Carpet anemone w/reef fish?

[sundancer]

I am thinking about getting a green carpet anemone for my 400g mixed reef. Will the anem eventually eat my fish? My current tank inhabitants are:

Personifer angel
Queen angel
Pair of Rhomboids
Mystery wrasse
15 Bartlett's Anthias
Cleaner wrasse
GS Maroon hosting RBTA
4 cleaner shrimps
2 hermits
bunch of snails
RBTA
Frogspawn
Some SPS and various other corals

Does anyone have any experience they would like to share with keeping this anem in a large reef tank? Any input will be appreciated. Thank you.

[Finding Emo]

I don't have an actual personal experience but I have read alot of threads on here where carpet nems have eaten various fish. I really haven't seen any reason why other than possible not feeding enough but thats just what ive seen.

[phoenix]

It is possible - I lost 2 large tangs several years ago to a green carpet. I currently have a blue carpet in my reef which is doing well and there are several fish in the tank -so far no problems however, the tangs and regal angel will often try to pick food pellets off the carpet anemone. When the tangs did this with the green carpet, they were stung and became anemone food.

[sundancer]

Man, your nem must be HUGE to swallow a tang. I would hate to lose any of my fishes but the green carpet is sooo pretty.

[phender]

You would be amazed at the size of fish they can catch and eat. A 12 inch haddoni carpet can eat a 8" tang or angel.

Feeding them a lot just makes them grow bigger and makes them more dangerous to bigger fish.

In a tank that big your fish will be better able to avoid the carpet, but you still run a risk.

[sundancer]

Alright, I guess I won't be getting one. Just saw a real nice green one today,too,aroung 3 inches. Decided it's not worth risking my Rhomboids.

[kar93]

Moonlights may help the fish to stay away from it.

[sundancer]

Well I went and bought the nem because I am just a fool for anything pretty. It's in QT now. I noticed that after I feed it its stickiness goes away for how long I don't yet know. So during the times that it is not sticky is it still a danger to fish?

[FOSELONE]

might not be hungry at that time...but itll be hungry again...better put a leash on your expensive fish...

[LPDK91]

I have many fish in with my carpet including Tangs. Never a problem with him eating anything. I have a rather large clarki that keeps guard on things too.

[kar93]

Yeah, presence of a clown should help keep the fish away

[phender]

Originally posted by kar93
Yeah, presence of a clown should help keep the fish away

This is true in some cases, but not in many that I have seen.
Some clowns guard their anemone against some fish and not others. Some clowns don't guard their anemone at all. I have also seen some clowns actually grab fish in the tank (especially new arrivals) by the pectoral fin and drag them into the anemone.

[flasher1]

they are a black hole. If you value your fish I would stay away from carpets. Just my experience with them. Mine even ate my male allardi clownfish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Finding Emo]

Originally posted by flasher1
they are a black hole. If you value your fish I would stay away from carpets. Just my experience with them. Mine even ate my male allardi clownfish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ouch! haven't heard that one before...do all nems have the possibility to eat their host clown?

[cl2ysta1]

we had our 15 inch carpet eat a naso and a racoon butterfly. If you are going to keep them i suggest having a very agressive clownfish in them to keep fish away. very beautiful anemones.

[Purple Penguins]

Originally posted by phender
This is true in some cases, but not in many that I have seen.
Some clowns guard their anemone against some fish and not others. Some clowns don't guard their anemone at all. I have also seen some clowns actually grab fish in the tank (especially new arrivals) by the pectoral fin and drag them into the anemone.

I would like to actually see footage of somthing like that