Host anemones allopathic interactions

[elegance coral]

Looking at those anemones in the vid, I do not believe they were stinging each other.

I agree with that. These anemones were not firing nematocysts into each other.

Anemones cover their surrounding with mucus, or slime. They don't sting things that are covered in this slime. Which is why they don't sting themselves or waste venom on nearby rocks, or other structures.

I've seen my gigantea completely destroy a colony of aiptasia simply by laying its polyp over the top of them. Obviously, it wasn't stinging the aiptasia. If anything, the aiptasia were in a position to sting the gigantea, but the gigantea won that battle. The only thing that makes sense to me is that the mucus produced by gigantea has allelopathic properties. At least against the anemone aiptasia.

What would have happened to my gigantea and magnifica after prolonged and direct contact with each others mucus? Well......... I honestly don't know because I wasn't about to leave them together long enough to find out.

 

[elegance coral]

I believe one anemone can detect chemical of the other animal WITHOUT TOUCHING IT. In open ocean or aquarium

I agree with this. If a juvenile clownfish can detect chemicals from its host without seeing or touching it, there's no reason to think that another anemone couldn't detect those same chemicals.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...osukrzFtt8JmIPllmuFzmFQ&bvm=bv.42553238,d.eWU

Quote from the link.
"Researchers have previously shown that clownfish are attracted to a chemical cue from anemones, and the team found that the fish strongly preferred water that had been exposed to anemones versus water that had not."

The only way the above quote could be possible is if the anemone was actively releasing chemicals into the water.

 

[reefkeeper2]

Here is an update. Everything looks great. Both nems unchanged.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

 

[gfox2]

Been reading thru this thread and it seems there are different opinions on allopathy in anemones.I might something going on in my tank.I have had several RBTA's in my tank for 6 plus years.I added a Lemon Drop about 3 months ago and it has gotten smaller.It shrinks up almost every day and poops.I added a Colorado Sunburst about month ago and it settled well and open up.In the last week it has moved around and shrunk up and not fastend itself to anything.What would be the best thing to do to help out the Sunburst water changes?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

hobbyist names!

hobbyist names!

are ALL of these anemones Entacmaea quadricolor ie "Bubble tip anemones"?

 

[gfox2]

Should have been clearer.Yes they are all bubble tips.Since i last posted the Sunburst attached its self to the overflow and its on the move.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

well... from what I know... it is possible that anemones of the same species (collected from different locales) do not "get along".

Remember- species are determined by what is known by man.... and there are a LOT of unknowns that remain!

However unlikely it may seem, it's very possible your anemones are aggravating one another.

That's MY opinion and I'm sticking (pun intended) to it

 

[gfox2]

If allopathy is going on do water changes help out the problem?I have heard carbon is no help.Looking back when i put the Sunburst in the tank an hour later the water was cloudy for awhile.Not sure where it came from.In the last hour it is looking better,it is now attached to live rock.Any suggestions?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

carbon will help if chemical warfare is happening but will do nothing for nematocysts shed into water column.

water changes can temporarily help correct either problem if (either one)happening.

IMO/IME it's standard procedure for me to change water regularly, run carbon and run mechanical filtration on the order of 100 microns (or less) and in such a captive environment I would expect to see few (if any) problems

 

[gfox2]

Thanks for the post.I will do a water change and see what happens later on.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

good luck

good luck

and post a pic of those beautiful anemones!

 

[gfox2]

here are few pics

 

[gfox2]

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

crazy nice :thumbsup:

 

[gfox2]

Here is a better pic having trouble with photobucket

 

[gfox2]

With the Sunburst not open up all the way would you feed it?Or just let be?

 

[cichlidconvert]

I wanted to add my two cents worth. I think I have a unique experience on this issue. I keep 7 different species of anemone in a 110 display. There are around 65-70 individual anemones packed in there. They are coldwater nems. I tend to have them grouped together by species but some are close to each other. I have 5 different ones on the same rock. My painted and christmas anemones touch and cuddle and no problem. But when any other nem is in reach they grab them and instantly begin to devour what ever no matter how big. My white spotted rose will battle at the slightest touch but does not move to get close at all. But my smallest nems are aggregating nems and "walk" around battling by nettleing from a distance. I have felt this first hand when moving nems that were doing this. I was touching neither but felt "stinging" on my fingers as they were between the two nems.Also aggregating nems split like mad and for colonies. and each colony will battle rival colonies in the aquarium. through nettling. Currently for three weeks my white spotted rose has been battling a much smaller aggregating and have a standoff. you can see where the nettling a has curled the tips of the rose but no other ill effects noticed. And with all the fighting occurring there isn't any chemical warfare happening. I don't run a skimmer, I have some mechanical filtration, and a chemi pure bag sitting in a tray at the top of the display. And once a month or so, I do a 30-35 gallon water change. I guess what I am saying is that I dont have near what reef filtration is and don't suffer aleopathy nor does the constant nettling affect even the fish. all of this is coldwater so that is a huge factor. But a different stand point for sure.
I too want to incorporate Either my BTA tank into the same sump or pull out the BTAs put in a mag or two in that tank. I run the outflow directly over a bag of purigen and have carbon and chemi-pure to put in the sump if neccessary. But I am a bit nervous due to my rare find of 2 super healthy gigs. But my first thought is it would be safe for the mags but not sure about the BTA's despite the fact that I switched my BTA sump to the carpet tank the day before putting the gigs in. I imagine there was residual something in there and doesn't look like a problem...yet lol.

 

[gfox2]

I would like advice on what to do with BTA's not getting along together.Here is alittle background on the problem.I have a 60 cube mixed reef.I have had a RBTA for 5 plus years that a split a number of times over that span.i had at least 3 to 5 RBTA's when i added a Colorado Sunburst about a month ago.The sunburst settled in good was open up after about 3 days, just after releasing the Sunburst in the tank i noticed it was cloudy milky like not sure where it came from.Here in the last week to 10 days the sunburst has been moving around and shrinking and pooping ever day,but is not opening up like it was.I took out 3 RBTA's yesterday to see if it would help the Sunburst so far no.Will i have to choose on BTA iin the tank.Any suggestions?Also did a water change last weekend,have carbon in a bag in the overflow.

 

[gfox2]

Any opinions on the last post?

 

[cichlidconvert]

Well I can only offer my experience and opinion here. I had 8 Bta in a 46 dt and everything was going good. But when my rainbow bta split both nems got a crinkled look to their tentacles and were not as good of eaters. I removed the clone this week and the main one is starting to look better. Something was happening just not sure what or how.