Tube anemones...?

[zonkers]

Anyone have experience with keeping Tube (ceriantharian) anemones with the likes of Mandarins, Watchman Gobies, Clown Gobies? Are these a poor choice for these kinds of fish?

 

[Anonymous]

Tons of info on Cerianthids:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... invert.htm

 

[Charlesr1958]

Being that tube anemone are very predatory in nature and quite capable of snagging fish, I dont think I would chance it.

Chuck

 

[zonkers]

I guess this really is the big question, are they or aren't they? I have to admit the above cited article by Robert Toonen is the singlemost detailed write-up I've seen on them yet, & the only one that cites references. Is there anyone who has kept them & had any kind of problem at all?

 

[purplefirefish]

I've had a tube anenome in my tank for about 3 years now. I feed it atleast twice a week. It is about 6 to 8 inches across when fully extended. It has never bothered any fish or other inhabitants. I have even witnessed, many times, my cleaner shrimp "walking" across its tenicles. I have noticed that when I feed it, the krill or what ever I am feeding, has to be very small pieces or else it tries to eat but after an hour or so it lets the large piece go. I really like mine, it is purple and green and have thought about getting another one.

James

 

[Anonymous]

I'll second what purple just said. Mine's tube is 1' across and never had any problems. He also hit it right on about large chunks of food too.

 

[Anonymous]

Being that tube anemone are very predatory in nature and quite capable of snagging fish, I dont think I would chance it.

Chuck

Chuck,

:welcome:

Have you kept one and had it snag a fish? Read the article I linked.

 

[smartin]

I hope this is not considered hijacking a thread but since it was this thread that talked me into buying a tube anemone I thought it would be the best place to post.

As mentioned I purchased a tube anemone last night. It is currently in my 10G tank waiting on my 30G to cycle. Once the 30g has cycled it will be moved there. It is small specimen about 1/2" across at the mouth (not including tenticles which appear to be about 2 - 3" Long. In the tank I have GSP's, various mushrooms including ricordia, Sarcophtyon orange zoos, Xenia, a brittal star and the normal hermit and snail cleanup crew.

I was reading on Wet Web Media today just looking for additional information on these animals. Every single post under the Tube Anemone FAQ section warned against keeping these animals in any tank other than a species only tank and if any fish were to be kept with them they should be larger fish such as tangs. The author of many of these recomendations was Bob Fenner who from what I understand is quite respectable in the Reef Community.

Everything I read here talked about how fish are safe with the tube anemone but there is no mention of other corals. I just wanted to ask if anyone else has other corals with their anemone and if there is any problems such as chemical warfare or anything else I need to wory about. Also if I were to purchase a clown, would it be smart enough to know, hey I should not host this and stay away. I ask this because at onetime I had Clarkii clowns and they hosted just about every coral I have.

Thanks for any info.

SM

 

[Anonymous]

smartin, mine is fine with my corals. It isn't placed where anything could touch it tho, right smack in the middle of the tank. I would venture to say that they don't do the chemical warfare thing, but they might irratate others that they touch or maybe the other way around . Hermits, snails and a sea hare crawl over it with no problems in my tank. Oh, aside from having an opening that is about an inch around, it is well over 12" long 8O in tube length. I noticed that little fact when I changed out tanks and moved everything.

Back in the day before I knew better I had seahorses and pipefish in the tank with it. It never bothered anything in the tank. I have heard (many, many times), where lfs tell ppl that if a fish died they would get it. The only time that happened to me, was when the pipefish died and the tube anenome got ahold of it and spit it out the same day.

I do however spot feed mine, I make sure he gets his fare share of mysis shrimp when I feed the tank. Only once did I over feed it enough that it reguritated the food. Another thing I've noticed with mine, is that when the lights go out, he straightens up and stretches out, almost half the height of the 29. Looks really pretty that way.

 

[smartin]

Thanks for the for the reply. I feel much better about my purchase, it is such a beutiful animal, I would hate to have to see it go. I did try to feed it last night buy it rejected everything I gave it. I started with chopped krill, it worked at that for a minute or 2 then spit it out. So I then tried Brine shrimp and it spit that right out so i then tried freeze dried cyclopeeze and I am not sure if it ate any of that or not but it did spit some of it out at least. It looked like it was hungry because as soon as I offered it food it stuck out its smaller tenticles which I had not seen before. I also think it thinks I am food because later on when I put my hand in the tank to scrub off the algae it did the same thing just kind of pushed it smaller tenticles way out. My star fish is the same way, as soon as my hand goes in the tank he come crawling over to me.

 

[Anonymous]

the main concern with keeping most anemones with fish is not that the anemone is 'predatory', but rather what will happen to fish that 'stumble' into one by accident, either as a result of getting spooked, and fleeing right into one by mistake when trying to avoid danger, or 'wandering' into one at night

cerianthus are quite easy to keep, and have extremely sticky tentacles, and while natural feeders of small particled food items, there will always be a risk that you will lose a fish to them, under the above mentioned circumctances-

keep in mind that with tentacles potentially reaching a foot or more in length, the 'danger area ' when a cerianthus is fully expanded can be very large

just food for thought :wink: