What do you look for in a new buy

[keddre]

My local fish store (petco) has an anemone and clown fish for sale that I've been looking at. After doing all my research I'm sure I can take care of both but the problem I'm concerned about is the actual appearance of the anemone.

While the clownfish is active and frequents the anemone, the anemone itself doesn't look good to my eye. The someone is flat and doesn't have the shape that most healthy ones have. Do you think this may because there is a lack of flow in the tank or could this be for other reasons?

I'll take a picture next time I go

 

[Ashish Patel]

How are other saltwater fish and inverts at Petco? If the anemone is not looking healthy don't get it.... I got into the hobby back in 1997 when I was 13 when I went to Petco, back then their lifestock and Staff for Saltwater was great. I've bought many fish from petco so I would use your judgement... Goal should be to never lose any fish or inverts

 

[Florida Sunshine]

If it doesn't look good, don't buy it.

 

[keddre]

All there other fish and inverts look great. Never seen one sick or dead at this specific location. The reason I was asking is because this would be my first anemone and I don't know whether it is sick or if it could just be an environment problem

 

[Lance M.]

Take a pic of it and post it if you get a chance.

What kind of anemone?

 

[Ashish Patel]

Anemone are difficult to keep alive if not given proper care level. The lights at Petco probably are not sufficient and from my experience once they start dieing its rare they come back. They really thrive in an established aquarium for simple reasons - Live food source in the water from plankton, pods, sponges, etc. If you tank is established and has good lighting you should add an anemone. However, I would look elsewhere for more healthy specie. You can go back to the petco after a week and if it looks better, you can decide if you want it. But you can alway purchase from another place.

 

[keddre]

It's funny you replied that because I just went to take a picture and it's completely closed with the clown fish staring at it. There goes my hopes for a clownfish, anemone pair already established.

It was a Cody too

 

[Ashish Patel]

Yeah they might want to remove that thing asap!

 

[keddre]

Yeah they might want to remove that thing asap!

It looks like they put a different one with it and they attacked each other. I will probably buy the clown fish since he is experienced with anemone and get a Cody from a professional store

 

[Ashish Patel]

Yeah good idea

 

[Snookin]

Condy anemones are cheap and like to move around and end up stinging corals and fish. Clownfish will not even host in one. Do your own research before buying from a place like Petco. Those employees don't know anything

 

[Ashish Patel]

Just because they are cheap? Thats a plus!.. All off them move around and sting, therefore not a valid point. This picture is about 8 years old but i got a condy after failed attempts to keep other anemone alive. If a clown is willing, they will host just about anything -Clams, hammers, LPS, condy's, anything soft and cozy...

 

[Ashish Patel]

BTW, This fish was so mean that I refuse to get any clownfish species other than Nemo...

 

[zieg9479]

It's do-able. I got a condy from a petco. They put them in their normal fish tanks housed under poor t5 lighting. It has since grown to 10" across in 8 or so months and colored up beige from it's initial pure whiteness (though I've heard condys can darken with age). I only got it because of all the nems at petco, it's the only one that I have seen which isn't on the brink of death...and 8$...

oh, funny enough, when I bought it, it had a tomato clown fish in its mouth.

 

[Ashish Patel]

Mine was white and eventually beige out. . Tom clownfish are the most nasty fish i've ever had. It made it impossible to mount corals with super glue and epoxy. This fish even killed my other clownfish pair after living peacefully for 5 years. Stay away from these at all cost!

 

[CalebWBrink2000]

Condy anemones are not good hosts for clownfish and will frequently eat them.