FAQs on Anemones of the Caribbean/West Atlantic 2 Related Articles: Anemones, Anemones of the Tropical West Atlantic, Colored/Dyed Anemones,  Related FAQs: Atlantic Anemones 1, Condylactis, Tropical West Atlantic (TWA) Anemone Identification, TWA Anemone Behavior, TWA Anemone Compatibility, TWA Anemone Selection, TWA Anemone Systems, TWA Anemone Feeding, TWA Anemone Disease, TWA Anemone Reproduction, FAQs by Genus: Actinoporus, Arachnanthus, Bartholomea, Condylactis (see below), Epicystis, Lebrunia, Sticholdactyla helianthus, Viatrix, Others/Unknowns, & FAQs on: Anemones 1, Anemones 2, Clownfishes & Anemones, Anemone Lighting, Anemone Reproduction, Anemone Identification, Anemone Selection, Anemone Behavior, Anemone Health, Anemone Placement, Anemone Feeding,

Epicystis crucifer, Flower Anemone, aquarium pic.

New Print and eBook on Amazon:   Anemone Success Doing what it takes to keep Anemones healthy long-term by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Rock Flower Anemone Questions 7/13/10
Hey James.
<Jordan>
I searched your website, and I haven't found anything on what I'm trying to figure out. So I have a clarkii clownfish that hosts in a Condy anemone in my 10 gallon reef,
<Too small a tank for that combo.>
and in my 37 gallon I have an ocellaris clownfish pair that are very aggressive and won't let me add any fish to the tank (new fish are almost always dead the next day from the clownfish attacking them).
What I want to know is whether or not there is a chance that if I switched the clownfish whether or not I could add a rock flower anemone that the clarkii will host. The clarkii is wild caught.
<Is unlikely that your clarkii would host a rock anemone.>
I also want to know whether or not the lighting I have on the 37 gallon is enough, it's a FOWLR with 65 watts of
PC (50/50 bulb). I've read in a ton of places saying that my lighting would be fine if I kept the bulb fresh, but I've also read that it isn't enough. I'm not sure but any help would be great.
<Is not enough lighting for any of the anemone species your clarkii would host. Except for the Bubble Tipped Anemone (BTA), all will require intense lighting.>
Thanks.
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Re Rock Flower Anemone Questions 7/13/10 - 7/14/10
So your <you're> saying that a buble <Bubble> Tip Anemone would do fine in a 37gal with 65 watts
of PC?
<No, I said that of all the anemones clownfish would host, all but the BTA would require intense lighting. One 65 watt lamp would be border line at best for the Bubble Tip Anemone. Twin 10-12K lamps should provide the light intensity they require.>
I know that most anemones need intense light but I've been told that Rock Flower Anemones will adapt to very many light intensities and usually don't need high light at all.
<You are correct, Rock Flower Anemones (Epicystis crucifer) do well under moderate lighting. My point was that it is unlikely that your clownfish would host this anemone species.
James (Salty Dog)> 

Need help identifying anemone -- 03/18/10 I've attached three pictures of a strange anemone. It lives in the sand at about the 10 foot depth, and is usually covered with sand during the day (see picture #1), although sometimes I can see it, especially in the late afternoon. At night it comes a little above the sand and looks like picture #2. When my dive light attracts a worm or small fish to the anemone, it closes up as in picture #3. These pictures were taken on Bari Reef on Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. It is about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Any idea of what it is? Thanks, Marge Lawson <I've been to Bonaire a few times... it is a treasure for divers... but have not seen this beautiful anemone (though do occasion Cerianthus in the shallow sands... in about the same environment, quite often). I've looked in my references, on the Net, and I can't place this animal. I would send your images along to Daphne Fautin (Hexacorallians of the world .com) in the hope that she might know, or be able to find you someone who does. Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>

Re: AndyB pc. on Dendro and no Aiptasia in the Atlantic claims  2/17/08 Bob, <Andy> I will be happy to help in any way I can, but I must caution that I have no biology background or experience with preparing/writing such works. <Au contraire my friend. You obviously have a good grasp of written English communication... and enough "science" to relate your experiences here. I assure you of this> If you can provide a little more specific guidance on what, exactly, you're interested in (what type of photos, what type of specs, what type of narrative, etc.), I will gladly take this on. <Images of your system, the foods used, the specimen itself from a few angles, perhaps under various lighting... The writing, in your own voice... simply detailing your interest, background... the history of your keeping this specimen... Speculations you have, may have re your success> On another note, I have a question about Aiptasia. I have been debating this issue with a LFS owner, which sells Florida aqua-cultured LR exclusively. He claims that his LR is guaranteed Aiptasia-free, because they do not exist in the Atlantic/Caribbean. <Uhh, not so> His claim is as follows: "OUR FLORIDA AQUA CULTURED "LIVE ROCK" IS HAND PICKED. IT IS LEGALLY HARVESTED AFTER 6 - 16 YEARS. SHIPPED WITH HEAT PACKS OR ICE PACKS AND (WHICH EVER IS NEEDED) WITH ANEMONES, SEA SQUIRTS, MUSSELS, GORG.S., SPONGES, STARFISH, TOOTH CORALS AND BRAIN CORALS ALL OF WHICH LIVES. NO NEED TO CURE BECAUSE NOTHING IS "DYING". APPROX. 6 HOURS FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN TO THE BOTTOM OF OUR TANKS. NO APTASIA IN THE ATLANTIC!" My research suggests that Aiptasia do, indeed, come from the Atlantic. <This is also assuredly so... Have seen them there, many times...> Interestingly, I believe the Aiptasia that I did have in my tank (before the Butterfly) were acquired from a few pieces of LR that I bought from him. Andy <Do send this note to the company, rep... Perhaps their mis-spelling of the genus is some ploy at avoiding suit. BobF>

Haitian Reef Anemone Good day. <How goes it?  M. Maddox here, earning his keep>  I've read your site and thoroughly enjoy your wealth of knowledge. <Thanks, so do I> I recently started a second marine tank (my other is a 75g Reef).  My wife wanted an anemone and a pair of clowns in the bedroom. <Spiffy ;]>  So I went to my local LFS and purchased a Haitian Reef Anemone (yes I now know a poor choice *gasp*). <Do you mean Condylactis spp?  If so, they're not difficult to keep, as anemones go.  If not, scientific name, please?>  I placed the anemone in my cycled tank after the acclimation process. <Unless you're using a significant amount of LR\LS from your main tank I wouldn't add an anemone for several months or more>  The next morning I found the anemone dead and in pieces all over the tank.  A classic epic of Anemone v. Powerhead. <Why is it that everyone who has an anemone insists on using powerheads?  I see\hear this all the time! At least cover the intakes with foam> Needless to say the powerhead won. <They usually do> My question is this:  What steps do I need to take before putting anything else in the tank?  Did the untimely death pollute my tank? <Probably not much> Is so what steps, if any, can be taken to render it safe for marine life again? <Wait a few months, research anemone care, cover the PH intake with foam, or preferably, get rid of them in exchange for better means of flow> Thanks Marc <Anytime - M. Maddox>
Re: Haitian Reef Anemone Thank you for the reply.   I don't intend to attempt anemones again. <They do have very strict requirements> Going to be a FOWLR tank. <I want a 500g one with an Arothron hispidus...buy it for me? =D> But will keep the rest of the information handy for the future. <Cool - good luck with the FO!> Marc <M. Maddox>

Condylactis & Epicystis anemone care 11/26/03 I've inherited a Condylactis and an Epicystis anemone.  Can you tell me a bit more about their needs?   <hmm... what questions do you have beyond what is posted on the web sight for history, selection, husbandry? Lighting for cnidarians, etc> From reading your web site & Bob Fenner's CMA book, it appears the Condylactis does need fairly bright light, but I have trouble finding other info (e.g. water movement & feeding).   <feed the standard meats of marine origin finely minced/// 3-5 times weekly as a zooplankton substitute> I've got the Condylactis placed on some LR about 6-7" below the water surface (420W of VHO lighting) with moderately light flow. <the lighting is good... but the water flow should be moderate to strong random turbulent (not laminar)> The Epicystis is rooted in the gravel (I think) about 17" below the surface, with very light flow.  Any hints?  <rather typical for this hardy genus... fed regularly here and it likely will be fine> If I need to move the Epicystis to either a brighter or more rapidly flowing location, how do I do it with little stress?  What do I feed them & how frequently? Thanks! Hy <do refer to the article we have posted on WWM for feeding reef invertebrates... it regards corals and anemones in kind. Anthony>

Anemone (potentially temperate) husbandry... My daughter came home from sea camp in North Carolina with a sea Anemone. It looks like a Heteractis malu, from your website.
<Well, if she found it in the ocean, it can't be a H. malu because these are only found in the Pacific. Maybe she bought it at a store? If she did take if from the ocean, it's either a Condylactis anemone or some sort of temperate anemone (not sure what the water temp off of NC is year round).>
It has high sentimental value.  We first tried to house it in a very small 3 gal tank, along with a few algae eaters and a mussel-that it was attached to.  We were convinced to invest in a larger tank-10 gal. We did the live sand and mixed up Instant Ocean.  Each time we moved it, we took whatever water it was with, and added however much we needed.  We bought a heater and put it on low.  The temperature quickly got "too high", 80 deg F, so we shut it off.  It is now about 70 F,  The Anemone does not seem to be stressed out.  It is spread out and has moved location to a purchased rock. However despite the water conditioners and stress aides, the anemone seems to have contracted Ick.
<Only fish can contract Ich, what is it that makes you think it has this disease?>
What do we do now, what do we feed this, do we need reef lighting?
<Yes, at least a pair of 32w power compacts or more assuming it's a bought H. malu,  few standard output fluorescents or more if it's a Condylactis, and if it's a temperate anemone you'll need a bunch more light as well but I doubt it will survive for more than a few months.>
The tank is from Marineland and has a "wheel, wet dry filter on the top.
<This makes it difficult to impossible to add the additional lighting that this guy needs.> I would very much appreciate some quality advice! <Need more details about where this critter came from! -Kevin>

Antler Anemone? ID - 2/23/03 Hi Anthony, Been out of the country on a dive vacation or would have gotten back to you sooner :) <no worries... I'm still out of my mind> They came with a green tree from friend a local university that works with fish breeding and coral propagation.  There's probably a variety of stuff in their holding tanks but as far as I know don't import anything. <and they probably QT strictly (seriously) as educated academics/scientists... something we all need to do without fail as aquarists> After being away, the critters that are visible have noticeably grown but are still in the bottom third of the tank.  In the past 2 weeks, some others from the local reefer group and RC have suggested Lebrunia which I guess gives me more concern for my stupid clowns.   <Lebrunia/Antler anemones seems very hard to believe for a number of reasons like (Atlantic distribution, Pacific vehicle you've cited, its proclivity for sitting in the open on the reef, etc). Very doubtful... but possible. See our WWM pics of this species here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/twaanemones.htm > I don't know if these pictures are any better... <much better .... its just hard to be certain when they are this small> Right now, the stalks are thicker and the polyps are much more fully extended (all slightly larger than quarter now).  I can send you the full size images for future use if you want.   <that would be wonderful... please do! If high-res, perhaps we can sneak them into the next book <G>. In the meantime, do try to notice if there is a very dramatic change with this anemone at night. A Lebrunia will not retract like a typical anemone but put out large and exaggerated feeding tentacles. Please let us know :) Do feed these little buggers well at any rate. They are cute whatever they are (at least until we ID them <VBG>)> Anyways any advice on keeping both these and livestock (2 clowns and 1 cherub angel) healthy would be great.  Thanks again. Aven
<best regards, Anthony>