Can anemone's build up a tolerance to each other over time?

[taylor t]

I find this interesting. I have a mertens, malu, and gig all in the same tank. The malu has been inside the bottome of a vinegar container for quite some time, for easy moving around for me. The mertens and malu have been together for a long time, a few years atleast. I added the gig back in march. When the gig expanded, and touched the malu, it retracted immediately, and the tentacles looked like they got burned from the gig, and looked really curly where they met. I moved the malu closer to the mertens, and they don't react in the least as they brush up against each other day after day. I have a dozen baby clowns that migrate between the three. And, on top of this, I have a green hammer anchor coral, that packs more punch than the anemone's. I moved it behind the mertens/malu. The mertens retracts immediately when it brushes up against the hammer coral.

Is it possible, anemone's adapt over time to touching each other? Since the gig was a recent addition earlier this year, it may take more time? Maybe since the baby clowns keep changing which anemone they are in all the time?

Here's some pics I thought everyone may enjoy.


They show absolutely no reaction from brushing up against each other. I was shocked when I realized this.


The hammer seems to pack more punch than the anemones do.

 

[taylor t]

Here's a couple from a couple days ago. No reactions between the two.




Built up tolerance?

 

[OrionN]

I had similar problem also. I got Malu and Gigantea together. Initially when to thw tentacles touch thye both retract quickly. I take this as a sign that they sting each other and separated them with a tile. After several years, they seem to tolerate each other without problem, even touching.
However, I never did see any visible injury to either anemone back then or now.

 

[JasonD]

Minh,

Can you put a Gigantea and a Hadonni together? Since they are more closely related, or will they fight?

Jason

 

[OrionN]

I have had Haddoni touching Gigantea without problem. S. tapetum also no problem with the three together