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Anemones too close to each other? (1 Viewer)

ruiz0052

ruiz0052

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Jan 28, 2012
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I have a purple tipped Sebae Anemone and a bi-color rose bubble tip anemone that have moved very close to one another. I haven't seen the tentacles touch each others yet, but do i have to be concerned that they might sting each other once there both fully open?

Bonus Question: If i shouldn't be concerned is it because they use the same neurotoxin? How is it that it's fine that two nems of the same species can be right next to one another with out the other being irritated?
 
Normally corals of the same species will send out an "odor" notifying the others to not harm it. (something I heard on a nature show). But Sebae and bubble-tips aren't the same species so you should probably move them.

(and I'm not entirely sure I stated that fact correctly..)
 
Everything I've read says it is highly recommended to not mix anemone species. They can wage chemical warfare and do more than just damage each other. Also, sebae are aggressive and roam a lot.

If it were me I'd just stick with bubble tip anemones.
 
You can find quite a few different variations of bubble tip anemones if you into collecting them.
 
Thanks for the tip guys, i most likely will be moving them relatively soon as i do like both of them alot and don't want to chance loosing them. I definitely do think nems are beautiful and would like to get a couple more RBTA eventually.
 
i think they are smart enough, that once they touch if they dont agree they will part ways. when mine split the smaller one decided to lay on my frag rack and when he started bothering my other frags i pushed it off and it never tryed to lay on it again.
 
I have a 180 gal Anemonie tank only, somewhere around 40-50 Nems live in this tank. I have mixed BTA's, Carpets, Sebae's, Heteractis, Rock Nems, Mini-carpets, and Tube Nems. This tank has been running for 7-8 years, and have NEVER had any issues with any of the Nems except the Tube Nems, good thing they do not move! I have carpets, Sebae's, BTA's living next to each other for years, no issues, no stinging, no nothing. Now, I am not going to say that a problem could not happen, but it has not in the 7-8 years I have kept all these Nems together.
 
NeedMore said:
I have a 180 gal Anemonie tank only, somewhere around 40-50 Nems live in this tank. I have mixed BTA's, Carpets, Sebae's, Heteractis, Rock Nems, Mini-carpets, and Tube Nems. This tank has been running for 7-8 years, and have NEVER had any issues with any of the Nems except the Tube Nems, good thing they do not move! I have carpets, Sebae's, BTA's living next to each other for years, no issues, no stinging, no nothing. Now, I am not going to say that a problem could not happen, but it has not in the 7-8 years I have kept all these Nems together.
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Wow you are one of the lucky ones... Any pix if this awesome nem tank?

on the otherhand I lost a RBTA and Haddoni carpet that I had put them together in a 120 gallon 4' x 4' tank...

They were doing great for about two months or so then the RBTA started to roam around... Next few days I notice they weren't eating by that time I couldn't save them anymore... Lesson learned. I personally wouldn't put different species of nem together.
 
kylebdarling said:
i think they are smart enough, that once they touch if they dont agree they will part ways. when mine split the smaller one decided to lay on my frag rack and when he started bothering my other frags i pushed it off and it never tryed to lay on it again.
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Yes, that is a different scenario though. Because one had just split, they were both obviously the same species. Anemones of the same species are generally cohesive - however, ruiz is concerned about his two anemones of different species. I agree with Matt - if they rub up against one another, they could wage a chemical warfare that could crash the entire tank. If possible, I would separate as soon as you can.

As for NeedMore, yes, you are definitely a lucky one to have that work out for you, but it's not something that I would recommend to most people. If you have a thread for that tank, you should find and bump it so people can see (as opposed to posting pictures here)
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Now that's really cool! That's awesome that you have so many nems and you never ran into any issues. That definitely aids in backing up some myths/beliefs. I believe chemical warfare is kind of a strong word to use as they possess one type of neurotoxin and deploy it when they sting, the tank crashing would be due to the Nems dissociating not due to the nem stinging another. It would be cool to hear if anyone else has multiple Nems in their tanks and have witnessed them come close to each other. I would theorize if they do start stinging each other it would be to the death right there and not a prolonged effect in the sense that they move away and live for a few days after, but it would be cool to hear different! Please post pics of that sweet tank if you can! :biggthumpup:

NeedMore said:
I have a 180 gal Anemonie tank only, somewhere around 40-50 Nems live in this tank. I have mixed BTA's, Carpets, Sebae's, Heteractis, Rock Nems, Mini-carpets, and Tube Nems. This tank has been running for 7-8 years, and have NEVER had any issues with any of the Nems except the Tube Nems, good thing they do not move! I have carpets, Sebae's, BTA's living next to each other for years, no issues, no stinging, no nothing. Now, I am not going to say that a problem could not happen, but it has not in the 7-8 years I have kept all these Nems together.
Click to expand...
 
BadOmen said:
Normally corals of the same species will send out an "odor" notifying the others to not harm it. (something I heard on a nature show). But Sebae and bubble-tips aren't the same species so you should probably move them.

(and I'm not entirely sure I stated that fact correctly..)
Click to expand...

Anemones are not corals. They can, and I think would, move if they were being injured by being too close to another anemone.
 
I never stated that they were similar to corals or not able to move. However, when you are injected with a neurotoxin, this chemical directly effects you're nervous system, and because they are much smaller organisms and the toxin is fully permeable to the nem, i would theorize that it would not take long for their physiological functions to shut down. Especially if they were stinging each other multiple times, they are similar in size, and because they are very slow movers to begin with. However, that's why i would like to hear experience of other owners who have witnessed there nems next to each other as the nem could already possess antibodies to the toxin or mix of toxins that could provide resistance to the sting.

hypertech said:
Anemones are not corals. They can, and I think would, move if they were being injured by being too close to another anemone.
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I believe the "anemones are not corals" comment was directed at BadOmen.

For what it's worth my BTAs love snuggling up, don't know about other anemones touching, but I have seen LTAs and Sebaes in the same 30 gallon at Something Fishy before, and they were fine.
 
Oops my bad hypertech! Been skimming these threads and not paying close attention to who comments were directed at! My apologies! :bln-ruhroh:
 
My Red Haddoni Carpet is in immediate contact to a large Sebae, has been for years. My Blue Haddoni Carpet is surrounded by BTA's and the same Sebae, green Haddoni right next to it. Heteractis Malu is in contact with BTA's. I have seen a few problems over the years, but not with the above stated Nems and each other. The biggest problem I have had is my Red Haddoni has a taste for nice Ricordea, I lost 20-25 Ricordea, literally eaten! Another issue has been when Nems start roaming around, and come in contact with the Tube Nems (easily the most aggressive Nems in my tank). Numerous Nems, including 2 of my 3 carpets, have been in contact, stung heavily by the Tube Nems, had me worried for maybe 2-3 days, but they pulled through and are doing fine. My Heteractis Malu was at one time up at the top of the tank, back glass, at the water surface. The coraline algae broke loose, and he fell directly (face down) on top of the Tube Nems and partially on the Red Carpet. I pulled him off, the Red Carpet did not want to let go, placed him high in the rockwork, 1 day later, Heteractis doing fine, and has been in that spot ever since!
As far as pictures, I just got a nice digital camera, need to figure it out, take some pictures of all my tanks including the Nem tank. I have an infatuation with Nems, that is why I have a Nem only tank. In a mixed reef, IN MY EXPERIENCE, Nems will cause problems sooner or later, and I just hated losing my $400 Aussie Scoly, that is when I decided to go seperate tanks.
 
Hope it is all right. Some pics of 'NeedMore's anemone tank when I was there almost a year ago?
I believe he said the yellow tang and the regular clownfish were both pushing 20 yrs old...

Pics are too blue, sorry.

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