Heteractis magnifica

[t.trezona]

Setting up new reef system. Nearly done. We do it better the second time around, right. Have been at it for 7 years and have a highly successful mixed reef now. Would like to add this guy to the new reef but have read all the posts previously. Doesn't sound to promising. If I attempted, and found a healthy specimen, I would add it first and allow it to move around until its happy with a location, then add other animals, coral, etc. If this guy is fed properly will it remain happy and stay put, or will it decide at a later date to head off on a journey for no apparent reason? Also, is it possible to keep it a reasonable size, as I now do with my Macrodactyla doreensis (about 14 inches), by simply feeding the appropriate amount. Or will this guy act starved with a stable diet which is only enough to maintain and not grow too much and head off to new territory? For those of you with this species, what has been your secrets to success? If none out there, I'll forget it.

[traveller7]

With a Magnifica as a target, I would be considering a species tank and would let it age for at least 6-months to a year before adding the anemone. The last thing you want it is chasing around corals, flow changes, light changes etc.

If you are patient you may eventually find an established specimen available from a hobbyist, but I would leave the species to folks that are serious about potentially propagating them in a large greenhouse environment, etc. To get one healthy specimen into the hobby, box loads die. Way too high a cost to justify supporting the collection and importation when there are better shippers available.

[t.trezona]

Not interested enough for a species tank. Sounds like way too much trouble from your perspective and probably inappropriate for a mixed reef. Does that sound correct? My M doreensis sure is easy do keep. My Yellow striped Maroon Clown does all the work. A very agressive and obnoxious clown at that. If I see him shrinking, I give him some silversides and he will get as large as I want. What other anemones, in your view, are that easy to care for?

[lancer99]

t.t, I agree with traveller....I did lots of research, set up a tank just for a H. magnifica, let the tank age for about six months, made sure I had what I thought were were ideal lighting, aquascaping and flow, finally got one.

And it melted in less than a week...I was heartbroken.

I wouldn't even consider trying one in a mixed reef...Macrodactylas are easy to keep, and apparently so are bubble tips, although I've never tried them.

HTH,
-R

[garygb]

I agree that a species tank is best for H. magnifica. Also, I think part of keeping one successfully is contingent on finding a healthy one to begin with. If you aren't interested in a dedicated H. magnifica tank, then perhaps a BTA would suit you better. BTA's are much easier to keep. In less than four years my RBTA has become 9. On the other hand, my H. magnifica that I've had over 5 years has only cloned one time. And the H. mag I've had a little over three years also has only cloned once. I definitely find BTA's to be hardier overall.

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11450735#post11450735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t.trezona
Not interested enough for a species tank. Sounds like way too much trouble from your perspective and probably inappropriate for a mixed reef. Does that sound correct?Some folks have had success in a mixed environment, but there are eventually issues. Unfortunately the anemone gets to choose the time and place of the issues :(

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11450735#post11450735 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t.trezona
NoWhat other anemones, in your view, are that easy to care for? E. quad(xBTA), H. crispa, M. doreensis, and the larger version of S. tapetum seem to be best bets.

fwiw: BTAs can be kept from wandering all over if you construct a pillar similar to the one described for magnifica. Much better then having them wander all over the place.

Best Wishes.

[t.trezona]

What is your take on Stichodactyla haddoni?

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11451448#post11451448 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by t.trezona
What is your take on Stichodactyla haddoni? Fairly hardy if you can find one that has survived the first month of shipping.

They are very efficient fish eaters. Definitely not to be kept with expansive reef grazers, i.e. naso tangs, etc, which it seems to capture frequently.

I would recommend a species tank and naturally hosting clowns only. They have been known to eat a clown or two as well.

[lancer99]

traveller, do you have any experience with Stichodactyla helianthus (Atlantic carpet anemone)? I am in the process of setting up a 150G tall tank for gorgonians, but would love to have a S. helianthus as well.

Sorry for hijacking your thread t.t!

-R

[sarahkucera]

If you're looking for a larger nem species, I highly recommend the H Crispa. Mine is about 16 inches across and still growing and is relatively low maintenance as far as nems go. Mine has moved only a few inches in a year and a half and also hasn't eaten any of my other fish yet. Although that hawkfish of mine is seriously pushing the envelope and I won' t be surprised if it turns into a nem snack one of these days.

<img src="http://www.midnightmadness.org/sarah/saltwater/112007/DSC02709.JPG" width=700 height=525 title="" >

[fatdaddy]

I have a magnifica. I blundered into it as a newbie on a nemo fantasy, but it somehow survived my teething period. (Still have the LFS that sold it to me on my sh*t list). It nearly died on me twice, but I've upgraded lighting, figured out feeding schedules, and gotten my water parameters under control.

The nem has grown about 10x from maybe 2-3 inches to 12+ when fully inflated. It's starting to push up against the glass in the back, so I'm thinking about repositioning rocks to create a bigger ledge for it to perch on. Of course, it will probably wander the tank again if I attempt that, so not sure.

It's been a very greedy eater and I've never seen it turn down a meal. I have some freeze dried plankton that I occasionally give it. Although it seems to really like freeze-dried anchovies that I bought at an asian market. I just soak in tank water for a few hours and then feed. My BTA's also like them.

I'm currently looking for true Perc's to add to the tank.

I was reading a book last night about what picky eaters these are. Hard to believe, but I suppose it's true for some species.

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11452813#post11452813 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lancer99
traveller, do you have any experience with Stichodactyla helianthus (Atlantic carpet anemone)? I am in the process of setting up a 150G tall tank for gorgonians, but would love to have a S. helianthus as well.

Sorry for hijacking your thread t.t!

-R Been a few years. I prefer to keep in a Carib biotope, anemone shrimp, etc. Great eaters, tolerant of most conditions. Pretty sticky, fairly efficient fish eater. Be cautious on the mix.

[mattsilvester]

Sorry to dredge up an old thread:

A friend is breaking down his reef - he has a Heteractis magnifica which I am interested in taking from him. He has had it for about 8-12 months or so. It is relatively healthy (by virtue of the fact it hasn't "melted"). My tank is as such a "higher spec" system.... better parameters, more stable, better lgihting (250MH 'vs' his 150MH), better flow etc.

Generally I disagree with taking these anemones from the wild, but this one is already taken, as it were, and if it goes back to my buddies LFS its' prospects are poor...... the LFS in question is not exaclty "consciencous" and there are not many (probably none) reefers in the area with expereince that I......... so as such I will be giving it a fight chance.....

Do you think its worth a shot?

My biggest concerns are:
(1) I have an emporer angel - but I am hoping to get a good sized pair of clarkii clowns to defend it.
(2) I have 4 tunze streams and am worried that it will wander into one of them.....

Thanks guys,

Matt

[Mirror Pond]

I've had my magnifica for a year now and have not lost any fish to it including a regal angel. I built a rock tower and placed it on top so that it cannot touch any sides of the tank. It has not moved off the top in the year that I have had it. Was in a 120 for the first 9 months and has been in a 180 for the past 3.

[EnderG60]

here is mine. Ive had him for close to 4 years now. Only seems to move around if there isnt enough light(as in my bulb is getting old). He did great under a 250w xm 10k, went to a 14k and he moved. Upgraded to a 400w 20k xm and there he stayed till the bulb got about 14 months old.

Its been through some major stuff and just kept going. Definatly loves random intense flow though.

Never lost anything to it either, coral or fish.

http://mytankpics.com/tanks/albums/userpics/10025/IMG_1071_%28Medium%29.JPG