Anemones

[CarpetAnenomes]

I got a question not trying to be stupid or anything but why do people seem to think anemones are so hard to keep and they keep moving them cause they secrete slime and what not I have a 90 gal with a 30 gallon refuguim and I am able to sustain a green carpet anemone which I stuck in my tank when my tank was only 2 months old and never had a problem when I got it it floated around and secreted stuff but I just left it alone and now it has double if not tripled in size since I got it 3 months ago along with my sebae anemone which is now like 18 inch when I got it it was only 10 inches I just don't understand who classifys the hardiness of these creatures and wonder if anyone else has had this same "luck" as people call it I think it is just making sure ur lights and flow are right correct?

 

[slitherbomb]

I had this luck too. My anemone is a sebae. I put it in my tank after a month and it hasn't died or anything.

 

[Leighton79]

I must admit, mine went in at 3 months and I've never had any problems. I've never even seen it secrete anything. It just sits there being a nem.

 

[ccCapt]

Keeping something alive 3 months is hardly a success. Let us know how it's doing in 5 yrs.

 

[CarpetAnenomes]

Wow and then you have your doubter perfect example thanks for your two cents

 

[carey]

I also have to agree though, the majority of nems kept in newly established tanks have issues. All you do is have to read the forum everyday and it seems people are more likely to fail than succeed. I had one for 3 months but returned him after stressing about it all the time.

I am just now a year later thinking of getting a mini maxi but will probably wait some more. It's just not worth the risk in my opinion.

And alot of people just get them because they feel their clown fish need one and are shocked and surprised when the clowns don't host it.

If the lighting is right and the water parameters are stable and good then a nem might not be such a bad idea, but it does require care. When I had mine he never stryed from his spot so he was happy but he eventually took over 1/3 of my 30g tank and nothing would swim even near it. I took that as a sign I want ready for it.

In a perfect world nems would be left to the oceans in my opinion as thats where they do the best and are the most beautiful.

just another view point for the debate.

 

[CarpetAnenomes]

Try let me tell you my setup then I have aquatic life 48 inch 2X150w hdi metal halides with 2X54w t5 along with a oceanic chiller and coralife 125 ss coralife uv sterilizer 30 gallon refuguim with god knows what I had my tank professional put together with nothing but good products I spent 6,000 dollars on tank and all the gadgets so my stuffs right I have it professional maintained once a week and water changes with ro water

 

[Sergie]

Did you spend all your money on the tank that you can't afford punctuation? Haha. So you're saying that nems aren't hard to keep, but you spent over 6 g's on all the latest gadgets in order to keep nems....most people spend little and try to keep nems. Those are the ones that fail.

 

[carey]

You didnt spare any expense and it will show as time goes on. But not everyone has that setup or even understands half of it. lol

Some people throw a nem in a 2.5 pico with 2 clowns and then wonder why it fails.

Everyone who wants a nem should do the proper research and buy the proper equipment for the best chance at survival.

Good luck to you! Sounds like you have it all under control.

 

[CarpetAnenomes]

Haha sorry wasn't trying to be mean just saying no I spent all that after I had my first sw tank and wasn't able to do anything so I upgraded and wanted everything so I could do whatever I wanted and that is how the price jumped up.... I was trying to do a tank for my son who loves finding nemo and after I read over my previous statements sorry if I came off snappy.....

 

[Sergie]

If my fiancée added up all I spent on my tank she'd probably kill me but I'm no where near that set up. Sounds intense. Do you have pics?

 

[CarpetAnenomes]

Yeh but how do I put them on here?

 

[Kio707]

Yeh but how do I put them on here?

Add them through ur user CP or as a quote.

 

[CarpetAnenomes]

 

[Kio707]

<img src="http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49649"/>

<img src="http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49650"/>

<img src="http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49651"/>

<img src="http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49652"/>

<img src="http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49653"/>

<img src="http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=49654"/>

Sweet a$$ tank!!!!

 

[Sergie]

That's nice man. Well worth the change you spent.

 

[CarpetAnenomes]

Yeh but now the problem is I want bigger lol I was about a 210

 

[MrPeon99]

Most people, I've noticed, buy anemones on a whim without ever researching anything about them. That usually sets them up for failure before they ever get home with it. A lot of people getting into the hobby are brand new in the world of saltwater, and are constantly learning as they go(even people in it for a while still are learning new things). This can lead to constant instabilities with their tank that they may or may not know about, leading to a poor environment for the more sensitive of aquatic creatures. A new tank takes a while to balance itself and reach an equilibrium, most of which we can't see, notice or test for. These things, separate or combined, lead to the recommendation of waiting for a year before purchasing them. Not to say it can't be done, but it's not recommended. ccCapt does have a point, 3 months for something with the possibility of out living you and your children isn't a very long time. Since they don't have the ability to verbally communicate with us for their needs, and our overall understanding of them is pretty small, it's very possible to drag their death out for weeks or months, thinking there is nothing wrong until it's to late... I hope that better answers your question

 

[Maya]

Keeping something alive 3 months is hardly a success. Let us know how it's doing in 5 yrs.

I personally agree. These animals live indefinitely in the wild. Keeping an anemone alive for a few months doesn't really testify to your ability to keep an anemone...

Anemones can live in home aquariums but they require stability. Things like excellent water parameters and excellent lighting are not generally something you find in new tanks. You have someone with experience (if I read your post correctly?) maintaining your tanks. That may be the difference. IMO, the measures that you are taking to keep these animals doesn't really qualify as an easy to maintain regimen. Even without paying someone to maintain and care for your tanks you have 6000 in equipment to attempt to keep a nem alive. That's a lot and in itself shows that you have put forth a lot of effort to provide a suitable environment for an anemone.

Another notable worth mentioning is the fact that nems are fairly risky animals to keep in Aquaria. If you don't know the normal behaviors and needs of the animal, it can quickly begin to decline. If an anemone does die in your tank, you have very little time to react and remove the animal before it releases some serious toxins. Most inexperienced aquarists aren't familiar enough with the animal to be able to read those cues and more often than not, the experience ends in disaster. That is why nems are considered difficult. The "experts" who are trying to gently guide those with less experience into making good decisions about the animals they keep aren't placing these labels on these animals lightly. They want people to succeed and the animals to thrive. So far, you have had a measure of success and that is wonderful. But I don't think that your current success necessarily points to the ease of keeping anemones in home aquariums either.

 

[ccCapt]

Wow and then you have your doubter perfect example thanks for your two cents

I call them like I see them, and in my 20+ yrs of keeping a reef tank I've seen alot.

Try let me tell you my setup then I have aquatic life 48 inch 2X150w hdi metal halides with 2X54w t5 along with a oceanic chiller and coralife 125 ss coralife uv sterilizer 30 gallon refuguim with god knows what I had my tank professional put together with nothing but good products I spent 6,000 dollars on tank and all the gadgets so my stuffs right I have it professional maintained once a week and water changes with ro water

You got ripped off. $6k for a 90g tank with very little live rock and 1 of the crappiest skimmers you can get.