Ball Anenomes

[multsh]

Hello,

Are these ball Anenomes? They are all over my reef tank and seem to be bothering my corals and stay open all day.

They also attacked a baby hermit, and seem to be really aggressive.

Also, any natural predators? (For a 40G tank) Or other alternatives to remove?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Crabs McJones]

Yup

 

[multsh]

Yup

I've seen a few posts that say they are not bad hitchhikers. But these seem to be aggressive, any suggestions how to get rid?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I've seen a few posts that say they are not bad hitchhikers. But these seem to be aggressive, any suggestions how to get rid?

Usually they're not an issue. If they're bothering your coral you could always manual remove. Put a little super glue over where they were so it doesn't grow back. I'm not aware of anything that eats them perhaps #reefsquad or @vetteguy53081 knows?

 

[Seansea]

There's a trick to removing these. I use it for aptasia too. When you do a water change before you change it out use a turkey baster. Squeeze the baster ball and get air out before you put in water get up close to anenome slowly and release the ball. Will suck the whole anenome up before it has time to retract. Gonna suck out alot of tank water so have some water change ready.

And yes they sting corals and will kill them.

 

[damsels are not mean]

I've had these in my tank over a decade and never seen anything I'd call aggression. The only thing they seemed to kill a lot of was dwarf cerith snails for some reason. But I'm not sure if the shells sitting around them was just a coincidence. Over the years the population decreased as other animals outcompeted them and now I only see one in the tank though I'm sure there's more somewhere.

 

[multsh]

I've had these in my tank over a decade and never seen anything I'd call aggression. The only thing they seemed to kill a lot of was dwarf cerith snails for some reason. But I'm not sure if the shells sitting around them was just a coincidence. Over the years the population decreased as other animals outcompeted them and now I only see one in the tank though I'm sure there's more somewhere.

The last picture actually shows them engulfing a live hermit! I pulled him out actually.

 

[multsh]

There's a trick to removing these. I use it for aptasia too. When you do a water change before you change it out use a turkey baster. Squeeze the baster ball and get air out before you put in water get up close to anenome slowly and release the ball. Will suck the whole anenome up before it has time to retract. Gonna suck out alot of tank water so have some water change ready.

And yes they sting corals and will kill them.

Interesting idea!! Will try on next water change. Was wondering if a peppermint shrimp would do any damage on the ones I can't get too

 

[Seansea]

Peppermint shrimp may or may not but then when there are no anenomea they may turn there attention to lps In your tank more specifically euphelia.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello,

Are these ball Anenomes? They are all over my reef tank and seem to be bothering my corals and stay open all day.

They also attacked a baby hermit, and seem to be really aggressive.

Also, any natural predators? (For a 40G tank) Or other alternatives to remove?

Thanks in advance!

Unlike aptasia and Majano, I had one 2 years ago and it remained, had nice color and only one more ever emerged. They remain small and here is a puzzling fact as others stated they are a good anemone. Anemone ???
Ball Anemones are actually not anemones at all, it is actually a mushroom coral that is commonly confused by too many as a Majano Aiptasia. Unlike an Aiptasia, they are reef safe, they commonly stay closed during the day and open up at night. The tips if its anemone-like tentacles end with a ball tip giving it its' name

 

[multsh]

Unlike aptasia and Majano, I had one 2 years ago and it remained, had nice color and only one more ever emerged. They remain small and here is a puzzling fact as others stated they are a good anemone. Anemone ???
Ball Anemones are actually not anemones at all, it is actually a mushroom coral that is commonly confused by too many as a Majano Aiptasia. Unlike an Aiptasia, they are reef safe, they commonly stay closed during the day and open up at night. The tips if its anemone-like tentacles end with a ball tip giving it its' name

I think mine may perhaps be a different species of ball Anenome (mushrooms). They are open and active all day and night. Pics above are during the day!