Nems right for me?

[Evan West]

So im thinking the answer to this question will be no, however it never hurts to ask. So with that, do you think I can keep a nem once my tank ages some more? I have a 20g long tank with mostly LPS but it will eventually have some softies. It is a month old now so I would wait to add the nem (researching now tho). Stock will be 2 clowns, 1 pygmy filefish, 1 fire fish, assorted snails, cleaner shrimp. I have a Kessil a360we so lighting is no problem. My worry is that the tank is only 20g and im a college student, so I move on average once or 2ce a year and nems are stupid. If they are on a rock then NBD I put the rock in buckets of water when I move anyways for the coral, but if its stuck to the bottom, glass or across 2 rocks then im gonna have issues. So what do you think? Can I do it or not? What sort of nem would fit in a 20g if any?

 

[Aretes]

Are you looking for a nem that'll host your clowns? If not you might want to consider mini carpets or rock anemones. Rock anemones are pretty good at not walking around and stinging everything they come across. Anemones really like water stability so if you're able to provide that it'll help your chances of keeping one successfully a lot.

 

[Evan West]

Are you looking for a nem that'll host your clowns? If not you might want to consider mini carpets or rock anemones. Rock anemones are pretty good at not walking around and stinging everything they come across. Anemones really like water stability so if you're able to provide that it'll help your chances of keeping one successfully a lot.

I was kinda looking for a clown host lol but they are cool one way or another and id like one.

 

[steve&mari]

A bta should host them if they wanted to. I probably wouldn't with moving frequently as you do. Another thing would be eventually it'd probably take over a 20 gallon tank. They can get very large and split giving you multiple to deal with. You can always sell the splits of it.

 

[ReeferBen]

Ive had good luck with bubble tip anemones. I think the most important thing besides having the right environment for them is to buy a healthy specimen. They should be sticky and fully colored, no gaping mouths, etc. Also be sure when you do get one the LFS doesn't tear the foot when bagging it up.

Really nems are awesome, but do require the right tank. A walking nem can move into power heads, overflows, too close to other corals etc. It is important to base other stocking around the nem to be sure there is no other issues.

I feed my BTA when I feed my fish, they catch mysis, and pellets and this is plenty for my BTA, 1 turned to 4 and several have been pulled out for trades. I use LEDs now but have had them under T5's, MHs, and VHO's. My clowns never hosted even though they have shared a tank for at least 5 years now. I have had success with other nems also but BTA are a good hardy anemone to start with. I saw a vid from mevelsreef where he used a piece of acrylic tubing to introduce his clowns right to the ameome and they took to it right away.

 

[x_burt]

The old rule of thumb was 1 year. As Aretes said nems require stable water perams. If they are not happy they can start walking which can lead to a whole heap of trouble.

This doesn't mean you can't have one before but if it's your first time I would wait at least a little while just to make sure you don't get any swings or problems. A tank so young is still settling in

 

[Aretes]

I saw a vid from mevelsreef where he used a piece of acrylic tubing to introduce his clowns right to the ameome and they took to it right away.

+1 for the anemone tube slide. I've done it a couple times and the clowns have gone into the anemones right away

 

[njtiger aquariums]

Now I have two bubble tips (one green and one rainbow). The key is flow and stable water perams. My green walked all over my tank (after I had to move the rock he was on) for months until he took hold where he is now. My rainbow moved about 1in to 2in but that it. I did not wait the one year. I don't think a time length is correct with nem (or any fish/corals) I believe its more water perams and not time. If you can understand and keep your perams level then you can keep anything. I think the rule of time came about cause it was easier to tell someone to wait a year and hopefully they will have an understanding of water perams by then then to tell them to make sure their water perams are stable. Now this just my thoughts on the whole thing and I'm no expert at all.

I do agree with above that with you moving back and fourth getting a nem might not be the best move but again you might be lucky and get one that take hold right away.

Good luck in college and what are you studying?

 

[Evan West]

I do agree with above that with you moving back and fourth getting a nem might not be the best move but again you might be lucky and get one that take hold right away.

Good luck in college and what are you studying?

Thats my big concern. Im studying Mechanical engineering with a concentration in automotive and plan to get my MBA after I finish my bachelors in mechanical.

 

[Evan West]

So to be specific, if I did get a nem and it did attach to a rock, how do you think it would take moving?

 

[Jongalt26]

You would have to remove the nem from the rock which can be a bit of a challenge. You can search here for various methods. I have lost 1 nem due to removing it from a snail. For some reason it moved and attached itself to the snail shell. Maybe i should left it there, would be a walking nem like a walking dendro or similar haha.

I would wait for a year for a BTA just to make sure your tank is mature however rock nems are beautiful, inexpensive and hardy. They dont host clowns though.
Have fun!
jason

 

[nashvillian]

Got one in my tank. It's a blast to watch them play in. BTAs aren't that hard to keep, honestly. I feed mine pea sized pieces of shrimp every 5 days or so. It's a little bleached but it seems happy to me. I think your set up is much more accomodating than mine. Just make sure you get a good specimen and drip acclimate. Good luck!