breeding setup: preventing biological warfare

[nightlight]

I'd like to breed two different anemone species in their separate tanks, but both connected to the same tank for filtration (inc. live rock/skimmers/UV etc.). The setup ensures none of the anemone tanks is fed with water that is not filtered.
Anemones are known for their biological warfare if they "smell" other species.

Is there a possibility the anemones can "smell" each other by this setup and start releasing their toxins?

Can skimmers filter out anemone toxins to prevent the other anemone species from growing?

 

[davocean]

Do you mean housing 2 different nems(not breeding)?
There can be chem warfare between diff species, yes, usually if too close, small tank, but usually just running carbon will take care of it.
Most of the challenge w/ diff species is diff light/flow needs, or placement.

 

[Ron Popeil]

i would say for most species of anemones, combining them into a single system wont produce "chemical warfare". but running carbon will certainly help if that is a concern.

 

[nightlight]

breeding done asexually by splitting. For instance, one tank with only RBTA's (one type, and only consisting of clones), and one tank with GBTA's.

This setup means there will always be enough distance between different species, but I don't know if anemones release substances in their waste that can not be filtered out and may trigger toxins to be released by the other species if they "smell" this.
I couldn't find any literature about what triggers anemones warfare behavior apart from touchings.

 

[Ron Popeil]

well if youre dealing exclusively with e. quadricolor, then you wont have any chemical warfare to worry about being that GBTAs and RBTAs are the same species of anemone. i have heard of damaged h. magnificas releasing nematocysts that have killed the vertebrates in entire systems, but never of damaged quadricolors stressing or killing other anemones or vertebrates.

if in doubt, carbon or some form of poly filter pad will help remove any such toxins.

 

[nightlight]

Ron, thank you for sharing this. Were these magnificas damaged by predators eating from it, or was it damaged due to stinging of another type of anemone?

Are nematocysts visible when they are released in the water?
Do you know what signs in behavior anemones have if they die because of released nematocysts? I read that in such events they die slowly (weeks/months). Is this true?

 

[Ron Popeil]

from what i remember, the anemone was damaged while going through an overflow. the resulting injury caused the anemone to release its nematocysts and all of the fish in the tank died shortly after.

they are microscopic.

the only time ive had problems with anemones that i attribute to different species competing with each other is magnificas and haddonis. i have kept these species individually, but when combined both anemones appear stressed with the haddoni usually perishing shortly after. they appeared deflated, shrunken and withdrawn during these experiences. this is only speculation however, as any other combination of anemone ive kept hasnt developed problems.

 

[nightlight]

Knowing that a single damaged anemone that spread nematocysts can destroying all cultured species is quite a risk. The benefit of a centralized system (from a maintenance point of view) is however big.
Yes, separate filtering for the different species, but shared filtering for same species with different colors sounds the best way to go. Thanks davocean and Ron for the help.

 

[davocean]

OK, not sure if that is considered breeding, or propigating, but just a terminolgy thing.
As for GBTA's or RBTA's, yeah, same species, no issues, even in same tank/touching.
They are the only host nem I'm certain of as splitting goes, whether done by them or assisted by you, wouldn't try this w/ any other species just FYI.