Anemone touchable?

[Atv023]

Sorry. Double Post

[Atv023]

I have never had any issues touching them. I have had a few different types, and I have noticed the neurotoxin in some is stronger than others. The most I have ever felt is maybe a little tingling in my hand.

I have a purple tipped sebae anemone, and I think that one is the strongest I have had. It will try and envelop your hand if you put it near it.

Whoever suggested a piece of wood, probably not a good idea. You can injure the animal if you try and move it that way. I don't even put my hands in the tank unless I wash them.

To be honest, I think most people probably should stay away from anemones. They are difficult to care for and most people usually just kill them in their tank. A good example is using a piece of wood.

If the anemone is attached, you shouldn't try and remove it. You can tear its foot, then it will usually die.

Its not so much where you want the anemone, its going to look for the best conditions for itself. My assumption is they are looking for certain flow dynamics in the tank, and settle once they find a suitable area. Once you introduce it into your system, its not a good idea to move it around.

If the anemone is constantly moving around, you should probably remove it and donate it back to your local fish store. The anemone is not finding anywhere it likes, and eventually it will just detach itself and get sucked into one of your pumps.

[Atv023]

Not to be condescending towards anyone, but after reviewing some of the comments here, it is rather disconcerting to see how little people know about the exotic creatures they are trying to care for.

The farming of these animals from their natural habitats is a huge industry. I would be curious of the high percentage of animals lost through transit or improper care. Many of the more exotic animals don't breed in captivity.

So not to shoot anyone down, but if you are going to set-up a saltwater system, please read about it first. Research different types of aquarium and filter designs. Research what animals you want to buy, how to care for them, and if they are compatible with eachother and your setup. If its not something you think you can do, no matter how "cool" it would be to have one in your tank, please don't buy one.

[xmoltisantix]

the reef police

[aquawolf]

Originally Posted by Atv023

Not to be condescending towards anyone, but after reviewing some of the comments here, it is rather disconcerting to see how little people know about the exotic creatures they are trying to care for.

The farming of these animals from their natural habitats is a huge industry. I would be curious of the high percentage of animals lost through transit or improper care. Many of the more exotic animals don't breed in captivity.

So not to shoot anyone down, but if you are going to set-up a saltwater system, please read about it first. Research different types of aquarium and filter designs. Research what animals you want to buy, how to care for them, and if they are compatible with eachother and your setup. If its not something you think you can do, no matter how "cool" it would be to have one in your tank, please don't buy one.

Welcome to TRT!!!

All of your comments are well intended, and in a perfect world things may actually work that way. However, as long as the collectors continue to harvest species that have no chance of long term survival in a closed system, and distributors continue to ship them to LFS's that continue to sell them, then unsuspecting people are going to buy them.

Many people only know what the LFS that sold them the creatures tells them, until they run into a problem and may get lucky enough to find a resource like this that can try to help straighten things out for them.

Until that time the old saying ignorance is bliss comes to mind. It may cause problems for them and lead to some sadly expensive lessons, but hopefully they will find help sooner or later to steer them down the right road to responsible and successful reefkeeping.

:stepping down from soapbox now:

[Atv023]

Haha, I'm not the reef police. I'm not perfect either. I wasn't trying to come across that way.

Yea, I agree. Sites like this help educate people. A lot can also be learned from a simple Google search of the animal you want to buy.

We have some friends that own a tropical fish store chain and quite a few of the animals are dead from transit. The rest only make it a few weeks if not sold from the fish stores. Specially anemones. They keep them in a seperate tank. They had I think 5 or 10 in a tank, and they all died, wiped out the whole line of tanks. I actually bought one and brought it back earlier because it wasnt doing well in my tank. I can't remember what kind it was. That one and the Sebae are the only ones I have had.

A broker comes in with a list of all the animals they have for sale and the owners just pick down the checklists. Crazy stuff. I also agree, they get so many different animals in they don't have the time to research all the different ones that come in, and in the end they are only out for profit.


Back to being able to touch them, I guess is you have allergies definately stay away. I don't know how thick of a glove you would need. They fire nematocysts, which is basically like a spring loaded stinger. You might need a thicker rubber glove.

For me I definately know the sebae is there when hes touching my hand. It doesnt hurt, but it feels like a bunch of suckers are holding to my hand. I don't let him touch me for very long.

If you have to move them, you can gently use your fingers to work your way between the foot and whatever they are attached too. You have to be real careful not to tear the foot.

[Atv023]

Hey aqua, how do you like the CPR? I have a CY-194 on a 75. Did the same thing, took out the bio-bale, put in DSB, ceramic rings and macroalgae.

I don't really like the skimmer. I looked for other options, but it has been difficult because of the footprint.

[aquawolf]

I like the CPR a whole lot. I took everything out of it and left it that way, except for the built in skimmer. I know there are better skimmers out there than this one, but it actually does a good job for me and is always pulling skimmate out of the system so I have no complaints. There have been a few times where I thought about re-doing everything under my tank, but I always end up convincing myself that it is working and there is no need to fix it.

[fishfarmer]

Kinda funny to hear basic nems are stinging PPL because I have never been stung. I have handled bubble coral, BTA's and even a pink haitian. The only thing that has bothered me at all is if I rub my eyes after handling rics or shrooms LOL. Its strange I have horrible allergys as well. Go figure

[aquawolf]

Rubbing your eyes without thoroughly washing your hands after handling any corals is definitely something you want to avoid.

[Atv023]

I rubbed my eyes once after touching shrooms. Would that explain the funny patterns on the wall?

[Atv023]

I think they sting you, but you just dont feel it. Its meant to take down little fishies, not a 180 pound person.


Aqua on the CPR, tell me if you notice this. When the main tank lights are on it produces different amounts of skimmate than when the refugium light is on. Usually more with the main light. The CPR was a donation and I don't have that little venturi piece that goes between the pump and skimmer, with the hose back to the pump inlet. Have you tried it with and without that piece? Does it make any difference? I found it online for 5 bucks, I just haven't ever ordered it. No complaints other than the skimmer. It does produce lots of skimmate, its just hard to dial it in because its always fluctuating.

[aquawolf]

It sure could. Just wait until you are fragging zoanthids and accidentally rub your lips.

[aquawolf]

Originally Posted by Atv023

Aqua on the CPR, tell me if you notice this. When the main tank lights are on it produces different amounts of skimmate than when the refugium light is on. Usually more with the main light. The CPR was a donation and I don't have that little venturi piece that goes between the pump and skimmer, with the hose back to the pump inlet. Have you tried it with and without that piece? Does it make any difference? I found it online for 5 bucks, I just haven't ever ordered it. No complaints other than the skimmer. It does produce lots of skimmate, its just hard to dial it in because its always fluctuating.

I just realized as well that since mine is a 294 I have approximately twice the sump area you have, just due to my unit being wide enough to house the dual skimmers, which gives me a little more water volume in that section. I have the extension piece along with the black hose and run it wide open without the muffler on it. I think it makes a difference in how many fine bubble you get as it is pulling more air into the mixture. It would definitely be worth the $5 to see what it does for you.

All skimmers will fluctuate from time to time based on how many organics are in the water column. You may find that it does not pull as much a couple of days after a water change as it was pulling before then; however, it will start to pick up again as it gets closer to time for another water change.

How often do you have to empty your collection cup?

[fishfarmer]

Originally Posted by aquawolf

Rubbing your eyes without thoroughly washing your hands after handling any corals is definitely something you want to avoid.

I always wash afterwards but it still seems to linger a bit