Clownfish HOSTING!!!!!/Anemone ID

[snow_man84088]

I woke up this morning and what did I see? My clownfish hosting my anemone... (reminds me of a certain song) I was so excited. Anyway here are some pic's.





Also, I am not entirely sure of the ID on this anenome. Here are some of just the nem, LFS said it was a Ritteri. But it wasn't marked as one. What do you guys think? Also does he look healthy?

[Jared J]

Looks like a ritteri. It has that pink/purple base like one and definitely climbs up the glass like one. I had a ritteri in my old 75g that no matter what always climbed up the glass and would stay there. I would move it and when I'd wake up the next morning it was back to the glass.

[Neuticle]

I don't know much about anemones, but that looks a lot like the Bubble tips I've been checking out on the net, it's got the lengthwise lines on the tentacles, I haven't seen a picture of a ritteri that had those.

[Elegance Coral]

The first two pics do look kinda like a Ritteri, but the second two pics look 100% E. Quadricolor/BTA. I think Neuticle is right.

[Hop]

Congrats Although that anemone looks like its teasing death above that powerhead

You will see as the weeks go on that the clownfish hosts more and becomes more territorial and interesting to watching in its new home.

[Antdizzle]

i thinks thats a green bubble as well, i had one that my maroon loved and began to live in the very day just hours after i put it in.

[snow_man84088]

I would be happy with either one. Aren't Bubble tips easier to keep than Ritteri, and they only grow a fraction of the size of a Ritteri too correct?

Does he look healthy? At what point should I begin trying to feed him. LFS said to try krill or silversides, I was thinking I would try to feed him silversides. Is that a good idea at this point or will the clownfish feed him?

[snow_man84088]

Originally Posted by Hop

Congrats Although that anemone looks like its teasing death above that powerhead

Very good point, he moved there on his own, but I am going to move the PH to the front corner of the tank to give him some distance.

[Jared J]

I guess you can kinda see the bubbles on a couple of those tentacles.

[scoop]

Another vote for green bubble tip. Mine went up the side like that, too when i first got it. Go ahead and feed it, it won't hurt it. I feed mine around once a week w/ krill, but silversides should be fine, too. I think the clowns will try to feed it, but they won't be giving it much (unless you are way overfeeding your tank)

[Elegance Coral]

I wouldn't rely on the clowns to feed it. I don't use krill to feed anemones. There is just to much stuff to poo back out later. There are reports of bad silver sides causing anemone deaths, so I would avoid them as well. I feed mine pieces of peeled shrimp or fish meat. No bones, scales, or exoskeletons. Nothing but meat. I try to feed them about twice a week, but I'm not real good at it.

You anemone looks fine. They don't get quite as large as Ritteri's, but some of them still get well over a foot across. BTA's are much easier to care for than Ritteri/ H. magnifica's.

[jschulzpt]

yes I have to second not to feed them too often, 1X/wk was what I found worked well, otherwise you end up annoying the anemone that you are trying to feed. My old clowns had to be pushed away from the anemone due to the fact that they would steal the food. But congrats on the hosting, I find that the clownfish/anemone pairing is one of the most interesting symbiotic relationship to watch.

[Fly Guy]

Ive only had one clownfish nem relationship in my reefing history.....whats funny to me is hearing everyone say how its an issue with the clowns stealing the nems food.

My pairing is odd...its a condy and two false percs and the first thing my clowns will do even if they havent been fed for days is go feed the nem first...EVERY time they eat and would never steal its food if I actually fed it

[Antdizzle]

DIdnt know that clows would feed their hosts, thats a new one on me. Just learning alot about everything since ive joined up.

[snow_man84088]

Originally Posted by Elegance Coral

I wouldn't rely on the clowns to feed it. I don't use krill to feed anemones. There is just to much stuff to poo back out later. There are reports of bad silver sides causing anemone deaths, so I would avoid them as well. I feed mine pieces of peeled shrimp or fish meat. No bones, scales, or exoskeletons. Nothing but meat. I try to feed them about twice a week, but I'm not real good at it.

You anemone looks fine. They don't get quite as large as Ritteri's, but some of them still get well over a foot across. BTA's are much easier to care for than Ritteri/ H. magnifica's.

Do you feed raw or cooked shrimp? I think that is the way I will go, it sounds easy enough, I will post again after I try tho