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 Posted 2/2/2006 9:27:11 AM |
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posted here from my priv em's (trying to maximize query answering time/exchanges for the benefit of all  )
I recently changed over my 70gal. Tank to an anemone specific tank, I always wanted to do this so I am. My only fish in the tank right now are (1) Kole Tang and a few blue/green chromis. I want to add a pair of either true perc’s or onyx clowns and a flameback angel and that would be it. Do you think this would be o.k.? Also I have never heard the term” onyx clown, what are they and where can they be obtained? One other bit of info the tank anemones are RBTA’S. When you get a chance because I know how busy you are I would greatly appreciate your help. I hope this e-mail finds you in good spirits and in good health. Cheers, Todd
. Anthony Calfo
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| Posted 2/2/2006 9:40:16 AM |
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| Ah... it is a breath of fresh air, my friend to see/read someone that realizes the benefit and need to keep anemones in species specific tanks. There are so many reasons for this but it all boils down to responsible use of the living resource. The rates of morbidity and mortality are higher on anemones than most other cnidarians collected in the trade of reef organisms. The rates of long term survival in aquaria are even worse for being put unnaturally and unsafely, as you know, in aquaria with unguarded pump intakes and overflow weirs... and worse, corals. Not only is it rare to find anemones on the reef anywhere near the corals we keep... but its simply a recipe for (long-term at least) disaster when mixing sessile cnidarians (most corals) with motile ones (anemones). The allelopathic stimulation in large part causes the anemones to want to move away from their noxious neighbors and that usually spells tragedy one way or another. The tragic reality is that a fraction of the anemones collected are still alive in captivity even one year after collection. Its furthermore ironic and tragic that their rates of recovery from collection in the wild are dismal. They have very slow rates of reproduction. I am begging aquarists to use these animals responsibly (species specific tanks) or not keep them at all. Kudos to you for your efforts Todd  Re: your questions... "onynx" is a trade name by one of the breeders, likely ORA or TMC. Do a google search for that name plus "price" and you'll likely come up with a merchant. The clowns will likely be just fine with the Entacmea anemone(s) The Centropyge angel is a calcultated risk (especially among its genus) here. I suspect it will be OK, but only recommend trying it after QT and with with willingness on your part to trap it out promptly if needed. I trust you are keeping find sand for these anemones too? Moreso for the bristle-tooth tang (Ctenochaetus are fab for rasping diatom algae off of soft substrates/sand)
. Anthony Calfo
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| Posted 2/2/2006 12:14:50 PM |
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| Anthony, Thanks for your reply, you have been quite informative and kind to me over the last few years. I was a bit startled when you stated that having that angel was risky, would you mind elaborating? I thought I did some good research on that fish before purchasing.
Todd Biondolillo
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| Posted 2/2/2006 12:53:05 PM |
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| no worries at all my friend... its just that the genus Centropyge is a long-established rick in aquaria as nibblers of cnidarians. And among congenera, the flame is perhaps an above average risk. That said... a majority of so-called reef fishes may nip corals. Rabbitfishes, Tangs, some blennies and gobies. But compared to these fishes, dwarf angels are slight more riisky IMO. I suspect it will be a small matter iether way... little damage to be done. Just irrittaing nips if you get a "bad" angel and the need to remove the fish. You can tease or test it in QT instead with a small/common green BTA. No guarantees, but a good test.
. Anthony Calfo
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| Posted 2/2/2006 2:01:14 PM |
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| Hi Todd - Pardon the intrusion if you know this already... I'm assuming, over time, this thread will be read by many that don't. Entacmaea quadricolor (BTA) anemones are not native hosts for Amphiprion percula (onxy/true perc) clownfish so your clownfish may opt not to host in your RBTAs. There are plenty of cases where they will, but if that is a concern, you may want to select clownfish from the many that natively host in E. quads such as A. clarkii (Clarkii) or Premnas biaculeatus (Maroon). - Mark
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| Posted 2/2/2006 3:14:38 PM |
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Also to minimize the chances of trouble with the angel you might hold off until the clowns have grown a bit. At least in nature anemones that host fish smaller than a minimum size tend to survive poorly, partly because the fish can't protect the anemone from predators very well.
Mike G.
Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana.
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| Posted 2/2/2006 3:35:30 PM |
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| excellent point, Mike. grazie. Indeed... established anemonefishes can defend their host rather well. Well enough against community tank fishes. Another interesting point to remember... a significant number (some say majority) of anemones in the wild do not even have anemonefishes in residence. The anemones really don't need clowns specifically. And in the confines of aquaria with all of its' inevitably unnatural artifacts, etc... all bets are off whether "correct" wild species will go to matched anemones of if they will ever even go at all. And yet, tank raised clowns, such as the suggested percula/occellaris types, are often observed to take a nice BTA. Their options are rather limited after all and captive rearing does make them amenable than wild-caught, if only slightly, to some such aspects of aquarium life. That said... I agree with Mark: do try to match natural species. You can see a list of anemonefish and their typical hosts on wetwebmedia.com (keyword search from the index for anemon or anemonefishes... follow the links)
. Anthony Calfo
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