Rock Flower Anemones: Safe or Deadly?

[FireViper]

Beautiful little creatures and would be a great addition to our tank. Unless they eat some of our inhabitants.

We have several hermits and lots of snails (reproducing a ton) for cleanup. Also a pistol shrimp and a few small gobies. What are the chances any of them would end up as dinner?

Read that they are safe, but have also seen videos of RFAs eating butterflyfish, angelfish and cleaner shrimp. What's the experience of those here?

Thanks!

 

[humphreyhh]

It's not likely for rock flower anemone to eat fish or other animals in the tank from my experience. Their sting is very mild. Also, they almost don't move from where you put them.


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[Uncle99]

Yup, agreed, I have 5 in a packed 70g, never a problem

 

[FireViper]

Yup, agreed, I have 5 in a packed 70g, never a problem

Safer on the bottom, attached to the substrate, or perhaps on the side of a rock?

Thanks to both for the help!

 

[FireViper]

wish I could edit. Attached through the substrates.

 

[Uncle99]

Safer on the bottom, attached to the substrate, or perhaps on the side of a rock?

Thanks to both for the help!

I place them on the rock face, almost vertical, not one has ever moved.
I have two side by side, but they seem to keep 1/8" away from each other.

In time, they wil multiply.

You may be able to see one of mine just to the right of the fire shrimp

 

[homer1475]

Umm hate to break it to you, but a rock flower will eat anything it comes in contact with.



I have several larger varieties, and if a snail gets close enough to get stuck, it's a goner.



This is not to say they actually seek out snails or the likes as a meal, but they will eat them if they get close enough.



Horrible picture of one of my "larger" ones that likes a nice snail meal every now and again.

 

[Boochika]

I place them on the rock face, almost vertical, not one has ever moved.
I have two side by side, but they seem to keep 1/8" away from each other.

In time, they wil multiply.

You may be able to see one of mine just to the right of the fire shrimp

I love that fire shrimp swimming through your tank. Great pic.

 

[Uncle99]

Umm hate to break it to you, but a rock flower will eat anything it comes in contact with.



I have several larger varieties, and if a snail gets close enough to get stuck, it's a goner.



This is not to say they actually seek out snails or the likes as a meal, but they will eat them if they get close enough.



Horrible picture of one of my "larger" ones that likes a nice snail meal every now and again.

Slow movers, yup, Can't disagree with this, the RFA has the ability.
That's one looks big, (and very nice BTW)

 

[humphreyhh]

Wow that's kinda scary. My haddoni swallowed one of my snails. But he spitted it out the next day and it was still alive...


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[Uncle99]

Wow that's kinda scary. My haddoni swallowed one of my snails. But he spitted it out the next day and it was still alive...


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Thats hilarious.....too funny
Consumption mistake!
Return to DT.
Nice

 

[lifeoffaith]

I'm pretty sure I lost my saltwater molly to my rock flower. Probably didn't know what it was though since I am pretty sure this molly was captive bred, and for freshwater. Still bummed though.

 

[FireViper]

Thanks for the comments. We did end up adding one--a "bargain" from the LFS. It moved from one end of the tank to the other the first night and buried itself in a crack. Put it back and fed it, and it hasn't moved since. Would like a little garden, but we shall see. . . .

 

[homer1475]

Slow movers, yup, Can't disagree with this, the RFA has the ability.
That's one looks big, (and very nice BTW)

Yes it is rather large(about 6 inches in diameter). It started out as a tank rescue from my LFS. That pic shows how it's super bleached, I didn't realize it was bleached so bad. I only bought it because it was white, and I thought a white rock flower was super cool looking. A few months in my tank, its a nice light pink colored body with white tentacles, I've had for about 4 years now.



Someone around here(forget the nick, or the thread now) but we have the same exact one in both our tanks. Same size, color, and they prefer the same placement.



I have found that I can pretty much place them where I want them and they stay put. With that said of the 6 in my tank, 5 have stayed put, the other "loner" wanders aimlessly for a spot. It's been wandering for about 2 years now. Finds a spot, stays put for about a couple weeks, then decides to move again.



Odd little creatures for sure. Like any other anemone, they will go where they want and not where you want them to go. I have also found unlike any other anemone, if they walk on a coral, its not certain death to the coral.

 

[swhobbie1]

Do you need to feed these RFA or will the random mysis they catch be sufficient?

 

[Uncle99]

Do you need to feed these RFA or will the random mysis they catch be sufficient?

Iam sure they catch stuff that touches them, but I still spot feed mine once/twice per week with either Mysis or Reef Roids.

Great feeding response.

 

[dkeller_nc]

Just to add to the discussion any anemone is quite capable of capturing and disposing of a fish, shrimp or snail that gets too close. This is also true of some of the LPS corals with large polyps.

Fortunately for us, most fish and other critters are smart enough not to get caught, though there are occasional exceptions, of course. I wouldn't personally put an anemone of any kind into a tank that housed some prized and/or expensive fish. Losing a gem tang to an anemone would really stink...

 

[Apercula]

Just to add to the discussion any anemone is quite capable of capturing and disposing of a fish, shrimp or snail that gets too close. This is also true of some of the LPS corals with large polyps.

Fortunately for us, most fish and other critters are smart enough not to get caught, though there are occasional exceptions, of course. I wouldn't personally put an anemone of any kind into a tank that housed some prized and/or expensive fish. Losing a gem tang to an anemone would really stink...

Add large mushrooms to the fish eating crowd. My Amplexidiscus ate a couple clowns in my frag tub.