Sea anemones, also called flowers of the sea, are stunning creatures that add a spark to any reef tank. Although they look like plants, anemones are animals with unique care requirements. They are super sensitive and perish if you don’t keep them in the correct conditions. If you’re fresh to fishkeeping and want to add these polyps to your tank, dive into the information below to discover if anemones are good for new marine life keepers.
Anemones Are Better for Experienced Marine Life Keepers
Anemones aren’t a good choice for new marine life keepers because they must live in a well-established saltwater tank that’s at least 12 months old. Reef tanks are more complex to manage than freshwater tanks, and keeping a saltwater fish tank is challenging for beginners. Anemones also need a stable environment and pristine water conditions. They can perish if tank perimeters fluctuate or if there are excessive pollutants in the water.
The sea flower may be pretty, but it is deadly to some aquatic creatures, and beginners may struggle to select the correct tank mates. Experienced keepers understand marine life and aquatic communities and have a better chance of choosing compatible fish. Many aquatic care professionals suggest having one to two years of experience keeping a saltwater aquarium before keeping anemones as pets.
Anemones Need Specialized Living Conditions
Anemones are unique sea creatures that are part of the Actiniaria family. They are predatory invertebrates with soft bodies and stinging tentacles and are related to corals and jellyfish. They get their nickname “flower of the sea” because of their colorful tentacle formations. Each species has unique colors and tentacle structures that resemble intricate flowers. The anemone color comes from tiny organisms, zooxanthellae, which live inside them. These mini creatures need light to photosynthesize.
Anemones sting with their long appendages and use venom to stun prey and ward off predators. They grab prey and put it in their mouth, which sits in the center of the tentacles, and they secrete waste through the same orifice. Their sting can also affect humans, and the severity depends on the species, so you must wear gloves when you handle them. Anemones have a muscular trunk and effortlessly change shape and can even suck in their tentacles and turn their throat inside out if they feel threatened. These creatures are an undeniably captivating addition to a tank, but they need an experienced keeper to help them thrive.
Anemones Are Incredibly Sensitive
Anemones are unique creatures for your aquarium, but they are super sensitive to pollution and changes in tank parameters, such as temperature and salinity. Unclean conditions and unstable parameters will kill them; they need a well-established, stable environment with pristine water conditions. Even expert-level hobbyists struggle to maintain the perfect habitat for these unique polyps. Other nuances of caring for these creatures include:
- Even small anemones need at least a 30-gallon tank, and each species has unique care needs.
- They are carnivorous and enjoy eating defrosted frozen food such as freeze-dried krill or brine shrimp. Depending on their size, you must feed them two to four times weekly.
- Anemones need a high-quality filtration system, full spectrum lighting, and moderate water flow in their aquarium. Regular tank maintenance is crucial for fish welfare, and you must monitor parameters and check the filters daily.
Many keepers use a protein skimmer to help keep the water clean. You must test the aquarium water each week for pollutants and perform a 10 to 25 percent water change every two to four weeks.
Anemones Can Kill Their Tank Mates
You must be incredibly selective when you put anemones in community tanks because they can kill their tank mates. Their sting is deadly for many sea creatures, so you should thoroughly research compatibility and the best fish combinations before adding them to a tank.
Some fish and crab species have a symbiotic relationship with anemones. For example, clownfish are immune to their sting and live among their tentacles in exchange for keeping the anemone clean. The Pom Pom Crab gets its name because it wears tiny anemones on its claws, which help it hunt. Some people keep pet clownfish and anemones solely to enjoy watching this symbiotic behavior.
Several crab, shrimp, and fish species can safely live with anemones. Don’t keep them with large fish, such as angelfish, because they may nip at their tentacles. You should also avoid keeping them with coral because they will attack each other with toxic chemicals.
Fascinating Facts About Anemone
Anemones are unique sea creatures and captivate their owners with their vivid colors and alien-like behavior. But they are complex creatures and much more than a pretty tank addition. If you want to know more, take a look at these fascinating facts about anemones:
1. Sea anemones can clone themselves. They can reproduce sexually or asexually and split themselves in two, effectively cloning themselves.
2. There are over 1000 anemone species. The hardiest domestic ones include the Bubble Tip, Rock Flower, Condy, and Carpet Anemone.
3. Anemones don’t have eyes or ears. Their tentacles are their primary sensory organ, and they detect the movement of prey and predators in the water.
4. Anemones can live for over 100 years in the wild. Yet, they usually only last for a few years in captivity.
5. Anemones can move around the tank. They usually stay in one place but can move around the tank to find a better area if necessary. You must ensure that fish tank decorations are secure in an anemone tank so they don’t dislodge them if they move.
