requirments for keeping anemones?

[Guygettnby]

hello, i am trying to start keeping anemones and some corals and this would be my first time keeping them.

what would be your recomendations as a first time anemone? i currently have some curly Q's and some sort of blood red anemone that came on some live rock that seem to be doing ok as of right now but i dont have a good light at all. i am using a full spectrum light right now.

what is needed to keep them? how often do they need to be target feed? what is the best food to feed them?

sorry for all the questions, i am just realy looking forward to getting my tank finished up and the search button is not my friend on this site.....it is always telling me the server is to busy:mad2:

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Curly Qs are good starters, as are Condylactis. Both will eat fish and sting corals, so mix with extreme caution. Feed meaty chunks (mysis, krill) once a week or so. Keep water quality high, and run nearly-reef-quality lighting.

 

[Guygettnby]

thanks for your input john!

 

[kkyyllee]

how old is ur tank? what lighting do you have?
bta and lta are easier nems

 

[55semireef]

I wouldn't recommend LTAs as of yet. Those can be more trickier than BTAs per say.

Guygettnby, how long has your tank been setup? Before introducing any anemone I would have a tank that has been up and running with liverock for about 8 months. It's good to have an established tank because your tank is more stable and stability is one of the major factors to success when keeping anemones and even corals.

I started out with a Condy anemone and despite how much you hear about how easy they are to take care of, I still had some difficulity. I was running PCs at the time and my Condy needed stronger lighting.

As for a healthy anemone diet, I like to feed my anemones pieces of silversides, shrimp, lance fish, scallops, clams and squid. You don't have to feed your anemone all of those types of seafoods but that is just a list of what you can feed your anemone. Anemones need meaty foods so don't bother feeding them phytoplankton, zooplankton or mysis. It is good to feed your anemone about 2-3 times per week.

When I was first getting into anemones I read this:

http://www.carlosreef.com/AnemoneFAQ.pdf

It helped me out a lot as a beginner. However most of the things I have learned about anemones are mainly from personal experience. It really depends on how much of an observer you are.

 

[bluerug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10454622#post10454622 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
I wouldn't recommend LTAs as of yet. Those can be more trickier than BTAs per say.

Guygettnby, how long has your tank been setup? Before introducing any anemone I would have a tank that has been up and running with liverock for about 8 months. It's good to have an established tank because you water is more stable and stability is one of the major factors to success when keeping anemones and even corals.

I started out with a Condy anemone and despite how much you hear about how easy they are to take care of, I still had some difficulty. I was running PCs at the time and my Condy needed stronger lighting.

As for a healthy anemone diet, I like to feed my anemones pieces of silversides, shrimp, lance fish, scallops, clams and squid. You don't have to feed your anemone all of those types of seafoods but that is just a list of what you can feed your anemone. Anemones need meaty foods so don't bother feeding them phytoplankton, zooplankton or mysis. It is good to feed your anemone about 2-3 times per week.

When I was first getting into anemones I read this:

http://www.carlosreef.com/AnemoneFAQ.pdf

It helped me out a lot as a beginner. However most of the things I have learned about anemones are mainly from personal experience. It really depends on how much of an observer you are.

Great information.

 

[E.J. Coral]

IMO, the most important thing is to get a healthy specimen. Anemones dont do well in collection or shipping, so a lot of the casualties in the hobby are due to unhealthy animals. BTAs are probably the easiest becuase they are easy to find in good shape due to their reproduction in captivity. Once you have a healthy specimen, they can be the most resilient animal in your reef If you can find a local clone, and take the rock that it is attached to, you chances of success will be multiplied greatly....

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Could you post a pic of the red anemone, I got an waratah anemone about two weeks ago, and is eating great,3 times a week. It does not require bright lights.Likes staying under the ledge from direct light.For your first anemone try a flower anemone, thet are pretty hardy.

 

[Guygettnby]

i thank you all very much for the info...i currently have a current PC light combo.

i will post pictures of the red one i have in a few minutes for you guys.

 

[kkyyllee]

warath anemones are coldwater abd dont rely on lighting to l,ive, but they need to be fed frequently

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

It has been doing great in the 78 to 80 degree range,the guy i bought it from said he raises them in that range. That was the first question i ask.But my fingers are crossed, i know it takes anemones a couple of weeks to show stress.But i will update in about a month and see how it is doing.

 

[Aaarrrggg]

---> http://www.karensroseanemones.com <---
Hmmm, maybe I should just make that my sig as I link it so often! Excellent site, really helped me out when getting my first nem.

Good luck!