Condy's - yes? No?

[kdwal]

Recently visited LFS, looking around, Saw a nice looking Condy, LFS guy said, "good, easy to keep".
Came home and did some reading, there are varying opinions on keeping them from definetly "NO" to "MAYBE" to "YES".
I am just in the beginning stages of stocking my tank, have a cleanup crew and am pondering my next step. I have seen some awesome photos of everyone's SPS and would like to make sure I make good choices. With such varying opinions I am hoping that some of you can clear up the questions.
I have no fish yet....
30 g - tank, LR, DBS
1-96W Daylight & 1-96W Actinic blue


Thanks,
Kathy

 

[Doug1]

They are Atlantic, and not normally clown hosts, fish eaters as a rule

 

[kdwal]

I'm hearing.......not a good investment......?!


Kathy

 

[mattseattle]

always go with a Rose BTA. Very nice and the prices have come way down on them recently. I just bought one off e-bay for 20.00 plus the shipping. It's beautiful and my clowns love it.

 

[Ray Pollett]

One thing to understand about anemones. While some people get lucky and keep one alive in a newly set up tank that is not the norm. They do much better and have a higher survival rate in well established tanks ( 6-12 month old after the cycle is complete). I would wait and get more experience with your tank and see it is remaining stable before you get an anemone.

Ray

 

[Desolas]

As far as an anemone goes, they are very easy to keep, but being Atlantic like already said they like a little cooler water (74-77F, some cooler) and they aren't really suitable for tanks with any corals. They get pretty big, quickly, and they can move fast. In a day they can easily cover a 48" tank, they will try to take almost anything into their mouths so their tentacles will sting almost everything that it touches.

I had a tank with four condylactus gigantea, it was 29" and there really was not room for anything else after 6 months. They were all about 10" across, and would eat anything. The only thing I was able to keep with them was Caulerpa and a few Damselfish. So IMO, yes they are cool, yes you can keep them (in a mature system and proper environment) but they are not reef safe and are probably best left to a species only tank.

From what it sounds like you want to do, I would not buy one.

 

[kdwal]

Thanks all for the feed back........
I will not go the Condy route, at least not in this tank, as I do want to keep some fish.
Again, referencing my reading.......mushrooms and polyp's would be a better and safer way to go? Any other suggestions for the "new" tank so that it will grow in to a 'beautious' display.

Thanks again,
Kathy