Bangaii survival

[jc]

Today I was looking at my tank and I noticed a new fish. Against all odds a bangaii fry survived being born in my tank and is living inside a RBTA. My pair of adult cardinals always seem to be spawning. The furthest I have ever seen them go is to have some tiny babies rush back into the mouth of one of them. I have lots of fish and I know that the pseudochromis, wrasse or trigger would love to eat them. I guess this little guy got lucky. I wonder how long he can live in the anemone? Who knew they could even live in there? He is about 1/4 inch long.

[matt]

In nature I believe the fry often hide among the spines of urchins, and I've seen a photo of someone who built an artificial urchin out of a clay ball and some toothpicks for the fry to live in. I guess you'd have to be careful about the type of clay you used; maybe a styrofoam ball would work and not be too toxic, but of course you'd have to tie it down somehow. If you don't have a diadema urchin, you might consider getting one. They're great algae eaters; in fact, I'm going to get one for my corner tank.

[jc]

I think my trigger fish might eat the urchin.