Alright, here are a few from my stable of failure.
I have had 3 that I kept for between 1.5 and 2 years. Two of the failures I blame on chemical warfare with a large purple H. crispa. The other I blame on a bad silverside.
All the anemones were kept 6" from the surface of the tank with a 150w 14000K Phoenix Metal Halide. Most of the flow was provided by a SQUID alternator on my return line. The return was a 3/4" tube that ended into a 1" return to disperse the flow a bit.
This one was a nice teal color. I used to see these a lot, but not much any more.
Here it is when I first got it.
Then 2 months later.
This one had pastel tips, purple on the outside, teal on the inside.
Full anemone
Close up of tentacles.
Here are the results of an experiment I did because a well known anemone scientist (not Calfo
) made the statement in a book/pamphlet that since clownfish anemones use light for food, if you feed them enough then they don't really need bright light.
I bought this 4" slightly bleached blue gig and put it under 130 watts of CF lighting and fed it 5 times a week.
Just bought
After 12 days. Regaining zooxanthellae, but no growth.
After 4 months. Color dull, tentacles shrunken and size down to 3".
About a month after moving it into the conditions described at the top of the page (under MH lights). Tentacles lengthened, size up to ~5"
About 6 months later and about 8" across. It doesn't look that big side to side because some of it is folded into the rocks.
The conclusion was; Yes, gigantea carpets need bright light to function properly. That is probably why you only find them in shallow water. Duh!
