What kind o anemones do Perc. Clownfish like?

Question

I have 2 Perc clowns in a 20 gallon tank and am looking to add an anemone to the tank. I have about 10 lbs of live rock and a big white coral (I don’t think its alive but it was real when I bought it. I came in a plastic back from a marine shop). I do not have a protein skimmer and I currently have a standard florescent light with a little bit of a blue tint to it. I think it’s a 15w light. I have already put a ton of money into the tank and don’t really want to put more money into it for a few months. Is there any kind of cheap anemone that I could put in my tank and will my clownfish like it? What do they eat? Also I have heard that they can sting and have heard that they can cause death. Is that to humans or fish? If they sting humans, what happens? Can you touch them at all? Thanks

Answer 1

you should really get a small protein skimmer as soon as you can afford one. They have some inexpensive ones at http://www.fish.com As far as a safe anenome, I like the bubble tip anenome, they are easy to keep and even a maroon clown will go in one. (they are usually pretty picky). The "sting" isnt that big a deal. It won't give you poison or anything. I handle them often in the aquarium business. I can honestly say Ive never felt a sting from any of them, and Ive handled many different types. (though the guy i work with says he feels them, lol I think they just dont like him) You really should have an actinic bulb and a tritinic bulb.. If you dont have simulated sunlight, your anemone wont last very long at all just under a florescent light. You can get more info at http://www.marinedepot.com Good luck

Answer 2

There are specific anemones that the various species of clown fishes will bond with I can't remember the few species that Percola clowns will bond with but I seem to recall that none of them were too common or inexpensive,have you tried some of the marine forum groups on the web? Anemone stings are merely uncomfortable to humans, but some people are more sensitive than others,sort of like bee stings. Also it's much more difficult to keep an anemone alive than a clown fish. Lighting is one of the more expensive items the aquarist must provide. A good protein skimmer makes keeping one a little easier,but it's still not easy.

Answer 3

Anemones will not hurt you. Human skin is too tough for them to hurt you, if you touch it it will just feel rough.

It does not matter what kind of anemone you get as clownfish do not care. In fact they don't even care if there is an anemone or not. They will hide anywhere, it just happens that they are the only fish who are capable of surviving an anemone so they are almost always associated with anemones. But really, any hiding place will do fine for them if so if you don't want an anemone then don't worry about it. That tank is too small for an anemone anyway IMO.