[SAT]

The 1994-96 FishNet survey concluded that few anemones survive long in captivity and that success was seemingly a matter of luck even for experienced aquarists. A lot has changed in the hobby since then. Awareness of the difficulty in keeping anemones is presumably higher. Reef tanks are more common and the techniques are improved. There is even trade in cloned BTA's, indicating that at least some people have it down to a science.

My questions are (a) whether a new survey would be expected to yield similar results and (b) whether a formula can now be devised for successful anemone keeping. If the answer to (b) is yes, should be modify our advice from "don't do it" to "here's the formula... deviate from it at your peril"?

 

[cyberchef]

Yes there is some trading of cloned anenomes going on, but it is far from a science. Some people have gotten lucky with anenomes, myself included, but I would still not recomend themto the majority of people who keep reef tanks. At least not before thier tanks become mature and they have some experience under their belts. BTA's and LTA's are considered, from everything I've read and heard, to be the easiest anenomes to keep and they are still not that easy.

 

[SAT]

I'm OK with the formula including a minimum maturation period, by the way.

 

[binylee]

Knock on wood..
I bought my sabae anemone over 8 months. It's doing just fine. At one time, it turns extrememly white (Books say that it's expelling zooplankton and dying). But right now, it's dark brown and healthy. I am consider myself pretty lucky with him, I guess..
Once again ... knock on wood...

 

[Chip Wick]

What about carpet anenomes? I've seen them thriving in some of the most inhospitable areas in the wild (shallow, wave action, tons of sand flying around). Are they anywhere near hardy in a tank?

 

[SAT]

My own experience was dismal. But that was 20 years ago: FO, UGF, NO light. My excuse is good advice wasn't available.

If you had told me in 1983 that people would be routinely growing corals today, I would have said you're nuts! Difficulty in keeping a species changes over time as techniques improve. My question is whether the techniques for keeping an anemone alive have improved enough over the last decade to change our characterization of them.

Chip Wick, if by "carpet anemones" you mean Stichodactyla species, they are considered to be very difficult. How many tanks have you seen with that kind of light and wave movement?

 

[Chip Wick]

Yeah, I meant Stichylodacta. Good point. Just seemed like they're tough little critters in the wild. Which they probably are, given the right conditions.

 

[RayPollett]

I've had reasonable success with BTA and LTA. Terrible with carpet and seabaes anemones.

From my experience with BTA & LTA, I have formed the following opinions:

1 - adequate lighting does not appear to be as high of level as we once thought.

2 - Temperature is very important. I have not seen one do well in an aquarium with a temperature of 80F or higher.

3 - Do best in tanks with med to high water Flow( do not know how to quantify that any better). Usually just off where 2 water flows cross.

4 - Feed directly once or twice a week with fresh or frozen UNCOOKED seafood: scallops, fish, shrimp, squid.

5 - tanks are 3 or more months old and are STABLE.

Ray

 

[rayjay]

FWIW, I was one who got lucky. I bought my Sebae just over 9 yrs ago, the very first thing after cycling my tank.
This anemone has always been under NO lighting from the start. I don't target feed, it gets what I feed the fish if they leave some for the water column.
As to durability, it has survived the last two summer heat waves of July when the temperatures in the tank climbed to 94F and cost me a few fish and a lot of corals. It never even looked like anything was wrong in it's tank.
If it dies, will I replace it? Noooo. From reading all the posts on many boards, I'm still not convinced that we have a handle on the needs of these creatures. Especially when the general concensus is (including Dr Ron) to supply lots of light and to feed plenty, and mine does just fine without any of this.