Malu Questions

[NaClCrocodile]

When I first looked into anemones, a purple Malu anemone caught my eye. I did a little digging and saw that it was difficult to maintain so I dropped the search. Live Aquaria had two about a week ago and it rekindled my interest in these beautiful anemones. My question is, why are they so hard to maintain? How big do they typically get? Basically, why wouldn't I get one of these for my next reef/sps tank?

 

[ezhoops]

of the hosting anem's I thought they were one of the less difficult but I don't own one or never had. sorry not much help

 

[monicaswizzle]

Well, I just bought one of those from DFS LA. See my thread about acclimation so far.

It is true that most references list them as somewhat more difficult than the difficult ones (all anemones are considered advanced). At least one reference I checked indicated that they are hard to acclimate, but if that works they can actually be pretty tough. That is my hope.

I believe they only host one clown in the wild, which is a concern for some.

As far as size goes, I have read that they are on the "small" side for the carpet anemones, maybe maxing out around 12-18 inches. According to one book that is really "too small" to be a good host anemone and they are therefore usually "nursery" for small clowns.

Sorry not to have specific references. I take it all with a grain of salt anyway. We are talking about species that we have very much more to learn about.

Good luck making a good choice. I certainly understand the aesthetic appeal!

 

[jupiter]

They are hard to acclimate, not necessarily hard to keep (wrt host anemones). Once you have a happy one, you will have no problems. But experience with anemones will probably allow you to notice problems before they get worse. Of course, when things start going wrong it is usually because the anemone is unhealthy in the first place so there isn't much you can do after that.

IMO, experience gives you one benefit: It allows you to pick a healthy animal from the getgo. I think a lot of people who haven't dealt with many anemones tend to either not know the anemone is unhealthy or they are so eager to get one that they think the anemone is "well enough" and think it will get better. People who have experience will not even attempt a "slightly unhealthy" anemone. The issue really is, you don't even have to be an expert to know an anemone won't make it. If it isn't perfect when you see it at the store, it hasn't attached, is shrivelled ... ignore it and move on. If it hasn't attached but looks otherwise healthy, leave it and come back the next day. A healthy anemone will be attached by then.
I also wouldn't suggest buying an anemone online unless you really and truly trust the source with anemones. This usually means you have purchassed anemones from them in the past and hence, have some experience.

There are people who have luck right from the start. They buy their first anemone and it outlives their tank and their interest in the hobby, but don't let these people dictate the ease of anemone-keeping. They are either extremely lucky or they have heeded all the warnings and have taken meaures to ensure their first anemone is a good one.

There are 3 important items on the anemone checklist:
1) Lighting
2) Sand bed/Rock work
3) Water flow

Each species has specific needs so make sure you meet these. Always err on the side of caution. If the anemone is a sand dweller, get 6" deep sand even if Joe down the street keeps them in 3" for the past 3 years. Maybe you can get away with 3" but it just becomes another factor to consider if the anemone dies.

I'm going for lunch now.

 

[WDLV]

There are people who have luck right from the start. They buy their first anemone and it outlives their tank and their interest in the hobby

I like everything you said but would like to touch on this point. When I have come across these people in the past it seems like it's always someone who isn't "into" the hobby. They saw animals they liked, they bought them and they left them alone after adding them.... They don't test their water and don't add suppliments. They change the water occasionally, run out dated equipment and don't move equipment around.

This speaks volumes about what those of us who are "into" the hobby should be doing.

1. Keep your grubby paws out of the tank and allow the tank to mature on it's own and in it's own way.

I think that this hobby is really simple for those people who make it simple. Unfortunately, I and most of the people reading this are not such people. :lol:

I'm gonna start a new thread on the topic.

 

[NaClCrocodile]

Lol so true. Thanks for the responses, I didn't know that they aren't usually hosts. I think if I do get one, I'll be keeping it in a species tank.

I'm lucky to not have to go to a LFS for anemones, there's a local hobbyist who keeps a stock of BTA variants that he frags regularly. I've been looking into anemones since the start about seven months ago. I haven't gotten one yet lol. Patience is a virtue.

 

[jupiter]

I didn't know that they aren't usually hosts.

They are a natural host but only to clarki clowns (and juvenile white spot damsels). However, they are usually well accepted by other clownfish species. They are nice anemones and I wouldn't blame anyone for wanting one if they saw it at the LFS.

 

[WDLV]

They do host other clowns in captivity. My male leuc liked it before I got a female and moved them into another tank.

 

[NaClCrocodile]

They are a natural host but only to clarki clowns (and juvenile white spot damsels). However, they are usually well accepted by other clownfish species. They are nice anemones and I wouldn't blame anyone for wanting one if they saw it at the LFS.

The LFS's in town aren't too great. They get condy and aiptasia nems in pretty regularly but that's about it.

 

[WDLV]

Where's home? Maybe someone knows of a better one near you.