[ReefMan1981]

Does anyone know if or have a Caribbean Carpet Anenome that their clownfish has taken to.

[vtec si]

Wich carpet species do you have? Is it a - S.gigantea, S.haddoni or S.mertensii? Some species of clowns wount take to all species of host anemones. Also what kind of clown do you have?

Martin

[ReefMan1981]

Stichodactyas sp (Caribbean Carpet)
A. Ocellaris(Tank Raised)

[BubbaWPB]

I don't think clowns take to Caribbean anemones....

[vtec si]

Originally Posted by ReefMan1981

Stichodactyas sp (Caribbean Carpet)
A. Ocellaris(Tank Raised)

They are all Stichodactyla but is it a Gigantic (gigantea), Haddon's (Haddoni) or Merten's (mertensii)?

Do you have a picture? What color is it? I dout its a mertensii They get to big for MOST tanks and are agressive. But if you have A. Ocellaris then this my be your problem!? Most of them woun't host in a carpet let alone a caribbean speice. THAT I KNOW OF? I think they prefer a bubble tip anemones.

Do you have the book Clownfishes by Joyce D. Wilkerson? If not it is a must have for one with clowns and sea anemones. JMO!

Martin

[ReefMan1981]

I am not sure exactly what species it is, but it is brownish pink in color.
Thanks for the suggestion on the book.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by vtec si

Wich carpet species do you have? Is it a - S.gigantea, S.haddoni or S.mertensii? Some species of clowns wount take to all species of host anemones. Also what kind of clown do you have?

Martin

Martin,

Those are Indo-Pacific clownfish-hosting sea anemones. He's talking about a Caribbean carpet anemone. Caribbean anemones don't naturally host clownfish because there are no clownfish in the Atlantic or the Caribbean.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by BubbaWPB

I don't think clowns take to Caribbean anemones....

In captivity, some clownfish will accept Condylactis gigantea as a surrogate host. For instance, it is usually accepted by Amphiprion clarkii and A. frenatus.

P.S. -- I should add that I don't recommend C. gigantea for reef aquaria because I don't trust it. The only reason it's available in the hobby is because it's so easy to collect and so close to the market, making it extremely cheap.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by ReefMan1981

I am not sure exactly what species it is, but it is brownish pink in color.
Thanks for the suggestion on the book.

It's probably Stichodactyla helianthus. I don't know if your clowns will accept it or not and I'm not even sure it's a good idea in the first place. What if it eats your clowns?

Better to stick with anemones that are natural hosts for clownfish. None of the anemones from the Atlantic or the Caribbean are natural clownfish hosts because there are no clownfish in the Atlantic or the Caribbean.

[ReefMan1981]

Thanks for the info.
I am returning the carpet and exchanging it for a BTA.
The guy at the LFS told me that the caribbean carpets were my best choice.
This is what I get for listening to to them.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by ReefMan1981

The guy at the LFS told me that the caribbean carpets were my best choice.
This is what I get for listening to to them.

You have already learned one of the most important lessons in this hobby. Congratulations!



P.S. -- A. ocellaris will usually accept a BTA (Entacmaea quadricolor) in captivity. The BTA is the best possible choice for a home aquarium, assuming one is determined to keep a host anemone. Any questions you may have about your BTA should be addressed to zhenya, our resident BTA expert!

[Ninong]

Suggested reading in our Reef Hobbyist Online magazine.

[vtec si]

Originally Posted by Ninong

You have already learned one of the most important lessons in this hobby. Congratulations!



P.S. -- A. ocellaris will usually accept a BTA (Entacmaea quadricolor) in captivity. The BTA is the best possible choice for a home aquarium, assuming one is determined to keep a host anemone. Any questions you may have about your BTA should be addressed to zhenya, our resident BTA expert!

Ninong, Good choice! Gene (zhenya) is a BTA GURU!

Martin

[vtec si]

Ninong, Is the S. helianthus a carpet species? I did not find it in any of my books. I guess I will try looking a www.wetwebmedia.com

Martin

[Ninong]

Yes, all anemones in the genus Stichodactyla are carpets. What books are you looking in? It's not an Indo-Pacific species.

[Ninong]

You will find the following on WetWebMedia:

Atlantic Carpet Anemone Possibly?
Hello Robert,
I purchased what I thought was a Stichodactyla gigantea. I now believe
it is a Stichodactyla helianthus.
<Mmm, an Atlantic Carpet Anemone...>
It is yellow in color and the “base”
is very light yellowish tan to white... a real pretty specimen. If I did
purchase the helianthus variety, how should I care for it? Placement?
Lighting requirements? How can I know for sure it is a helianthus and
not a gigantea.
<These are very different animals... S. helianthus is pictured, described here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/twaanemones.htm
Their tentacles are green, brown... never seen one with a yellow/white base... and this species is much smaller... 4-6 inches in diameter max.>
I’ve read a lot about the care of the carpet anemones but
I have never seen any info. about this particular anemone. Any response
would be great.
<S. gigantea is found here on our site: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anemones.htm
Its "face is deeply folded, tentacles much longer... Care for both about the same. Bob Fenner>
Terry Teutsch

[Ninong]

A google image search returned these hits.

[vtec si]

Thanks Ninong! I did find all that same info on my search too. I also found some things I did not know as well. However I did not find all those wounder full picture that you found on your Google image shearch. I now know what I am looking for.

Thanks again,
Martin

[ReefMan1981]

Just an update.....I returned the carpet and traded it in for a BTA.
A much better and more informed selection.
I should have gone with my gut in the first place and bought the BTA in the first place.
I will NEVER listen to another LFS advice again.
I will perform my own research so I do not make this mistake again.


Thanks for the help!!!!!!!!1