dsoz Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 How many people have kept an anemone alive for long periods (1 year? 5 years? more???) I have heard that most anemones do not survive the first few months in a fish tank. I was wondering if there is a difference if the tank was set up as a reef with the high intensity lighting. Because many anemones die within the first months of being put in a tank I was considering not getting one at all, and am still leaning towards not get one for at least the first year of setting up a tank. But my wife was disappointed that I was not planning on getting an anemone. I told her that clowns would sometimes host in some corals (hammer, bubble, frogspawn) and I would try one of those types of coral when the tank is established. I would feel horrible if I was to buy a wild anemone where they have a lifespan of 100 years or so, and then only be able to keep it for 2 months before it dies. I also know that there are some that have been able to "split" their anemones... whether this is through intentionally cutting or natural budding/splitting. How common is this? How likely is it that I would be able to get one of these "tank raised" anemones? How likely is it that I could do this myself? (is this an area of research that can be accomplished by people in a group like this? Is this a PhD in biology level question? Anyone looking for a thesis?) (peace) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nu2reef-n Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I've had the same anemone for over a year, maybe longer. It has split three times. Just feed it, it will split. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 It greatly depends on your tank, I have two anemones that I have kept for a year, they are both at least quadruple their size now, good light and most people will argue but I contest good flow is a must. If you have that and can keep your SPS away (well them from walking) they will thrive. My clowns host a Sebae and I have another bubble tip style that decided to loose its bubble and turn into a monster growing from a 2" coral to about a 7" coral right now (thats the base). They get big if they are happy, and dirty tanks within reason do well also, they need lots of light to feed off their zooxanthellae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 When you are ready for one, start looking for a tank split anem. should have better luck with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 It also depends on the species... From my experience, seabaes seem to be fairly hardy and easy to keep...then bubble tips are up there of the easier ones to keep...If you want to try one, keep an eye out at your local fish store and if you see one, ask how long they have had it, if they tell you they have had it for a while, you should be ok...and get a seabae, you should not have a problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I have been keeping bubble tip anemones for 2 years now. Mine have split numerous times. We started out with 2 bubble tips and at one time we had 8 in our tank. I have given away several, taken some to the LFS for trade, and have one in my sump right now. I think I have 4 in the main display currently. Mine are just a brown bubble tip. Not a cool green or a nice rose. As for a clown hosting in them. My clown prefers either my colt or my frogspawn. Even when one of the anemones was very close to the colt, my clownfish didn't take a second glance. And I know I will probably get flamed for this one.... I never feed my anemones. Jay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theron Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I have had an green bubble tip anemone for almost two years now. It has been very healthy. It was a bit difficult when I first got it. It kept moving around the tank. It ended up in my overflow, got stuck on the closed loop intake. Finally it found a permanent home in a hole in the rock and has stayed there ever since. I have not fed him in probably 6 months. Just provide him with plenty of light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I had an anemone for aroung 6-7 months that split once. I got rid of it when I decided to keep mostly sps' and didn't want it to sting anything. Never really fed it as my clown fish would do that for me. The clown would eat a piece of food and then grab a second and feed the anem.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josh Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I have rose bubble tips and a green bubble tip that i've had for over a year. the RBTA has split a few times as has the green. My green has never moved (except for his splits) and didn't split until i aimed a powerhead at him in attempt to get him move. He split twice over the course of the next few days. My reds move a bit more and split every few months, but I think its a feeding thing. I think they'd split more if I fed more. I wish I could remember the thread but I read on the reef tank of a guy who could consistently reproduce splitting in his anemones with a regimen of feeding followed by a large water change. I think he fed two to four times a week for a few weeks and then did a 20ish percent water change and induced splitting consistently in over 70% of his anemones. Check out some pictures of steve weast's tank (oregonreef.com i think for old pics, search this site for new ones). He started with a rose bta or two and now has a garden! This site http://www.karensroseanemones.com/ is an excellent anemone resource in my opinion. I have yet to prove her wrong. I love my anemones, sometimes they upset me with the occasional coral burn or whatever. would definitaly be sweet to have an anemone only tank. or an anemone mostly tank I'm sure you can find a tank raised. I think upscales has them occasionally. I'll have one for sale if my recent rose split ever comes out from hiding. Have fun! Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbrownies Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 well she can't spell bologna (ballony) you could prove her wrong on that Great info on that site though I expecially love the pics of the split of two mouths, thats AWESOME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefboy Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Rose anem is your best choice plus theres alot of local access to tank raised i personaly would stay away from a sebae there one of the harder anemones to keep instead go with a long tentcale if you want a sand bed varity(Macrodactyla doreensis) but make sure you have enough light to reach bottom if you go with this type otherwise go with a bubble tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy-S Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 I have this crispa for over five years and this rose bta for over three. I have never directly feed ether one. rbta crispa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 LOL Randy, there is no way you took those with a point and shoot, just crazy!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefgeek84 Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Rose anem is your best choice plus theres alot of local access to tank raised i personaly would stay away from a sebae there one of the harder anemones to keep instead go with a long tentcale if you want a sand bed varity(Macrodactyla doreensis) but make sure you have enough light to reach bottom if you go with this type otherwise go with a bubble tip. My step dad has had a seabae under compacts for years...From my experience, they are one of the easiest to keep... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impur Posted February 21, 2007 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Randy's holding out on us! (laugh) :p This is a great thread, great info everyone. I'm going to start looking for a rose bubbletip in the next few months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illcssd Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 I've kept anemone's my entire length i have been in the hobby, they are a big reason i got into this hobby and i have spent countless hours reading and learning about them lol. Currently i have a Merten's sea anemone, and a h. crispa. I have had the merten's a few months, since late Dec, and the crispa going on three years. Up until about a month ago i had kept a Magnifica anemone for 5 yrs but my water got tweaked by something and i lost it unfortunately. On the topic of sebae's--h. crispa, i would definitely disagree on the level of difficulty some have stated. They generally come in bleached because they don't ship well. These ones require real stable water parameters and frequent feedings because they don't have zooanthellae to provide them with food from the light. Regaining that can be quite a challenge and that's why they are difficult to keep imo. If you find a healthy one that's not bleached out and have high light and medium-high flow they are relatively easy to keep. Still not easy to keep as a e. quadricolor(bta). Which will except any decent amount of lighting and no real preference to flow. Also it should be mentioned that not all host anemone's split in captivity, or in nature afaik. Only bta's and very rarely magnifica's have been none to split. Long tentacle's, Crispa's, Haddoni, and anything else less common have not been known to split in captivity. fwiw austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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