Scientific study on Anemone Acclimation and Introduction

[deweyhowell]

One of the most common posts on these boards, is "I just got an anemone x days ago and it looks bad, is it going to make it?" We have a large community here and I thought it would be great to conduct a retrospective correlation study on the subject.

For example, we could have an endpoint of 4 weeks with the result being successfully acclimated and introduced to your tanks vs. death. We can choose a variety of observations to gather and document. Some common things that come to mind - contracting, expanding, mouth gaping, expelling zooxanthellae, with/without clownfish, age of tank, experience of hobbyist, lighting, water parameters, shipping vs. LFS, acclimation time, acclimation method, etc.

We can have a dedicated thread to gather and record the observations and publish the results. I'd be willing to prepare the study design (with lots of feedback on the board), compile the data and run statistics for positive or negative correlations.

Given how many people we have (we can cast a wider net using thereeftank and other boards that discuss anemone care) we can have some nice correlation data that would be beneficial to the wider community.

What do you all think?

 

[worm5406]

Sounds like someone working on their doctorate.

 

[Daniel62]

I'm Game

 

[OrionN]

Anemone species are not all the same. IMHO, the two most important reasons for anemone death are the health of the anemone prior to go into our tank and the condition of our tank for that specific anemone species. How it go in is of far less critical unless there is drastic change in water condition. The closer the water condition, the shorter the time needed.

Because of this, focus on how an anemone go into a tank is likely not produce any interpretable or useful information.

 

[orangegoby]

+1 on upstairs comment. after finally completing my fish lists in my 200g (means no more new fishes for me). I turn my attention to other creatures like the btas.

These guys seems to be harder to tell if they r healthy or not compare to a fish. If u have a established tank and all things r good and stable and the nem u just put in a month ago didn't make it, it could be a unhealthy specimen to start with. there is not much one can do about it.

 

[D-Nak]

Anemone species are not all the same. IMHO, the two most important reasons for anemone death are the health of the anemone prior to go into our tank and the condition of our tank for that specific anemone species. How it go in is of far less critical unless there is drastic change in water condition. The closer the water condition, the shorter the time needed.

Because of this, focus on how an anemone go into a tank is likely not produce any interpretable or useful information.

+1. Start with one anemone then work your way to other species. You'll have enough trouble as it is with one anemone since the variables are so great. Even pinpointing the collection area, exporter, wholesaler, importer, etc. plays a big role since many anemones get sick while in transit. The length from the collection spot to the LFS plays a large role in the health of an anemone. I realize that you touched upon it in your list, but it's a big factor that deserves a study on its own.

 

[567234ta]

way too many variables to have any solid information that could be used. like brought home in a bucket, shipped with o2, bag from LFS, what are water parameters in individual tanks, type of bacteria in tanks, just so many things that are different for everyone's tanks.
I think the standard drip acclimation is the most accepted practice, and if a person does that and does not have success the acclimation process was not the problem.

 

[Anemone]

I agree that the number of uncontrolled (and uncontrollable) variables would make any results nearly useless. "Type of tank" and "hobbyist experience level" each have dozens of easily discerned variables, and probably hundreds that are unmeasurable/unknowable in a study of this sort.

FWIW,
Kevin

 

[God.]

I think this is a great idea and im willing to help.

Managing and ordering fish at the lfs in my neck of the woods we sell alot of anemones. Alot if these said anemones arent always in excellent condition upon arrival. Given I have lots of anemones going through my hands on a weekly basis, I would havesample opportunity to select specimens for "experiments"

As for variables on water quality, couldnt you just use x gallons in a designated container and perform x gallon water changes every x hours/days/weeks as a sort of standard?

Or does this involve casual acclimation into an established system?