Is this stupid?

blkhawk10 · Oct 5, 2011

I have a 29 gallon tank with a decent amount of corals in it. I just bought a clown fish the other day and want to put an anemone in the tank. Am I crazy for wanting to try this? How bad of damage can a sting cause? Kill it? I know clown fish don't need an anemone but I think it would be cool.

soccerbag · Oct 5, 2011

No, it's not stupid...lol. But it's a valid question. I'm not an anemone expert by any stretch but you do need to be careful as some anemones can "walk" and if they can do that, they can get to other corals. Some corals get along with anemones and some don't. If you can get it to settle in one spot, that's great. But if it moves it can get into powerheads, etc and that would be a bad thing. There are tons of folks on here that have nice ones in their mixed reef tanks and they are incredible as it really adds a look of a natural reef. If you go that route, just keep an eye on it. If it moves around and can't settle where you would like it to (it will settle where it is happiest, not always where you want it), you can always trade it to another reefer. Hope that helps a bit.

SDguy · Oct 5, 2011

Even if it doesn't walk, aren't BTA's the smallest hosting nems? They get at least 10" - 12" fully expanded. How much room will that leave in a 29g tank?

jenmay44me · Oct 6, 2011

I have a juvenile clownfish and a very small RBTA in my 8 gallon biocube. I will (obviously) not be able to keep the clown fish long as it will outgrow my tank quickly. The RBTA looks great and once it found its "sweet spot" it hasnt moved at all.

CJO · Oct 6, 2011

Be careful.. my RBTA is about 18" across!

CJ

jenmay44me · Oct 6, 2011

Biocube8

My clownfish are borderline right now, when they grow more, I will trade them for smaller fish. They are happy right now, but will be feeling cramped soon.

jenmay44me · Oct 6, 2011

CJO said:
Be careful.. my RBTA is about 18" across!

CJ

Just need to look for one that is very small..

shells4 · Oct 6, 2011

Our clowns host hammers and frogspawn. You still get the swaying movement of an anemone without the potential risk of introducing it to a small tank. Just a thought.

shred5 · Oct 6, 2011

Bta's can be kept in small tanks. Green and clones usually seem to stay smaller. I have kept them in 20 gallons with breeding pairs of clown fish., they are also the easiest to keep. They also can wander and kill corals but I have never had much of a issue. Make sure you anemone proof your tank because bta's will eventually make it into a power head and most likely while you are gone.

Dave Polzin..