Beginner with a Condy Anemone

[DebraLV]

Hi everyone. I purchased a condy anemone last month. I only have a 20 HI, no corals, fish only. He was an impulse purchase....I didn't do the research. It's doing really well, healthy, developing beige tips and attached day 1, has not moved since. He has a healthy foot also
I'm stuck with him. I can't even donate him. I
know he is gonna need a larger tank at some point. I'm wondering how long I have before I need one, actually wondering the time span before they grow to need one.
He hasn't paid any attention to my clowns and they show no interest. I know it won't host them and I'm aware it's a somewhat dangerous anemone to have with fish.

 

[blaxsun]

Why would you want to donate it? Condys are awesome - never a dull moment! (they can be very mobile at times) Yes, the clownfish will have no interest in it whatsoever. On the plus side, depending on time of day the tips will change from bright blue to magenta to deep purple - so the coloring is really amazing.

Worst-case scenario the rock can go with the condy if you find you need to re-home him. I haven't lost a single fish to either of mine, and with 42 fish those are pretty good odds of coming into contact. They pretty much know to steer clear.

 

[DebraLV]

Thanks so very much. I'm in another group for beginners and I'm hearing horror stories about how they eat fish. I was freaking, called Petco (no returns on marines), called my LFS, they won't take any Petco livestock as they have no QT tank.
One dude said, it ate his mandarin and diamond watchman. He's in a 20 HI and doing well, but I know he will get big. How much time do I have to get a bigger tank? I'm waiting on the Petco Dollar a Gallon sale. I plan on a 40 breeder, I'm fish only, no corals.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

Homie No!!

Quit listening/getting scared by the Group for Beginners, 1. Condys are Awesome!! Mine is a Top Rock hight light, high flow nem. Makes a single lap around the rock every day. I could see one eating a Sick Mandarin which you shouldn't have in a 20 either imo.

Dont direct feed it. It will catch food in the water and photosynthesize. That's one way to help it grow slower.

You didn't make a bad choice. And you've got it sooo... Happy Nem day!

 

[DebraLV]

Homie No!!

Quit listening/getting scared by the Group for Beginners, 1. Condys are Awesome!! Mine is a Top Rock hight light, high flow nem. Makes a single lap around the rock every day. I could see one eating a Sick Mandarin which you shouldn't have in a 20 either imo.

Dont direct feed it. It will catch food in the water and photosynthesize. That's one way to help it grow slower.

You didn't make a bad choice. And you've got it sooo... Happy Nem day!

It wasn't me, I don't have a mandarin, it was some random dude in the group. I don't know what size tank he has, I'm the one with the 20 gallon. I only have a pair of clowns and 2 yellowtails.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

It wasn't me, I don't have a mandarin, it was some random dude in the group. I don't know what size tank he has, I'm the one with the 20 gallon. I only have a pair of clowns and 2 yellowtails.

Gotcha. I read that Wrong thinking somebody else had their mandarin eaten in a 20 on the group.

You should know that they can pack a punch when they want to. Out of all the anemones in my anatomy tank, That's the only one that actually hits me. It sucks.

 

[D3DPrintedThingz]

Thanks so very much. I'm in another group for beginners and I'm hearing horror stories about how they eat fish. I was freaking, called Petco (no returns on marines), called my LFS, they won't take any Petco livestock as they have no QT tank.
One dude said, it ate his mandarin and diamond watchman. He's in a 20 HI and doing well, but I know he will get big. How much time do I have to get a bigger tank? I'm waiting on the Petco Dollar a Gallon sale. I plan on a 40 breeder, I'm fish only, no corals.

just cruising old posts and figured i would put my advice out there.

condy anemones are AWESOME you don't want to get rid of it, trust me. I keep 2 clowns who have luckily been hosted by my neon green condy, I was not expecting it but I am very happy about it. One of the coolest creatures in my tank, extremely mobile, always moving around on it's rock. Feeding them is so fun to watch, and they'll grab on your finger if you put it close, just make sure of no open wounds or it'll sting ya. Clowns also host in a green hairy mushroom on the other side of their rock, they have 2 happy safe places.

Don't worry about them eating your fish, those stories are of course out there and it will happen but it's anecdotal. IF it were to happen, you would be a very small fraction of a fraction of people who were in the same boat.

I do not believe Petco has the $1/gallon sale anymore. HOWEVER - facebook marketplace will be your best friend. You will find many a 40g breeder (and larger..) for that sweet 1:1 ratio. My current set up, 90g with stand/canopy/custom refugium/pumps/rock/sand was FREE just had to bring muscles to pick it up. I'm looking for a nice used 8' tank, but see plenty of used tanks for a great deal. make sure you ask if they hold water before purchasing though, some run as reptile tanks and they won't hold water

buy used tank - go bigger than 40g, you're gonna want at least a 75 gallon, that's when saltwater really gets fun. Nano tanks are way harder than large tanks, and the acceptable stocking list is way less interesting.

 

[bnord]

just cruising old posts and figured i would put my advice out there.

condy anemones are AWESOME you don't want to get rid of it, trust me. I keep 2 clowns who have luckily been hosted by my neon green condy, I was not expecting it but I am very happy about it. One of the coolest creatures in my tank, extremely mobile, always moving around on it's rock. Feeding them is so fun to watch, and they'll grab on your finger if you put it close, just make sure of no open wounds or it'll sting ya. Clowns also host in a green hairy mushroom on the other side of their rock, they have 2 happy safe places.

Don't worry about them eating your fish, those stories are of course out there and it will happen but it's anecdotal. IF it were to happen, you would be a very small fraction of a fraction of people who were in the same boat.

I do not believe Petco has the $1/gallon sale anymore. HOWEVER - facebook marketplace will be your best friend. You will find many a 40g breeder (and larger..) for that sweet 1:1 ratio. My current set up, 90g with stand/canopy/custom refugium/pumps/rock/sand was FREE just had to bring muscles to pick it up. I'm looking for a nice used 8' tank, but see plenty of used tanks for a great deal. make sure you ask if they hold water before purchasing though, some run as reptile tanks and they won't hold water

buy used tank - go bigger than 40g, you're gonna want at least a 75 gallon, that's when saltwater really gets fun. Nano tanks are way harder than large tanks, and the acceptable stocking list is way less interesting.

Agree with the attractiveness of Condylactus and if you have one that is thriving, feel lucky and keep it fed, and if it becomes too dominant you can always move it, and the rock it is embedded in

only comment to the above post is that I think that small tanks (15ish) used to be hard, but all in ones (AIO), good lights, and very regular (small) water changes make mine a trouble free very diverse and fun tank
2-3 shrimp, 2-3 crabs, and rose tips that are budding all over and robust euphyllia piped gobies, bennies, small clowns...

 

[D3DPrintedThingz]

Agree with the attractiveness of Condylactus and if you have one that is thriving, feel lucky and keep it fed, and if it becomes too dominant you can always move it, and the rock it is embedded in

only comment to the above post is that I think that small tanks (15ish) used to be hard, but all in ones (AIO), good lights, and very regular (small) water changes make mine a trouble free very diverse and fun tank
2-3 shrimp, 2-3 crabs, and rose tips that are budding all over and robust euphyllia piped gobies, bennies, small clowns...

good call on the AIO, I almost forgot I ran a 29g BioCube for a couple years in college. Granted I was in college, and had ...other... priorities.

I am just a sucker for a big tank lol. Your comment though makes me consider the possibility of a little nano for my work desk. I would get even less work done every day lol.

you best bet I am going to your build thread now and doing some snooping, hard.

 

[albano]

Condys can host clowns but usually not percs or occ. … they can get very big, can change colors, and can eat fish.

 

[TinyReefObsession]

Hi Debra, I see this is an old post, but just wondering how big is your condy now? Do you still have it? This is my first post on R2R, but I just acquired (2 weeks ago! ) an 8 yr old biocube 14, from a neighbor, with a big green tip condy, which hosts the two clowns in the tank :) My neighbor said the condy was super small when he got it, and now it’s face is at least 6in across, not counting tentacles I’ll try to fond out how old it is… but it was getting 2x weekly feeding for a while, on top of the clowns feeding it, so… lol

 

[albano]

Hi Debra, I see this is an old post, but just wondering how big is your condy now? Do you still have it? T

Not sure if you’ll get an answer… she hasn’t been on the site for 7 months

 

[TinyReefObsession]

Not sure if you’ll get an answer… she hasn’t been on the site for 7 months

Thank you for letting me know

 

[albano]

Thank you for letting me know

That’s why I get paid the big bucks!

:)

 

[ILOVEYOUHALFISH]

 

[Dom]

Are Conde anemones more difficult to care for than, lets say, a bubble tip?

 

[ILOVEYOUHALFISH]

im doing some research on this now, they are like $20 at my local pet co- I’ve heard of them hosting clownfish and some eating them… soo hard to say lol

Some say they will eat smaller fish if not fed enough

Are Conde anemones more difficult to care for than, lets say, a bubble tip?

Are Conde anemones more difficult to care for than, let’s say, a bubble tip?

 

[Miki 26]

Homie No!!

Quit listening/getting scared by the Group for Beginners, 1. Condys are Awesome!! Mine is a Top Rock hight light, high flow nem. Makes a single lap around the rock every day. I could see one eating a Sick Mandarin which you shouldn't have in a 20 either imo.

Dont direct feed it. It will catch food in the water and photosynthesize. That's one way to help it grow slower.

You didn't make a bad choice. And you've got it sooo... Happy Nem day!

Got mine the other day pretty cool placed it in the front of my tank and in a couple hours it had dug down at least 2 1/2 " and hasn't moved middle front couldn't have asked for any better.

 

[albano]

I’ve heard of them hosting clownfish and some eating them…

Some say they will eat smaller fish if not fed enough

Absolutely… they will eat any fish, any time they want.

They can also change colors!