Anemone Tips and Tricks
When I first set up my tank, I decide that I wanted to keep at least 1 anemone. Since the ocellaris clowns are my favorite, I did some research on clowns and host anemones. Of course, according to Murphy's law, I found out that these clowns are more fussy than most and that one of their favorite host anemones (Heteractis Magnifica) was not strongly recommended back then. The reasons for not keeping them are still valid however....each time an anemone is taken from the ocean a clown fish or fishes lose a haven of protection agains predators. Also, anemones live for many years in the wild and it is a shame if one keeps one only to see it live out only a small fraction of its natural lifespan. Please, if you decide to get an anemone...do a lot of research and preparation anmd you will be rewarded with years of beauty and a good conscience.
Well I decided to press on and read some of Joyce Wilkerson's great articles on clown fish and anemones. (She is one of the foremost experts on breeeding clownfish and host anemones....she also has a book that is a great investment Clownfish and their Host Anemones). Thankfully my first two anemonies (the Heteractis and the Hadonni) will be my last and have been doing great for almost 5 years now.
The tips I got from my reading (for the heteractis, and pretty much applicable to other species) are as follows:
1. Put the anemone close to a lamp, directly under it, if possible
2. When first placed, feed the anemone dialy for a week or two. Just a little food each day is required.
3. Add clowns that will live with the anemone.
4. Leave a lot of "growth" space between the edge of the anemone and any frags or coral colonies.
5. Never force feed an anemone
6. Anemones under intense lighting do not need to be fed much at all.
7. Place the anemone on the highest peak in your tank.
8. You can discourage an anemone from moving by pointing a powerful water flow device perpendicular to the direction of the anemone's getaway path ! Since anemones hate strong velocity flow, the creature will cease advancing along this path and may even retreat to it's previous position.
Placing the anemone directly under intense lighting will discourage it from moving, since it has a natural affinity for high lighting. This is also the reason to place the anemone high in your tank....If it is lower than the peak it will climb the rocks to try and position itself closer to the light source. Feeding the anemone in the beginning also establishes the anemone'e territory as a good place to "catch" food and will discourage it from moving. However, in general, anemones do not need to be fed daily or even weekly after they are established. If you DO feed them they will grow like crazy. I have kept both a Haddoni Carpet and a Heteractis Magnifica for 5 years and I feed them maybe once every month or two. They are healthy and are not outgrowing my tank (yet). My late investigation has revealed that the old adage " feed your anemone alot" is not a necessity. In fact, if the anemone is not getting it's required nourishment, it can digest parts of its body, to a certain point, which will tend to shrink it. So it depends on your goals....fast growth or slow growth or static growth.
If you want to get lot's of growth from the anemone, make sure to leave a lot of space around it.....most anemones will sting any and all corals and corals don't like to be stung ! (I don't like it either....especially when I am cleaning my tank).
I have 2 mated ocellaris clowns that live in the heteractis and a big fat clarkii that lives in the haddoni carpet. The ocellaris clowns breed like clokwork every 14 days or so and provide a good food source for all twice a month. The 2 anemones are on opposite sides of the tank and for the first 3-4 years all was fine....until clarkii decided that one anemone is not enough. Over the past year or two he has started swimming over to the heteractis to bully the ocellaris fishes. Thankfully, no damage has been down to either the fishes or the anemone...except for fish chasing and dramatic standoffs. And clarkii always goes to bed in his favorite anemone...The Green Carpet Haddoni Mattress where he sleeps on his side like a little baby...
