Heteractis magnifica Red Ritteri

[1979fishgeek]

I picked up this stunning nem yesterday labelled as Red Ritteri and I’m so happy!
It’s under a 150w Metal Halide 14000k with lots of alternating flow. Anymore hints and tips would be welcome, last time I owned a Ritteri was in the 1990s so it’s beem a while! This one has a pinkish/orange coloured foot and beige purple coloured tentacles, so far it’s not moved from where I put it, just expanded it’s foot out the over the rock.

P

 

[P-Dub]

Ah, that is a beautiful bunch of flowing tentacles.

 

[Gablami]

I’m no expert, but how does the mouth look?

 

[greg 45]

I’m no expert, but how does the mouth look?

If you cannot see it its usually a good sign on a big nem like this magnifica /ritteri .
Good luck with this bad boy .

 

[1979fishgeek]

I’m no expert, but how does the mouth look?

It’s mouth...

 

[blackgate]

Must show us foot!!!!

 

[1979fishgeek]

Must show us foot!!!!

It’s hard to get a photo as most of it’s covered by tentacles....this is as much as I can see and I had to get a top down shot to view it.

 

[1979fishgeek]

With lights out it’s shows a little more foot.

 

[1979fishgeek]

Colour looks spectacular today!

 

[1979fishgeek]

Oh dear, my (admittedly crazy aggressive always in solitary evil) Blue Devil Damsel is missing and the nems mouth has swollen puffed up and it’s curling in on itself..... has it maybe had a Damsel feast?!

 

[Jason mack]

Fish normally avoid nems quite easy .unless they are sick or dying or injured...I think hes probably just hiding and getting used too such a big addition too his tank....

 

[1979fishgeek]

Fish normally avoid nems quite easy .unless they are sick or dying or injured...I think hes probably just hiding and getting used too such a big addition too his tank....

I found him, nothing can kill Damsel he could take on a Great White! Lol

Nems balled up, think it’s coz it’s getting evening? Making me paranoid everytime I look at it!

 

[Jason mack]

Its feeding out of the water probably..its nothing too worry about normal behaviour

 

[1979fishgeek]

I hope so I read so many horror stories about this nem over the years it makes me jumpy, the entire tank is just for this Ritteri. It’s mouth is very large and puffy now, not gaping or saggy just sort of swollen and bulging. I did feed it a few hours earlier a small piece of cockle meat, which it grabbed really fast, it’s also been pulling of bits of the red macro algae near by its tentacles which are very sticky. I also dosed some phytoplankton and reefroids in my main mixed reef which is connected to this one as well.

 

[1979fishgeek]

Think he’s found a good spot and loving the flow!

 

[1979fishgeek]

Update: 10 days in the tank now, he has settled and already grown larger! He could not get higher up if he tried but strangely is not directly under the Metal Halide, if I move the light right over him he slides sideways just out of it. But seems really happy, eating well and looks beautiful! He prefers the yellowish Metal Halide over the blue dominate LED. Love this creature!

 

[1979fishgeek]

Magnificent still with me and still growing! Love this creature.

 

[bknope]

Is it hosting any clowns? My favorite thing to watch

 

[1979fishgeek]

Is it hosting any clowns? My favorite thing to watch

No not yet, the Saddlebacks I bought dived into the Haddons Nem.....no surprise as it’s their natural host. I’m considering some skunk clowns (or Percula) as the Magnificent nem is at top of the tank and saddlebacks Nem at the bottom and the saddlebacks stay over the sand bed never far from nem.

Been very positive for the Haddons nem, it’s looking so much happier now it’s playing host to the saddlebacks they keep it spotlessly clean, feed it and it now got shut tight mouth and colour is coming back. So maybe Magnificent will be happier too.

 

[bknope]

No not yet, the Saddlebacks I bought dived into the Haddons Nem.....no surprise as it’s their natural host. I’m considering some skunk clowns (or Percula) as the Magnificent nem is at top of the tank and saddlebacks Nem at the bottom and the saddlebacks stay over the sand bed never far from nem.

Been very positive for the Haddons nem, it’s looking so much happier now it’s playing host to the saddlebacks they keep it spotlessly clean, feed it and it now got shut tight mouth and colour is coming back. So maybe Magnificent will be happier too.

There’s just something so special watching the clowns swim throughout the Magnifica tentacles