How many keep anemones with corals?

[clord]

I was thinking of adding anemone in a month or 2 and I have alot of nice zoo's and a couple of softies. I was hoping to be able keep both but I hear the anemones may move a around alot.
Can they destroy your whole tank does this happen often? Any help would be great.

Thanks
Chris

[ronkent]

Lots!

[Amphiprion]

I have kept my anemone with corals for many years. They can certainly move, though.

[djc1026]

I keep mine with corals. I'm not super loaded with corals and have two anemones that haven't moved from the spot I placed them. I realize they can move, they can effect corals, understand this risk and am willing to deal with it.

Dave

[ncny21802]

I had 3 BTA's, 1 condy and 1 LTA then my larger BTA split into 4 bta's so now I have 6 BTA's, 1 condy and 1 LTA. I have lots of soft, hard and polyps in the tank. The BTA's move around every now and then but don't do any harm to my corals or clams or anything. Once they get comfortable they hardly ever move. There is a risk involved but it's worth it in my opinion.

[dantodd]

I keep my LTA with a few zoa, goni, moon rock and a lot of xenia. I wish he'd kill the xenia but only the goni is laying directly on the sand bed and everything else is up out of reach.

[BangkokMatt]

There is a risk due to movement but you can minimalise the risk. Some anemones are prone to movement more than others. If you get a BTA on a rock and place it in an area which suits its requirement ie good light, medium flow. Surround the rock it is on by other rocks as it likes to conceal its foot - then you have a good chance of it staying put. Where as a magnifica is much more likely to wander. So - prepare your area in advance, away from corals, check the requirements of the anemone you want and go for it!

[SEAFLOWERS]

I keep a anemone species tank, so I don't find it wise to mix them. Many people have had success doing it though, and I guess the risk for some is worth it, until the nem moves and kills their favorite coral.

[NewBeReef627]

They can do alot of damage when on the move.

Lori

[aquadog]

I have a large carpet in an SPS dominated tank. No problems once it (the carpet,haddoni) found its spot.
Good luck whichever way you go.

[SEAFLOWERS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7023596#post7023596 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquadog
I have a large carpet in an SPS dominated tank. No problems once it (the carpet,haddoni) found its spot.
Good luck whichever way you go. What happens when it doesn't like "it's spot" anymore?

[Clarkii01]

Simple. It moves.

[crsandoval]

I have a Ritteri & RBTA among SPS corals in my tank. The RBTA has never moved whereas a few weeks ago the Ritteri went around the rock it was perched on and went back the spot it was originally in and has stayed there.

[SEAFLOWERS]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7024377#post7024377 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Clarkii01
Simple. It moves.

I'm glad that you find humor in this. What a shame that my question was not taken seriously. The very fact that they can move and often do makes keeping them in mixed tanks dangerous.

[aquadog]

As long as you are aware of the risk of the damage it could do if it moves I think is the most important thing. You will have to be watching more closely for it particularly in smaller tanks and more crowded tanks. In general, at least in my experience (maybe I am just lucky) my carpet (six years in my possession and now in a relatively new 2nd tank of mine) just seems to really like a particular spot and just does not seem to move that much. I do not consider it a dangerous situation at all. But, I am always aware that it is a risky situation...

[Mud Shrimp Moe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7024168#post7024168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SEAFLOWERS
What happens when it doesn't like "it's spot" anymore?


Maybe it's only because I've had anemones for 8 mos or so, but I really haven't found movement to be much of an issue. Mine have shifted around a bit, but no great movement. And while they've had contact with various mushrooms and soft corals, none of the corals have been visibly injured. I really doubt a larger movement would result in coral death, although I may have to re-aqua-scape a bit. That said, I have relatively hardy corals, mostly softies.

[clord]

I think I will get one its worth the risk I find them very cool. I'll just put eggcrate cages around my bubble and frogspawn.


Now does it mater if I get the clown first or RBTA ?

[IslandCrow]

I've been lucky, and my BTA hasn't moved around significantly. Once he found a spot he liked (which lucky for me was even further from my corals than I'd originally put him), he stayed within a couple inches of that spot. I certainly realize I could someday lose a coral or two to the anemone, but I like the anemone enough to accept that risk. They can literally pick up and move from one end of your tank to the other in a matter of seconds, though, by puffing themselves up and riding the currents. It's actually pretty cool to watch, but they can easily end up somewhere you don't want them before you have a chance to do anything about it. What's life without a little conflict, though.

[IslandCrow]

Oh, and as far as which one first, the clown or the anemone, from everything I've read, it doesn't really matter whether you get one or the other first or both at the same time. I got my clown first and he immediately took to the anemone. I'm guessing the best way to make sure the clown hosts the anemone would be to find a clown at your LFS that's currently hosting an anemone and buy them both at the same time.

[crsandoval]

I really think that people are taking this thread seriously. As for me, I understand the risk associatated with keeping corals & nems, knowing that havoc may/will occur.

[reef_researcher]

I currently have a very large bta, with hammers, finger leathers, xenia, shroom, and trumpet corals. For the past three weeks the anemone puffs up ( as large as 10 inch diameter) and goes for a float almost every second day. We have tried many different 'spots' and the only place it will stick to is pumps and filter intakes. It's definentally a stressful situation, with many late/all night events. If you have the time to devote it's worth the chances.