Anenome questions/concerns

[deep6]

Since this is my first post here I would like to say hello to everyone and thank you all for all the informative reading I've done here over the past couple of months.Ok,so back in January we bought a 29 gallon biocube and slowly over the past 2 months added 8 blue legged hermit crabs,a cleaner shrimp,a skipper goby,two ocellaris clowns,and two days ago we added a purple tip haitian anemone.My concern/question is my lighting,the people at my LFS said it was sufficiant,but for the past two mornings when we wake up the anenome is closed,all the tenticals are inside its body and when the lights come on it opens up and looks fine and was wondering if this is normal?As far as lighting we have our timer set for 10hrs and for food for the anenome we bought some live phytoplankton that we keep refridgerated and were told to add it as directed every third day.

[deep6]

[deep6]

The top pic is from last night this one is from this morning.

[Samper]

Does that biocube have the standard pc lights over it?

[deep6]

Yes the stock bulbs it came with are in it.

[Ninong]

Hi deep6,



Condylactis gigantea is NOT a good choice for your Ocellaris clowns. It is highly unlikely that they will ever accept it as a host, if that was your intention.

Your lighting may or may not be adequate. At the best, it's marginal. This anemone is not a good choice for your size aquarium.

Check out this article on anemone care by Dr. Ron Shimek.



P.S. -- The reasons it's not a good choice in your situation: Your clowns are not going to accept it as a surrogate host, it will get much too large for your tank, your lighting is marginal for any anemone, it is a threat to eat things you paid good money for and, last but not least, these guys are more trouble than they are worth. They sell them down here for $3 each!

This is an Atlantic species. It is not a natural host for any clownfish because there are no clownfish in the Atlantic.

[deep6]

Thanks for the artical and input.We didn't necessarly buy it in hopes that the clowns would host it,from what we were told by the LFS is because our clowns were tank raised,they may not even host one that they normally would in the wild.The thing I am concerned about is the size that it will grow to,which as you said is definatly not a good choice for our aquarium.I guess we'll be trading this one in for something more suited for my tank.

[Ninong]

...we were told by the LFS is because our clowns were tank raised,they may not even host one that they normally would in the wild.

That's typical LFS misinformation. Being tank-raised will not affect a clownfish's innate ability to recognize a natural anemone host. This attraction has been hardwired over thousands and thousands of years.

Probably the best choice would be Entacmaea quadricolor. Even though this species is not a natural host for Amphiprion ocellaris, it is usually accepted as a host by it in captivity.

[weez1959]

we were told by the LFS is because our clowns were tank raised,they may not even host one that they normally would in the wild.

I saw about 30- 1.25" false percula babies frolicking arounds in the 2 BTAs at my LFS and they were tank raised from ORA! It was VERY cute!

[Ninong]

I saw about 30- 1.25" false percula babies frolicking arounds in the 2 BTAs at my LFS and they were tank raised from ORA! It was VERY cute!

This is not a natural association but it is one that is quite common in captivity. Much more common than say A. percula and Entacmaea quadricolor, which is very rare. Neither Ocellaris nor Percula are found with Entacmaea quadricolor in the wild.

[deep6]

Thanks again everyone,I appreciate the help/advise.I went back to the same store today and talked with the owner and he said basically the same thing,too small of an aquarium for that anenome so when some new stuff arrives we'll work out a trade,plus I don't necessarly want to remove it just yet for fear of stressing it out more than it probably is already.The anenome you refer to Ninong is it sometimes called the rose anenome?

[Ninong]

The anenome you refer to Ninong is it sometimes called the rose anenome?

The common names for Entacmaea quadricolor are E-quad, bubble tipped anemone (BTA), bulb tipped anemone (BTA) and Rose BTA (RBTA) for the rose-colored morph.

[deep6]

Thanks Ninong,I'll be on the look out for one.

[returnofsid]

Keep in mind that Condy anemones are from the Atlantic ocean and are not found in any area where Clowns are found. Not only that, they're notorious fish eaters. When Condys get big, they're just as likely to eat your fish as anything...lol. Other than that, your Condy looks healthy.

[weez1959]

Hi deep6,
In you second pic there is a goby, do you know what kind of goby he is, he looks exactly like my unidentified goby!

[deep6]

When I bought it,the tank label said Skipper Goby.I have also tried to find info on this goby,but I can't seem to find anything on it.To me it looks almost like a Spotted Watchman Goby.The Goby you have is definatly the same one I have.If you find anything on it please let me know.

[weez1959]

I've got it narrowed down to:

Istigobius ornatus - Species Summary

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fi.../ihoesees2.jpg

What do you think?

[deep6]

Looks like an Ornate goby(Istigobius ornatus) to me.

[weez1959]

Yup, that's what I thought to because it mentions yellow on the top fin and other identifying markings also, so I guess it's settled, Ornate Goby it is!
He's a funny little dude isn't he.
I think he'll be much happier soon cuz I'm changing tanks and I'll have sugar fine sand instead of crushed coral.