anemone for a beginner

Van-rookie · #1 08-22-2007, 09:47 PM

Hi guys...

I have been thinking of getting an anemone for my clowns.
I think anemones are cute and nice to look at but the lfs that I went to didn't think thats a good idea because the anemone moves around and can hurt other corals in my tank.

Any tips...which anemone that suits a beginner ? and which won't attack my other corals.

At the moment I only have a couple of polyps, hawaiian duster, pink duster, 2 clowns, 1 yellow tang, 1 damsel, some snails and hermits.

thanks

digital-audiophile · #2 08-22-2007, 09:50 PM

For a beginner, and a smaller tank (I see you have a 29G) a bubbletip would really be your only viable option.

Van-rookie · #3 08-22-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital-audiophile

For a beginner, and a smaller tank (I see you have a 29G) a bubbletip would really be your only viable option.

Thanks digital-audiophile, I will go to J&L and see if they have any nice bubble tip.

Tried to go there yesterday after office hour but had to turn back because the traffic was so bad

digital-audiophile · #4 08-22-2007, 10:09 PM

What kind of clowns do you have? I have two BTA's in my tank and my false perc clowns totally ignore them. I picked up a pair of tomato clowns and they took to the one BTA right away.

Van-rookie · #5 08-22-2007, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digital-audiophile

What kind of clowns do you have? I have two BTA's in my tank and my false perc clowns totally ignore them. I picked up a pair of tomato clowns and they took to the one BTA right away.

I have 2 tomato clowns in my tank ...a small one and a bigger one. Bought them at Big Al's

justinl · #6 08-22-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Van-rookie

At the moment I only have a couple of polyps, hawaiian duster, pink duster, 2 clowns, 1 yellow tang, 1 damsel, some snails and hermits.

thanks

bah! i know it wasnt the original question, but a yellow tang does NOT belong in a 29 gal tank. In that tank i would do maybe 4 smaller fish (clown size) and leave it t that in terms of fish.

as for the original question, yeah i would recommend the bta as well. dont expect the clowns to take to it right away to it though... it can often take over 6months for clowns to realize they have an anemone in there at all. when you do buy the anem, make sure it's big enough (considerably larger than both clowns) or else the bta will just get stressed by being hosted by fish that are too big. there was some speculation that captive bred colowns are more reluctant to host than wild ones but none of that was proven. something you can do that might help is to print out a pic of a clown (same species) hosting a bta and leave it by the tank... apparently clowns will see this and might learn from it.

make sure you leave plenty of space between the bta and the other corals.

Van-rookie · #7 08-22-2007, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justinl

bah! i know it wasnt the original question, but a yellow tang does NOT belong in a 29 gal tank. In that tank i would do maybe 4 smaller fish (clown size) and leave it t that in terms of fish.

as for the original question, yeah i would recommend the bta as well. dont expect the clowns to take to it right away to it though... it can often take over 6months for clowns to realize they have an anemone in there at all. when you do buy the anem, make sure it's big enough (considerably larger than both clowns) or else the bta will just get stressed by being hosted by fish that are too big. there was some speculation that captive bred colowns are more reluctant to host than wild ones but none of that was proven. something you can do that might help is to print out a pic of a clown (same species) hosting a bta and leave it by the tank... apparently clowns will see this and might learn from it.

make sure you leave plenty of space between the bta and the other corals.

wow, attach a picture on the aquarium.... i will remember your advice when i get the bta.

as for the tang....the lfs said its ok to have 1 tang. And I want it so badly....

digital-audiophile · #8 08-23-2007, 12:19 AM

Your LFS should not be in business if they said it was ok for a tang in a 29G.

Mik_101 · #9 08-23-2007, 12:20 AM

Just wonderin what store did ypu buy your tang from?

howdy20012002 · #10 08-23-2007, 12:23 AM

Tangs need at least 4 feet of swimming space IMO..preferably more.
The LFS should have told you not to put any tang in a 29 Gallon.
It will outgrow it quickly and probably eventually die from the stress of being so confined.
I have a little purple tang - about 1.5 inches in one of my 29 gallon tanks..However, it will be going into one of my bigger tanks when it gets a bit bigger.
there is no way a full grown yellow tang will be happy or healthy in a 29 gallon.
I try not to preach about things like this..but yeah..u are just asking for trouble. I would be bringing it back for a store credit cuz the store should've known better.
OR..better yet...just get a bigger tank..lol
Neal