cycled but is sitting in the deciscion phase. I want to make a "symbiosis" tank that contains various symbiotic relationships, but I'm not sure if everything I want is compatible. Let me know if you thinks this is too much:


1.)Heteractis magnifica and my two Ocellaris clowns
(this will be the main symbiotic relationship)

2.)Blue carpet anemone and either black percula clowns or a clarkii clown.

3.)Pistol shrimp and a Steinitz goby

Here's what I think; I'm worried that the goby and/or the shrimp might become dinner for the very large anemones. I'm worried that the two anemones will be too large to house together in a 55gallon. I'm also worried that I'm getting in over my head because this would be my first go at anemones (and the blue carpet is considered difficult to keep). As far as lighting, I was considering MH or PC on timers.

Thoughts? "no you silly newbie" comments? Let me know. Thanks!

 

[Gealcath]

One thing to remember is captive raised clowns never had any need for a anemone, so may never host in one.

 

[OrionGirl]

Mixing clown sub-species is a very risky plan, especially in a 55. The dominant pair will beat the heck out of the others--and likely kill them. I would go with just one.

The goby and shrimp likely won't spend time very far away from home, so should be safe from the anenome.

I would go with just your main pair of clowns and the goby/shrimp--lower risk, better odds of success, IMO. Of course, that doesn't mean the clowns will host--as mentioned, CR/CB clowns often don't recognize an anenome as home. Also, you'll want that tank to mature and stabilize before adding an anenome--a minimum of 6 months, and longer would be better. Do as much research as you can on successfully keeping anenomes.

 

[mogurnda]

If you haven't seen it already, the Anemone FAQ has a lot of good info on anemone keeping.

 

[cohazard]

Thanks for the replies; the tank is about 7 months old and will turn a year old in September. I'm not sure if my clowns are captive bred or wild. Here's a pic of them; I wonder if they'd ever be a pair:

 

[mogurnda]

If they're hanging out together, it's unlikely that they won't pair up. Do you see the smaller one doing little "seizures" in front of the big one?

 

[cohazard]

Are the "seizures" similar to that of cichlids? I saw that behavior in the cichlids I used to have, but I'm not sure I've seen it in my clown.

 

[mogurnda]

Yeah, they're similar. The smaller fish vibrates its body in front of the bigger one.

 

[gbolton]

Also be real careful with placing two anenomes of different species in the same tank especially of that size. You will have a major war going on between the species. Both of the anenomes that you have metioned can outgrow a 55 gallon so both of them together may not be such a good idea.

 

[Max]

I don't know if anyone else will agree with me or not. I probably wouldn't try a carpet anemone under any circustances. They live a really long time in the wild reproduce very slowly and love to die in tanks. Anyway I won't go on a tirade or anything like that but, please reconsider the anemonies it's jsut not worth it to have something that's going to live maybe 10% of it life span in your tank. their are so many other relations ships to like porcelin crabs and long tentacles and bubble tips or sexy shrimp and the above mentioned anemonies. Also the bubble tips for pretty good sized colonies in nature and have lots of symbiots other than clowns.
hth
chris