Anemone question

[HowardCath]

I just got a long tentacle anemone tonight (my first attempt with an anemone) in hopes that it might accept my mated pair of ocellis clowns. I tried to place it in the corner of my tank where the clowns habitually reside and away from corals. I tried digging a depression in the sand and surrounding it with a bit of rock, but the anemone just rolled right out with the mild current. If I keep it in that location for a while, will it possible decide to right itself and gain a foothold into the sand? I finally "caged" it with a plastic cage to prevent it from wandering (actually blowing or tumbling) across the tank. It's just been in the tank for about 3 hours so far and I'm going to bed. Any advise? See pics below:

 

[ol'salty]

It's possible to keep one in place as you have. However, they will move where they choose to in an effort to find a suitable spot.

 

[ol'salty]

Just a quick note...don't let it "attach" to the cage!

 

[fishdoc11]

You might get some additional help here Howard:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=36
Chris

 

[Angela Short]

Can it attach to the sand? I think it would need something solid like rock but I am no expert on anemonies

 

[DMBillies]

My experience with anemones is that their suitable location is usually in a crack between rocks (but never the crack that you choose) so that they can retract to a safe spot if threatened or bothered. I'd try placing it on the rock work. Mine have always attached pretty quickly (think an hour or less). They will wander until they find a nice spot. Just make sure they it doesn't run over or smother corals. Some corals are more sensitive than others to the stinging, but I wouldn't say it's good for any of them.

Good luck with the hosting... once the anemone gets its spot, I'm sure the clowns will love it.

 

[stlver1]

i had always thought that even once they had found i good spot, that they were able to still move around from place to place...idk..dont hvae a wholelot of experience with them...just wondering.

 

[TOURKID]

ltas are sand dwellers. you have the right idea with the indentation and rocks around it. sometimes they will put theyre foot under a rock in the sand

bubble tip anemones are rock dwellers. they cant dig in the sand like ltas.

bubble tips esp but ltas too can move anytime they want. the blow up real big and 'swim' floating in the currents, hop off a rock to the sand, and litterally walk around. its quite a sight

 

[HowardCath]

Thanks everybody. I'll let you know how it goes. He was still unattached when I came home this evening.

 

[HowardCath]

I think he may be attaching. I dug deeper in the sand and corralled him more closely with rock. (As was said, info. is that LTA attach in sand and BTA attach to rock) His foot was elongated now, after spending the day on his side in the plastic cage. After 2 escape attempts, rolling onto his head and trying to walk out on his tentacles, he/she has stayed put for 90 minutes. He hasn't earned my trust yet, so I have moved my computer in front of the tank. I have my cage ready!

 

[HowardCath]

 

[grannybj]

I have had a LTA for 8 months and it is still moving around some. In fact it has gotten into the powerhead once and the skimmer pump once. I tried covering the powerhead but it just kept it from working properly and I needed the movement for my corals. It seems to be doing fine since it's last pump encounter. I finally took the clay pot away from my mated occelaris clowns and stuck his foot off in it with a little sand and then put a powerhead in a position to blow almost directly on him and he has stayed put for over 2 weeks now. He is 10 inches in diameter when he spreads out so he is a strange site with that flower pot under him...but hey ..whatever works. On another note, you mentioned you got it in hopes that your clowns would host in it ...well mine have not even gotten close to mine , I had the clowns first and that means that in 8 months , no contact. I did learn later that only wild raised clowns will host and I am sure mine were tank raised so I have little hope that they will ever do it . I thought the night I put him in thier clay pot they were going to get close enough to call it contact cause they were upset but they soon settled down. Good luck with your anemone and post if you get the clowns to host it so I can reinstate the hope that mine will someday .
BJ

 

[HowardCath]

Thanks. At least they are in the same corner for now.