Those Large Sea Anemones

[gpenley]

I purchased a large pink Sea Anemone from Capp Bay and then I had two fish die. Do they really sting and kill other tropical fish as big as 2-3 inches or do they only kill small creatures like guppies? my 6 striped wrasse named ROSIE was doing fine for 5 months and then dies the day after I added my new Sea Anemone. There seems to be differing opinions on whether they kill other fish.:doh:

 

[flipturn88]

Usually if an anemone kills a fish, it will eat it too.

How long has your tank been established?

 

[gpenley]

dawgdude wrote: It can sting pretty much any fish its just that clowns aren't affected. I would bet there was some kind of parasite in the water OR it could be that the bioload of the tank increased. How big is the tank? How many fish? And how are your Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate levels. Its possible they got stung but I have a Six line wrasse, Two clowns, clown goby, Royal gramma, Mandarin and a few other fish I have probably forgotten about. My bet is a parasite or level spike.

I have a 45 gallon tank, 10 fish, 5 starfish, 3 crabs, 15 corals, low nitrate, tank has been established for 9 months.

 

[gpenley]

The Sea Anemone moved around tank for 2 days, then went into a cave and three days later I removed the rocks to find him dead and deteriorated into flesh. It was real mess to clean up. Had to do 2 water changes. No he didnt eat my 6 line wrasse. The wrasse looked very healthy when I found him in the morning.

 

[flipturn88]

I'm sorry to say this, but 10 fish is a lot for a 45 gallon tank. The bioload may be causing some problems, like the deaths of the anemone and fish.

 

[gpenley]

dawgdude wrote: Yeah I think my first guess with the bioload is probably the case......I dont know what your budget looks like but you might want to look at getting a skimmer. This one is a possibility
http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=esu_skimmer_65&Category_Code=s1&Product_Count=1">http://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=esu_skimmer_65&Category_Code=s1&Product_Count=1</a>

I bought my gf's aquapod and $200 in other stuff there and the prices were amazing and the guy is really nice. I just picked it all up in Lawrenceville.
Also you could add a refug and that would help alot at filtering the water. Also alot of people dont suggest putting an anemone in a tank younger than a year. I have had success with it, but I feed them carefully to make sure something else doesnt take it and watch my water REALLY closesly for the first few weeks until it is established.

What are the other fish you have though because my six line is a freaking trooper and I couldnt kill him if I tried. My filter broke and dumped all the crap back into my tank and I lost everything EXCEPT my six line. So I am curious as to why it died as opposed to something else.....[/QUOTE]

My other fish are: pair of Percula Clown Fish, Arabian yellow and blue something (cant remeber name), 2 damsels, 3 firefly gobies, 2 Pajama Cardinals, and Flaming Cardinal.

My nitrate level is easily kept between 15 and 40 each month with one 15 gallon water change and I have a protein skimmer already in the system.

No more Sea Anemones for me!!

 

[tsunami]

I've had some really bad luck with anenomes, but once my tank matured and I added a refugium, I was able to suppport severl anenomes (5 to be exact). They are doing great and 3 are more than 7 inches in diameter. I had lost 3 before though. They are just touchy.

 

[ms_ k]

Don't anemones require fairly pristine water conditions? Is a nitrate level of 40 too high for anemones? I'm just asking, because I don't know a lot about anemones and thought it might be something to consider.

 

[jessezm]

Yeah, those nitrates are way too high for most anemones (LTA, BTA, Sebae, carpet, etc..)

 

[kevin]

Anemones are very finicky creatures. Some people have good luck with them, some people don't have any luck. Anemones do need very good water conditions. Best bet is a refug to remover nitrates.

Keep us posted

 

[jmaneyapanda]

jessezm wrote: Yeah, those nitrates are way too high for most anemones (LTA, BTA, Sebae, carpet, etc..)

Where is this information coming from? I am curious.