roaming anemone

lloydo

New member
Hi,

This is my first post, I'm pretty new to reefkeeping and my tank has been running for about 9months - 100gal (75 + 30 sump). I picked up a large but attractive malu anemone recently and my maroon clownfish loves it, unfurtunately it is forever on the move and whenever it is close to another, usually soft coral - the latter closes and seems generally 'upset' - I don't really want to return it to my local dealer (he himself hates anemones for that reason) - has anyone any experience of 'anchoring them to a rock - say using some stainless stell wire? or does that sound 'brutal' since my anemone is really an animal...
 
That does seem a bit harsh too me. Plus in time the stainless steal will most like rust in the tank. Salt water is very currosive over time. I am also not sure if it would work, it may even cause the anenome to split depending on how you anchor it down. Do some research on the optimum conditions that type of anenome would like and try and replicate that somewhere in the tank. And hopefully he will find a spot that makes him happy and he will settle in.
 
There is no way to anchor an anemone. Even if you spear it to a rock, it'll pull away in time. Not to mention damage to the critter or toxicity issues.

I've had a handful of anemone's over the years and while this is 'just part of keeping them', IMHO, the issue isn't the anemone. If it were happy it wouldn't move. If you moved into a huge house with all your needs met - would you leave? ROFL.

What's your lighting like? Most anemone's IME move becuase they are either getting too much or too little light. Likewise, they will move if they dislike the flow they are experiencing.

Some anemone's prefer (and will seek) a location where they can have their foot shaded and their heads in full sun, while others need/want to have their foot in sand.

I'm not familiar with the Malu anem. but that's my $0.02 on Anemones

Do some research into that particular anemone and find out what it prefers, then provide it.

Best of luck, HTH

John.
 
Never heard of a malu anemone. Any chance you could post some pics? Your anemone will roam around the tank until it finds a spot that it likes and it will stay in that spot after that. This may take some time. Do not try to anchor it. More than likely it will move up toward the top of the rocks where it can get the most light. They also like a fair amount of flow around them also.
 
I have had the "wandering anemone" in many tanks too and here is what I have discovered: they HATE flow on their base and body and WANT medium-low flow on their tentacles. I'll post a pic or two tonight of where my current anemone is settled, but if you can provide some nooks and crannies between 3 or 4 pieces of rock, chances are your anemone will settle in there. Also, if you check out the giant purple barnacle skeletons which most LFSs sell for decorations, you can often find one with a large, smooth pocket in the bottom. Set such a skeleton up upside-down in the tank, settle the anemone in it and 9 times out of 10, voila! instant anemone home!
 
lloydo
[welcome]

If it's on the move it's an unhappy anemone. Can you tell use about your system? Water quality (numbers), lighting. Never forcefully tie down any anemone. They are mobile creatures and knowing that they can move is just part of owning one.

FWIW, maroons can be brutal to it's host anemone. I wonder if the anemone is trying to get away from the clownfish.
 
Most of the posters have nailed the primary issues. The Anenome will roam because its not happy with its current location. However, I don't recommend letting this happen for long especially if you have any delicate corals that can't egt out of the way of this stinging wrecking ball wandering around your tank.

I have had mixed success with BTA's in my systems. I currently have two large rose BTA's (it split) and they live on the same piece of rock in a moderate/high flow area near the top of the tank right under a 400W MH lamp. The key thing I have noticed with this anenome at least is the rock they chose to anchor on. They both chose a rock with large, deep holes that they have secured their "foot" deep into. They can retreat almost entirely into the hole when necessary and can extend quite a bit too. I was curious as to how much difference this made so I experimented a little with them and moved this rock around to different flow/lighting areas int he tank and left them for a few days. The maroon clowns that host in the anenome followed the rock around diligently and the anenomes stayed put. Now I don't know how long they would have put up with less than idea conditions before moving but I think that it proved that once they find a spot they like they usually stay put. I like to have them close to the top coz they are easier to feed that way.

So try and find a nice "knarly" bit of flat fiji rock with lots of holes in it and move the anenome onto it. I think having host clowns make a big difference too.

Alternatively you could say they are not worth the trouble/risk and pass on the whole anenome thing. I have debated that one a few times and when you have seen the mess caused by a large BTA getting sucked into a 6000GPH closed loop pump THROUGH the strainer on the intake you will know what I mean! :)
 
thanks for the tips

re my set up - I've just changed my lighting - had an arcadia 4ft T-5 luminaire - I actually thought this was crap - within 6 months I had no coral growth, from the start there was no growth on any hard corals even a branching montipora. Last week I got hold of a 2 x 250w metal halide unit and have only had it on for 6 hrs daily - the output is massive compared to my old unit - maybe even too much for a 60x24x18 in tank. I've also started it quite high off the water just to acclimatize the current coral stock.

perhaps all this has unsettled my anemone - I'll take your advice and perhaps find a rock with a nice deep crater, give him some more time to adjust to extra light
 
hey i went to the anthony calfo meeting in allentown over the weekend, he was showing how you can frag anenomes, he also gave suggestions how to attach them....heres what you do, you take out a rock where you want the anenome, then you stich it with fishing line and a needle, to where y9ou want it, then throw it back in, now use gloves cuz they can spit out polytoxins and you could get sick if you have any cuts on your fingers, its real simple to do, and there so hardy that it wiull be healed in 15 minutes, you can cut them in have and they fuse themselves in under 20 minutes now aimagine a pin needle going through it...stiching is your best best...or you can let it roam whenever you want wherever it needs...
 
forgot to mention if you stich it you need to sit it in a separate container for at least 20 minutes for the poly toxis to stop secreting, use water from your tank with matching temp if possible, so it doesnt stress and keep secreting polys into the water, after 20-30 minyytes you can throw back in tank
 
and your lighting, you can never have enough...im pushing 900 watts total on a 75, its beautiful color, excellent growth, just have to manage algae thanks to refugium.....
 
oh and i def agree with just letting it find its own spot to live....its not natural to forcfully tie down anenomes, but you can with success....
 
how long has it taken everyone for their anenomes to settle down? I've specifically made crevices and bought porous rock because I planned for an anenome. My RBTA has been in my tank now for a week and has slowly been on the move looking for the perfect spot.

My params are
0 Ammonia
0.05 Nitrites - (I've been cutting back on feeding my mated clowns and been doing weekly water changes diligently to get the nitrites down to 0)
8.2 PH
1.026-1.027 SG

I have a total volume of 28 gals (20H gal with 10 gal sump)
150w DE HQI
1 Seio 820 (I plan on adding one more 820 for better water circulation)
ASM G1x Skimmer (on 24/7)

If I put in another pump, would that prolong my anenome from settling even further because more flow?

Thanks in advance
 
how long has it taken everyone for their anenomes to settle down? I've specifically made crevices and bought porous rock because I planned for an anenome. My RBTA has been in my tank now for a week and has slowly been on the move looking for the perfect spot.

My params are
0 Ammonia
0.05 Nitrites - (I've been cutting back on feeding my mated clowns and been doing weekly water changes diligently to get the nitrites down to 0)
8.2 PH
1.026-1.027 SG

I have a total volume of 28 gals (20H gal with 10 gal sump)
150w DE HQI
1 Seio 820 (I plan on adding one more 820 for better water circulation)
ASM G1x Skimmer (on 24/7)

If I put in another pump, would that prolong my anenome from settling even further because more flow?

Thanks in advance
 
my gbta took about 30 seconds to attach, and it moves about 6 inches in either direction but the trunk stays where it was planted the top moves from the center to the outer of the tank, my other anenomesstays where i placed them...now RBTA people have a real problem with them considering they like to move around the tank alot....and get sucked into powerheads or go into overflows....just keep messin around until you think he found his spot which my take sometime but eventuyally it will settle in...
 
I think he is saying he has a Heteractus malu anemone. Not easy to keep in relation to BTAs and LTAs. They require intense lighting and moderate flow. Regular feedings are appreciated. Poor survival in the average tank. You cannot hold them down. The only way to stop him from moving is to make him happy. Some more research should be done in the future before you buy.
 
my BTA wandered around my 90G for about 48hrs, before he found himself a comfy place. Personally I wish he'd picked another location...but thats reefing for you!
 
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