Butterflies + Anemone

[Powder Blue]

I have a "FOLR" tank with two small Butterflies, 1 Threadfin and 1 unknown,Regal Tang,2 Clowns, Cleaner Wrasse and a very small Simi Anglel in a standard 4ft. Will they eat a Radiantos Anemone? I would like to convert to corals and have a mini reef.

Regards
Sam

[Ninong]

I have a "FOLR" tank with two small Butterflies, 1 Threadfin and 1 unknown,Regal Tang,2 Clowns, Cleaner Wrasse and a very small Simi Anglel in a standard 4ft. Will they eat a Radiantos Anemone? I would like to convert to corals and have a mini reef.

Regards
Sam

Threadfin Butterflyfish "feed mainly by tearing pieces from polychaetes, sea anemones, coral polyps, and algae" according to FishBase http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...iesname=auriga

[Ninong]

I may as well post the FishBase link for your angelfish while I'm at it. Notice that it's adult size will require a much larger tank: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...semicirculatus

[Powder Blue]

Threadfin Butterflyfish "feed mainly by tearing pieces from polychaetes, sea anemones, coral polyps, and algae" according to FishBase http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...iesname=auriga

Thanks, they were ripping away on the second day when I got home but very little damage done. Took them out and put them in the Hospital tank with my beloved Powder Blue. My main is now looking a bit empty with 4 fish. The Simi unfortunatly passed on. When I got him from a freind who caught him on our local reef, he was riddled with white spot. After medicating he seemed to recover well but never ate prepared food. Pecked on the rocks most of the day. He then developed white patches on his small body which I was puzzled with and was bait when I got home last night. All the others are fine.

Is there any special care with a "Radiantus" Anemone and will my little Ocilaris Clowns jump in him some day? The clowns seem to have made a home in the top,rear corner of my tank around the power heads. Are fussy about that space aswell. When I have to put my hand in for any reason they sometimes nip my skin when I get close to there space. Very small Clowns, about 6 months old and about 2cm long. The Cleaner Wrasse also pecks my forearm. The Anenome has settled only about 20 cm away from them yet they are not interested in it. It is a small one though, about 10cm across when fully open. It is purple,light green with a bright red base.

I have, in perhaps my ignorance, dropped my marine flakes into the Anemone to feed and he slowly moves them into his mouth for a while, then spits it out. The same with a small shrimp. He also seems to be very mobile, floating around the tank without securing himself to any particular area. I have also found him upside down a few times with his tenticles in the coral substrate.(coarse coral/sand). Please may I have some input. I am very interested in how they live and what care I should or not give him. I believe it is best to leave them and let them do there own thing as far as finding a comfortable spot? P.S. I will post on the Reef section in future.

Regards
Sam

[Powder Blue]

I may as well post the FishBase link for your angelfish while I'm at it. Notice that it's adult size will require a much larger tank: http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...semicirculatus

Thanks for the link. My guy was tiny. Probably would fit in the pics tail fin. Also was blue with verticle white stripes which I believe change as they mature. I seem to have chosen fish that will all outgrow my 4ft in time.Besides my Clowns.

Regards
Sam

[Ninong]

Thanks for the link. My guy was tiny. Probably would fit in the pics tail fin. Also was blue with verticle white stripes which I believe change as they mature. I seem to have chosen fish that will all outgrow my 4ft in time.Besides my Clowns.

Regards
Sam

I guess you're on a roll because the host anemone you have is the largest of all the anemones reaching a maximum size of 1 meter across in the wild.

[Ninong]

Is there any special care with a "Radiantus" Anemone and will my little Ocilaris Clowns jump in him some day?

Your Radianthus anemone (Heteractis magnifica) is a natural host for Amphiprion ocellaris so there is a very good chance that they will get together.

The Anenome has settled only about 20 cm away from them yet they are not interested in it. It is a small one though, about 10cm across when fully open. It is purple,light green with a bright red base.

These anemones are considered to be difficult to keep in captivity. As you probably already know, this is the largest of all the host sea anemones reaching a maximum size of 1 meter across in the wild.

I am very interested in how they live and what care I should or not give him. I believe it is best to leave them and let them do there own thing as far as finding a comfortable spot?

This anemone has a reputation for moving around in a reef tank. It is probably looking for the most favorable spot in the tank. It could be seeking a change in lighting or it could be seeking better current flow. Most of the prey that anemones eat in the wild is very tiny and they want to make sure they're in a good spot with strong current flow so that a lot of zooplankton will come their way.

Here is a good link for you. It's an entire eBook: http://biodiversity.uno.edu/ebooks/intro.html

[Powder Blue]

Your Radianthus anemone (Heteractis magnifica) is a natural host for Amphiprion ocellaris so there is a very good chance that they will get together.

These anemones are considered to be difficult to keep in captivity. As you probably already know, this is the largest of all the host sea anemones reaching a maximum size of 1 meter across in the wild.

This anemone has a reputation for moving around in a reef tank. It is probably looking for the most favorable spot in the tank. It could be seeking a change in lighting or it could be seeking better current flow. Most of the prey that anemones eat in the wild is very tiny and they want to make sure they're in a good spot with strong current flow so that a lot of zooplankton will come their way.

Here is a good link for you. It's an entire eBook: http://biodiversity.uno.edu/ebooks/intro.html

Thanks for the link. A question? I hade some copper in this tank some time ago and was wondering if once treated, is it impossible for an Anenome ever to live in there? I have since the treatment done a lot of water changes but the silicon is still blue and there may be some micro traces left. I also don't have a Halide lamp but lots of blue and white tubes.

Regards
Sam

[Ninong]

I have read that once copper has been used in a tank it is unsuitable for invertebrates unless it is sterilized with an acid wash and multiple rinses with R.O./D.I. water. This process is so laborious that most people prefer to simply purchase another tank.

As far as lighting is concerned, I do not think normal output fluorescent lamps are adequate for host anemones.