Anyone kept a Ritteri long term?

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BCT182

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Joined
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Location
Sumner WA
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I was wondering if anyone has experience with these guys. Ive always loved them.

Can we provide strong enough light? Do they stay put? Where in the tank have they commonly been found to stay?
 
I have on that has been through hell for the past 3 years and it is doing just fine in fact better now than ever....
 
We had a 300 gallon tank with one thriving for over 5 years before the big power outtage a couple years back. I really think halide lighting and temperature control (chiller) are the two most critical keys to success beyond water chemistry management. It is also important that the anemone be collected/transported properly so that it has not suffered internal damge on its way to the LFS.
 
I've kept for 3 years now under 250 mh's. No chiller on the tank, but its in the basement, so temp really isnt an issue.

IME, the biggest issue to short term survival is shipping stress. Finding one that "wants to live" after shipping is the biggest issue. I would think that as close to the Pacific as you are, you stand a better chance of getting one that's healthy than we do here in the midwest. One of the LFS that has the best luck with anemones here takes them out of the shipping packaging, discards the water they came in, and puts them into a container of freshly made ASW, and adds 100 mgs of doxycyclene to the water. He adss an airstone and they sit there for several hours.

After initial shipping stress is resolved, you need to satisfy their environmental needs:

High light
High flow

Mine is sitting in between two 250 XM 10k SE bulbs, and 4 inches beneath and approx 10inches to the left of a WavySea handling my tank return. About every 10 seconds or so, the anemone is washed with about 950 gallons per hour. The anemone is not getting direct flow, but is getting enough indirect flow to vigoursly move the tentacles and oral disc.

The only time the anemone moved on me was when I switched from AB10k's to Hamilton 14k's. I switched back to 10k's, and it didnt move again.

Nick
 
Either of you got a pic?

I have on that has been through hell for the past 3 years and it is doing just fine in fact better now than ever....

I've kept for 3 years now under 250 mh's. No chiller on the tank, but its in the basement, so temp really isnt an issue.

IME, the biggest issue to short term survival is shipping stress. Finding one that "wants to live" after shipping is the biggest issue. I would think that as close to the Pacific as you are, you stand a better chance of getting one that's healthy than we do here in the midwest. One of the LFS that has the best luck with anemones here takes them out of the shipping packaging, discards the water they came in, and puts them into a container of freshly made ASW, and adds 100 mgs of doxycyclene to the water. He adss an airstone and they sit there for several hours.

After initial shipping stress is resolved, you need to satisfy their environmental needs:

High light
High flow

Mine is sitting in between two 250 XM 10k SE bulbs, and 4 inches beneath and approx 10inches to the left of a WavySea handling my tank return. About every 10 seconds or so, the anemone is washed with about 950 gallons per hour. The anemone is not getting direct flow, but is getting enough indirect flow to vigoursly move the tentacles and oral disc.

The only time the anemone moved on me was when I switched from AB10k's to Hamilton 14k's. I switched back to 10k's, and it didnt move again.

Nick
 
Do you guys get color options when you order them? Ive seen the creamish color available but never the purple or greens.


we can get them , but we have never had anybody want one. want one ?:D

We had a 300 gallon tank with one thriving for over 5 years before the big power outtage a couple years back. I really think halide lighting and temperature control (chiller) are the two most critical keys to success beyond water chemistry management. It is also important that the anemone be collected/transported properly so that it has not suffered internal damge on its way to the LFS.
 
Either of you got a pic?

Sure, here's two from Feb 23rd...

Ritteri6.JPG


Ritteri5.JPG


If you look at how the tentacles are in all different directions, it shows how the flow is pretty chaotic, but not violent............if that makes any sense at all...:rolleyes:

Nick
 
very nice anemones!!! make sure you know that they are healthy and estalished before you buy one, they are among the most delicate shippers!!!!

Matt
 
I have 3. As Nick said I beleeive getting a good healthy, happy anemone is the the key with all anemones. I personally dont believe that anemones are any more difficult than any corals that we keep including "easy to keep" leathers". I think if you can provide the proper conditions to help them settle in, once they do they can be more as bullet proof as any coral. I have seen my systems go through some nasty stuff lately due to my neglect. I lost a lot of coral, but all 5 of my "impossible" anemones (3 mags, 2 giganteas) are still going strong.

ritteri/H.mag IME will want as much light as you can throw at them and good strong (alternating?) water movement. They will climb to the highest spot in the tank directly under the light source (halides) and stay there IME. I dont use chillers.

Nice anemone and clowns Nick! :D
 
BCT,
Thanks for the kind words...I was sorry to see you were taking down the 1000 gallon tank. Hopefully you can find a nice healthy H.magnifica with some smokin colors and get a gorgeous display with it.

Rod, I knew you had the one...when did you get the others? BTW, its not true less you post the pics as proof! Thanks for the compliments. The clowns came this crazy guy in Illinois who is growing them in a lab in his basement.....:D

The female gets snotty if I get too close....

Nick
 
I will see if I can get some pics up soon. You saw the first, the second came from a store that was afraid of losing it, and the 3rd is a clone from another local guy.

you picked up your clowns from that lunatic on 08/03/2006. A day that I will never forget
 
LOL....I guess he's cross breeding them with Bulldogs, cause the female acts like one when I get near her Nem.

How long have you had the clone?

Nick
 
heh. their parents and most of their siblings (that I'm familiar with) are very docile, but I do have one female that I kept that is also very.. um.. protective :D

Ive had the clone for a few months (4-8?) It was huge when I got it. Basketball size maybe. Hasnt grown much since.
 
Rod, I knew you had the one...when did you get the others? BTW, its not true less you post the pics as proof!

Nick

Sorry its taken awhile (Carribean cruise) but here is the proof.

Ill post all 3 in three separate posts. Im not too good at this so give me a little time to make 3 posts.. After that, I will post my giganteas and crispa if no one minds the hijack.

This is the purple footed one. Its much nicer looking in person (as with all of my mags).

This one houses a pair of nigripes.

DSCN5170.jpg


DSCN5356.jpg


DSCN5339.jpg


This is the smallest. It usually opens to about 10-12 inches..

Next up, the clone.....
(give me awhile)....
 
The clone from a local reefer.. Houses a pair of skunks.. Usually opens to 18" + and the guy that I got it from, said this was the small clone.. Heh..:lol: The guy couldnt find a home for it, so I had to make room :D

The foot is a cream color the oral disc is purpleish with yellow tips. Bigger and prettier than the pics show.

DSCN5485.jpg


DSCN5490.jpg


Next up, the original. (the one that you saw)
 
The original.. nothing special.. Kinda plain.. kinda ugly (beauty is in the eye of ...) can reach every bit of 24".. I dont have any good shots of this one.. Has a pair of faded onyx

DSCN5507.jpg


DSCN5504.jpg


Next up the crispa.. (Remove that one if you feel that its off topic)
 

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