to anemone or not to anemone?

[FishFace28]

I have a clownfish and have been toying with whether to get him an anemone. I have heard though that they are fairly difficult to care for. Are there any anemones that are easier than others to care for? If not, are there options other than an anemone for my poor hostless clown?

[garygb]

In that size tank with that mix of animals, I think it would be a bad idea to add an anemone to the menagerie. In a 24 gal pod, if you had a BTA (Entacmea quadricolor) and a pair of clowns that would work--no other fish or corals.

You asked if there are anemones that are easier to care for, the answer is that some species are hardier. Of the host anemones (the ones that host clownfish), the BTA's are the easiest. In larger tanks than yours, Stichodactyla haddoni, a species of carpet anemone, makes for a fairly hardy inhabitant. Heteractis crispa can often be kept successfully, but are more difficult because they tend to expell their zooxanthellae and thus are in a weakened condition following collection and transit to fish shops. Macrodactyla doreensis, long tentacle anemone (LTA), are also often fairly hardy charges if you get a healthy one and you provide it with good water conditions. Heteractis magnifica and Stichodactyla gigantea seem to suffer more than the other species in the process of collection and transport and their survival rates are poorer. From what I've read, in areas such as Australia where there is less time/distance for transport, H. magnifica tends to do better compared to the states. Once established, this species can be quite hardy--but it definitely isn't a beginner anemone. All the species of anemones that host clownfish require very good water quality (markedly better than most fish) along with intense lighting and other conditions to fare well.

[hobbysalty]

Thanks!