Anemone for tomato clown

[fishfanatic2]

I have a tomato clown, and I will soon be upgrading the tank to a reef from a FOWLR. I would really like to get a host anemone. Considering the trouble everyone is having with BTA's, I was thinking about a giant anemone. Would this host my clown, and would the clown take to it? Also, are there any special requirements by this anemone, and would it do well under 130 watts PC in a 29 gal.? Thanks!

 

[Len]

It's possible, but giant carpets (S.gigantea) aren't natural hosts for tomato clowns (A.frenatus). Besides, S.gigantea get HUGE and will be your entire tank in a year. They also eat fish

I'd get him a Bubble tip (aka BTA). They are natural hosts of tomato clowns, don't get as large as carpets, are easier to keep, and aren't prone to eating fish.

 

[monkeyboy]

Considering the trouble everyone is having with BTA's, I was thinking about a giant anemone.

What trouble is this? Dividing too much? E. quadricolor's are superbly suited for captivity and they are readily available tank raised. (Insert obnoxious chanting for BTA's here)

 

[Anonymous]

My tomato resides in a bubble tip. He won't go near the green carpet since it ate his buddy. I agree with Len... don't get him a carpet.

Nancy

 

[Anonymous]

I'd go with a bubble tip, because it is a natural host for tomato clowns, it typically adapts better to captivity than any other host, stays smaller than carpets, and divides in captivity. Getting one that split in an aquarium is a nice way to take some pressure off wild stocks. It ought to be okay under those lights, just make sure to feed it a bit every week.

 

[Bleeding Blue]

I hate to chime in here as the downer, but maybe an anemone is the wrong way to go. Anemones tend to be tremendously fragile and difficult to keep, even for people with years of experience. They need a tremendous amount of light and a lot of turbulent water. Even if all these requirements are met, often times anemones seem to just whither away and die after a year or two, very mysteriously. Furthermore, a tomato clown will probably host in any number of LPS, and often time these corals are prettier and more colorful than a bubble tip anyhow. Your clownfish will be very happy without any host at all. Mine is. She still exhibits some of the natural behaviors of hosting clownfish; she even always brings her extra food back to "feed" a giant zooanthid.

If you do try and keep an anemone, please read as much as you can about these delicate, living, pieces of history before you make the purchase. Set up your tank specifically to house an anemone; make sure that you have proper turbulence and light. Make sure you have fantastic water quality, and lastly, make sure you pick the brains of everyone here at this sight, because that is the easiest, cheapest way to get a beautiful functional reef.

Mike

 

[fishfanatic2]

Sorry for some misclarification .

Only now fo I realize that 2 species of anemone have the species name gigantea!

Okay, so here goes. I meant the anemone C. gigantea/Condylactis gigantea (my bad).

What trouble is this? Dividing too much? E. quadricolor's are superbly suited for captivity and they are readily available tank raised.

Bubble tips are probably my favorite anemone. I was referring to the at least 3-4 incidents on reefs.org where people were having trouble with there anemone. I don't know, but maybe I'm just paranoid!

With either anemone, I am also concerned that they will not get enough light. I will have 130 watts PC over the tank. Is this enough, and would C. gigantea also properly host a tomato clown already established?
Thanks!

 

[monkeyboy]

I'd reccomend halides for any of the pacific anemones because I haven't heard many cases of true long term success with these critters under flourescents. This isn't to say that it won't work.

Condylactis gigantea is a carribbean anemone, since there's no clownfish in the carribbean, they don't host. Clownfish have been known to adopt them from time to time though, and the ones that I've seen have all been tomatos. It's worth a shot, C. gigantea is cheap, bulletproof, and would thrive under PC's. If the clown wants nothing to do w/ it you can get some commensual shrimp like pedersons cleaners or sexy shrimp (check my avatar!).

Give it a shot w/ the condy!

 

[Larry Grenier]

I have a pair of tomatos and they love their zenia elongata patch. They're always nuzzled in amonf it's branches. Only problem is that it grows too fast and I have to trim it at-least once a month and they attach me now when I put my hand into the tank :lol:

 

[fishfanatic2]

It think I will give it a shot with the condy.

I plan to place it midway up the tank near the current of a pump that jets across the tank. The anemone tentacles should be right below or in the current,getting lots of circulation.

I have a thing for anemones, and I am wondering if it is possible to add a BTA on the other side of the tank once I get experience with the condy. I have only one clownfish. Would this be possible?

Thanks for everyone's help so far and any help to come!