Anemone sources, best places to purchase?

[PortWolf]

I've been browsing around looking for online stores to purchase anemones but.

There always seems like there's slim selections here and there or multiple listings of the same anemone.

Does anyone have some sites that they would suggest?
I have a dual 30 gallon rack stand I'm going to setup soon and use the bottom tank as a macro display refugium. Top tank dedicated anemones.

 

[Cliving1]

What kind of anemone are you looking for? Anemones are so finicky I prefer to buy them in person so I know what im looking at. Liveaquaria has a decent selection

 

[davocean]

Liveaquaria is a good source and I agree it really depends on type of nem you are looking for in several areas, they are not all the same nor have same requirements, but one requirement that seems pretty constant is having an established and stable tank, and that is usually 6 mo or better to achieve, so I's suggest setting up, per that nems requirements, and read up while searching.

 

[Kinetic]

ebay has a few pop up from time to time.

I bought one from AquaDreams (https://www.ebay.com/usr/aquadreams1?_trksid=p2047675.l2559) and he/she runs a real shop and is super responsive. Within half an hour of paying, my shipment was already on its way. The anemone I got was really healthy and nice. The photos are definitely way over saturated, so just expect something 1/4" of what you see (in terms of color) and pay for as much, and you should be happy.

I've yet to find a good source of anemones in stock, especially with lineage or any consistency. Mostly just wild collected ones that are slightly quarantined.

AquaSD releases some fancy ones. There's also a facebook group that does insane auctions, but I've never been able to compete with that.

 

[davocean]

^^ Many of those places have photos that are over saturated or pics are taken under actinics, and it can be very dissapointing on delivery, especially at some of the prices being asked.
I look at hands, containers, eggcrate, frag plugs, anything purple that should be white gives an idea of what's what, and I agree this is why I really try to buy in person, but many folks do not have this option.

 

[Kinetic]

^^ Many of those places have photos that are over saturated or pics are taken under actinics, and it can be very dissapointing on delivery, especially at some of the prices being asked.
I look at hands, containers, eggcrate, frag plugs, anything purple that should be white gives an idea of what's what, and I agree this is why I really try to buy in person, but many folks do not have this option.

With every photo anyone takes, it's 100% way different in real life. You just need to understand that before purchasing.

Here's a photo of my rainbow:

I understand photography (not only have I shot professionally for a good chunk of my career, but I also work on the technology behind photo editing in my company). Even this photo is a bit cooler than sunlight, and to be honest very few things look good in exact sunlight kelvin.

Very few people will take a photo like this. People do "White lights only," when those white lights are still EXTREMELY cool. They're just whiter than actinics, which isn't even close.

The other thing is, some people don't run their tanks with anything than heavy actinics/blues, so maybe for them it's OK.

Here's a shot with just natural light from outside of my clowns:

 

[davocean]

Yeah photography was my main study and field at one time, and I understand, and even every comp screen will look different, but sometimes it's so obvious something was pushed or lights were heavy actinic.

I saw an auction ad someone posted last week, and the guys hand was just completely purple, and everyone was so hyped up on an extremely highly priced nem among other things, and it's like I WANT to say hey....but you know how it goes stepping on toes...but people should be made aware what they see in pics is not always what you are getting.

Often people that don't know any better just think their lights/tank sucks.

 

[Kinetic]

Yeah photography was my main study and field at one time, and I understand, and even every comp screen will look different, but sometimes it's so obvious something was pushed or lights were heavy actinic.

I saw an auction ad someone posted last week, and the guys hand was just completely purple, and everyone was so hyped up on an extremely highly priced nem among other things, and it's like I WANT to say hey....but you know how it goes stepping on toes...but people should be made aware what they see in pics is not always what you are getting.

Often people that don't know any better just think their lights/tank sucks.

Yeah I totally agree with everything you're saying. I never want to be a downer and point out the fact that the seller is actually Barney, or maybe the lights are bumped in the wrong direction

I used to want a Day Glow BTA, there's even one on ebay right now, but I'm pretty sure these actually look super light tan / brown in a tank without only blues on. For that price, probably not worth it for my setup.

So far, I feel like having extremely low expectations before purchasing is a great way to approach buying anything for these tanks. If that low of an expectation at that price works, then it's worth it. There's only upside from there, like if it comes and totally blows your mind.

 

[davocean]

I never want to be a downer and point out the fact that the seller is actually Barney
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Davo:
Lol, that is a very good descriptive term I may use as a hint...

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So far, I feel like having extremely low expectations before purchasing is a great way to approach buying anything for these tanks.

Or research for the ones known to keep colors you are looking for, Malus were my go to for a while as they keep super bright colors, some LTA's as well, and and for some time I've been mainly focused on mags

BTA's for me just wander too much for a mixed reef, and so hit or miss on colors.

 

[Kinetic]

Or research for the ones known to keep colors you are looking for, Malus were my go to for a while as they keep super bright colors, some LTA's as well, and and for some time I've been mainly focused on mags

BTA's for me just wander too much for a mixed reef, and so hit or miss on colors.

Good tips!

 

[PortWolf]

No specific group atm, I'd like to get a look at what's available and plan around that.