Nems

[YHSublime]

So my new fascination is anemones. From what I have read, we don't really know a lot about them, even though they are physically simple creatures.

 

I have read a lot from what I can find, and have found a few things I believe I can consider fact:

 

A) Anemones "fill" with the water around them, so it's imperative that you're tank be established, and your water excellent (like most things in our aquariums, water quality is key.)

 

B) They do things that are weird. They will sleep, they will poop, they will assume odd shapes and sizes, they will move until they find a spot that suits them. They will also hide, don't be alarmed, unless they are hidden for a while.

 

C) They will eat. They prefer meaty foods, and their mouths will pucker when food is added to a tank. If you feed more, you can expect a split.

 

D) Food is not the only thing that causes splits, so does a healthy tank, so does stress. It's important that you figure out why your nem is splitting... if it does.

 

I have read a lot on Karensroseanemones.net, and I have also read Carlos's PDF

 

Is there anything else I should read, or know? Any other helpful links?

[Marc Weaver]

They can kill some types of coral, so it's best to put them in and let them find their spot first.

Edited April 2, 2013 by Marc Weaver

[YHSublime]

They will kill coral, so it's best to put them in and let them find their spot first.

 

Yeah, I started adding that they sting/kill coral, and if they don't like one spot, they will sting and kill to get to where they want. Actually, on Karens Anems, she has pictures of stings from her nems on her arms. I believe myself to have thick skin... but it looks pretty serious.

[Marc Weaver]

I've handled them before with bare hands and it did nothing to me. Maybe the skin on our hands is thicker than the wrist area. That looks painful.

[monkiboy]

yeah that looks pretty darn serious for a BTA sting. maybe from a more potent anemone perpetrator but not a BTA like she says. or maybe an allergic reaction to something...just very odd. any one else have this kind of reaction with your run of the mill BTA?

 

if you ever find yourself contemplating the idea of breeding clowns or just like to collect books on aquaria, a staple is joyce's "clownfish" book that has a whole chapter or so dedicated to nems outside of the obvious information as they relate to clowns.

 

when your system and you are ready for a BTA, let me know and i'll hook you up!

[YHSublime]

yeah that looks pretty darn serious for a BTA sting. maybe from a more potent anemone perpetrator but not a BTA like she says. or maybe an allergic reaction to something...just very odd. any one else have this kind of reaction with your run of the mill BTA?

 

if you ever find yourself contemplating the idea of breeding clowns or just like to collect books on aquaria, a staple is joyce's "clownfish" book that has a whole chapter or so dedicated to nems outside of the obvious information as they relate to clowns.

 

when your system and you are ready for a BTA, let me know and i'll hook you up!

 

Thanks man, I'm so interested in them. I'll look into that book, I'm learning so much these past months.

[sachabballi reef]

I have handled BTAs for the past 8 yrs my systems been up and have never gotten stung...she must have had some kind of allergic reaction or else I'm bummed out this is my super power and its not invisibility like I would have requested

 

 

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[Coral Hind]

C) They will eat. They prefer meaty foods, and their mouths will pucker when food is added to a tank. If you feed more, you can expect a split.

 

D) Food is not the only thing that causes splits, so does a healthy tank, so does stress. It's important that you figure out why your nem is splitting... if it does.

 

Yes, they eat but they don't have to eat to survive. Also, feeding them more does not guarantee a split as not all anemones are the cloning types. Over feeding or feeding too large of a piece of food can actually kill an anemone. They can only process so much of a meal at a time before they push it back out so feeding to much just leaves extra waste in your tank. It can also takes more energy to process a large meal than what they can get out of it.

 

You didn't mention which type of anemone you are talking about and their care does vary. From my experience, BTA's split more from stress than from any other reason. Many disagree with that but that's from my experince and I have had many of them. At times over 50 BTA's in a tank.

[YHSublime]

 

Yes, they eat but they don't have to eat to survive. Also, feeding them more does not guarantee a split as not all anemones are the cloning types. Over feeding or feeding too large of a piece of food can actually kill an anemone. They can only process so much of a meal at a time before they push it back out so feeding to much just leaves extra waste in your tank. It can also takes more energy to process a large meal than what they can get out of it.

 

You didn't mention which type of anemone you are talking about and their care does vary. From my experience, BTA's split more from stress than from any other reason. Many disagree with that but that's from my experince and I have had many of them. At times over 50 BTA's in a tank.

 

Wow! Thats a lot! I was referencing RBTA's. What kind of different care requirements for different anemones? I did read about the dangers of over feeding as well.

 

 

 

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[YHSublime]

I have handled BTAs for the past 8 yrs my systems been up and have never gotten stung...she must have had some kind of allergic reaction or else I'm bummed out this is my super power and its not invisibility like I would have requested

 

 

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Sometimes it's our burden to get the superpowers we didn't want. Use it only for good.

 

Also, I think you have top be a little bit super human to operate a saltwater tank!

 

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[smallreef]

Well the care for rock and borneman anemones is different...a lot less in fact...

Then there are LTAs, tube anemones....the list goes on and on

[Coral Hind]

It would take some time to type out the differences of the different species and most of that is already available on the internet.

 

Just talking RBTA's then, are you planning to farm these at all? If so you will want to find one that is a known cloning type. They are normally smaller types and live in large colonies. If you just want one that will get big you will want to find the solitary type which can grow to over a foot across. One known cloning type is the WAMAS famous "Flowerseller RBTA". I might have been the first in WAMAS to perform lateral dissection twelve years ago but Flowerseller definately perfected it and spread countless RBTA's around this area. He did a great job of teaching the technique. I think good flow and good lighting are very important. If your tank can sustain SPS then it is fine for BTA's.

[YHSublime]

It would take some time to type out the differences of the different species and most of that is already available on the internet.

 

Just talking RBTA's then, are you planning to farm these at all? If so you will want to find one that is a known cloning type. They are normally smaller types and live in large colonies. If you just want one that will get big you will want to find the solitary type which can grow to over a foot across. One known cloning type is the WAMAS famous "Flowerseller RBTA". I might have been the first in WAMAS to perform lateral dissection twelve years ago but Flowerseller definately perfected it and spread countless RBTA's around this area. He did a great job of teaching the technique. I think good flow and good lighting are very important. If your tank can sustain SPS then it is fine for BTA's.

 

No farming, just curious about them! Well, maybe... i don't think that I have the patience, or time. Reading as much as I can, just curious about them, they are fascinating! Any links or books are appreciated.

 

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