Saddle-back clownfish host?

[fishhead]

Hello all,
I am looking for a good Saddle-back clownfish host. I am about to move my 18+" diameter leather (Sarcophyton) to my tank at work leaving plenty of room for something new. Now, I currently have this saddleback clown that is getting an attitude after 2 yrs without a suitable home to call his own. My only other clown is ther perculla, which seems content with his wall of mushroom anemonies to riside in The perc is being pick on ...kinda.. by the bigger saddleback, who could really care less about the mushroom conodos. So, what d'ya think? A carpet anemonie? a saddle back anemone? simply a condylactus(sp)? Please don't say bubble tip because I've had a small (5-6" diameter) one for years and noone likes it!?

Thanks,
Greg

[fishhead]

oh yeah, it will be lit by just VHO and the hallide which is about 4 feet away, line of sight (from where I wish to place it).
Greg

[mps9506]

I'm assuming you are refering to Amphiprion polymnus?
The recomended anemones would be Stichodactyla haddoni (saddle carpet) or Heteractis crispa (long tentacle), either of which your A. percula might end up in as well....
I wouldn't suggest that condy anemone at all, unlikely to have them end up in that as it is an Atlantic species.
What size tank, filtration etc? Also is it possible to move the halide closer (What size halide)?

[fishhead]

Oh, it is a 90 gallon with the big wide glass brace in the middle, and the halide is over the R. side opening. Just have 2 skimmers going and some powerheads. About ten years old now.

[mps9506]

Well, either anemone would be fine in that tank, H. crispa can get mighty large however.

[fishhead]

it would only have a llttle over a sqrare foot of the bottom for himself. Is that going to be a problem you think?

[Elmo18]

Originally Posted by fishhead

A carpet anemonie? a saddle back anemone?

A saddleback anemone is a type of carpet anemone. More specifically, a saddleback anemone is a Stichodactyla haddoni. Please be careful that if you do decide to go the S. haddoni route, that you purchase one from the Pacific. There is an Atlantic carpet anemone, which is well...unnatural for clownfishes.

Also, please be warned that Haddoni anemones are very well known for eating fish...big fish, even. In some instances, large fish even when not successfully caught by the anemone itself, but rather stung, can die several hours later from the stings.

Unlike BTAs..and RBTAs, in which touching their tentacles may not be as sticky, I do not advise touching tentacles of Haddoni carpets. They are very, very sticky.

Originally Posted by fishhead

I am looking for a good Saddle-back clownfish host...

Amphiprion polymnus are very well-known for being very rough to anemones. The black variant, or Black Saddleback...i.e. Black polymnus...are known for killing their anemone. I know some people...of whom have had this happen...While a single clown may not do as much damage as a pair, it may cause doom for the anemone. One suggestion is to get several of the same type of anemones so that it will share its roughness and therefore decrease the damage to one 'specific' anemone. S. Haddoni is the natural carpet of choice for saddleback clowns, as they are the natural host. However, again, in nature they are found with several and sometimes fields/patches of these anemones, so that it may be the case the anemones survive their rather 'pissy' complex

Best,
Ilham

[Woodstock]

Excellent info Elmo!

I had a pair of black saddleback clowns that killed my 16 month blue haddoni

*Warning- haddoni/polymnus*

[fishhead]

Yikes....maybe I'll get one of those really hardy rubberized anemonies?

[lcstorc]

You can ask Witty (or just read his thread) about carpets eating or stinging to death fish as well. He has lost several fish due to their "carpet surfing" as he calls it. Also, if I remember correctly they require rather high light.

[fishhead]

Are there no other safer options? Sebae?

[fishhead]

Yes, I once had a little yellow clown goby which i watch kake a kamakaze run to the center of anemone death. Ate him right up. I just sat there with my jaw dropped.

[fishhead]

Well, I got a carpet at the lfs for $65. It took 2 days...but he's in it!

[lcstorc]

Cool!
good for you/them.
2 days is pretty quick imo so great job.

[fishhead]

Thanks. But "I think I need a bigger boat" . The SaddleBack clown is beating the heck out of the poor carpet. May a second one would split the thrashings?