Sea Anemones

I have one of the most beautiful anemones I have ever seen.  I've never even seen an anemone in the wild that looks as pretty as my green carpet anemone.  Some days it is so big and full of color it is unbelievable. 
However, some days it will completely bury itself in the sand.  I mean completely without a single part of it showing.  It can stay that way for a few days, then suddenly one morning I will look at the tank and poof big ol' anemone out. 

I don't get it.  But if your anemone is growing, and not shrinking, then I agree with Eric and Marcus, everything is fine.

Adam

Wow look at all the questions for me.  Jon- it doesn't host anything.  I hae a large pink and purple carpet that is host to my dominos, and my perc hangs out in my xenia (thank Jon) and my ocellaris both just swim around.  So the anemone is empty.  However, my anemone shrimp will hang out there once in a while.

Marcus- light, it is in my 30 gal with 4 65watt compacts on the bottom.  I haven't checked salinty or temp in months so no idea.  Flow is pretty low since he is on the bottom, lots of surface movement but not much below.  He gets direct feeding every couple months, but I think he catches food often as the peppermints like to sit right on top of it while they are eating. 

Rich- carpets split, but I don't see any signs of this one splitting.  I think when I get it in the new tank with halides that will make the difference.  I really believe halides are crucial for anemone growth and therefore splitting. 

Adam

Bad writing, sorry.  I mean I have 4 bulbs, all 65 watt.... and my anemone is on the bottom of my tank, as opposed to the top of my tank.  I didn't say that well.

Adam

Jon,

I think Entacmeae quadricolor are the all around best anemones.  However, once in a while I agree with those like GARF who promote using xenia (which I know you have) as a host.  So I would recommend one those two options. 

But hey, that's just me.

Adam

jfinch wrote:  I thought the carpet anemone was a natural host for ocellaris and percs?  Is the bubble tip too? (I know this has all been discussed before, thanks for doing it again)

Jon,

Yes E. quadricolor is a bubble tip.  I stand by my comment that I think they are the best hosting anemones, but here is some real info to answer your questions.  E. quadricolor is NOT a natural host to either ocellaris nor percula.  But it is a host to almost everything else.  For percula and ocellaris they each have 3 natural hosts, 2 of them the same.  So, from that stand point I would recommend either Heteractis magnifica (a long tentacle type anemone) or Stichodactyla gigantea (a carpet type anemone),(I think I spelled those correctly, but I don't type them often).  Neither are common (at least I don't see them often).   

Hope this helps,

Adam

I have a perc whose hosted quite happily in one for six months now. The anemone roamed all over the tank until the clown settled in and hasn't moved since. And the clown was always jittery and illusive before. Now Both are visibly benefiting from the union, the quadricolor has bubbled all it's tips nicely. When I set-up that sump I bought from you the anemone and all my xenia and polyps underwent some unusual "stress" (appearing almost singed) and the clown avoided it for a week or two. But as soon as it recovered he moved right back in and takes excellent care of it.