Beadlet Anemone (Actinia Equiana) experiences

[ecossebear]

Has anyone here had success with keeping a Beadlet Anemone? I love the colours and quite fancy adding them (they are also nice and cheap for their colour!). I already have a nem in my tank with two clown hosts, and also a number of corals. The clowns are probably the smallest fish I have. I have heard stories of them eating other fish but wondered if anyone had any first hand experience? Also possibly considering a separate in tank ’box’ for one to avoid it stinging.

 

[Rtaylor]

I have not, but my understanding is that they prefer lower temps than we typically keep our reef tanks at.

 

[ecossebear]

I think they are pretty hardy and can survive almost anything (hence sometimes a pest). My concern is what it may do to other tank inhabitants

 

[bradleym]

I picked up 2 on March 23rd, and one died shortly after arrival, so I can't say I'm an expert, but I have at least kept the one for a few weeks. They are non-photosynthetic, so they couldn't care less about lighting and may hide. But they also need manual feedings every few days, so that becomes a problem. They also will sting pretty aggressively, and will absolutely out-sting other anemones if they touch.

Mine is relegated to a floating basket now for ease of finding/feeding but it looks pretty healthy so far. And yes, they are typically colder water anemones, so I am keeping my reef on the low end, 77-78 to help keep it happy.

 

[ecossebear]

I picked up 2 on March 23rd, and one died shortly after arrival, so I can't say I'm an expert, but I have at least kept the one for a few weeks. They are non-photosynthetic, so they couldn't care less about lighting and may hide. But they also need manual feedings every few days, so that becomes a problem. They also will sting pretty aggressively, and will absolutely out-sting other anemones if they touch.

Mine is relegated to a floating basket now for ease of finding/feeding but it looks pretty healthy so far. And yes, they are typically colder water anemones, so I am keeping my reef on the low end, 77-78 to help keep it happy.

Thanks for the really useful feedback! Did you find they moved a lot to sting other nems? I’ve only one men in a 250litre tank so I had hoped a small one may be safe enough but I read somewhere someone’s had eaten a clown fish!! I like the idea of the floating basket, or if they don’t need the light maybe the sump.
How did you find yours was to other fish and inverts with the exception of your anemones?

 

[bradleym]

Thanks for the really useful feedback! Did you find they moved a lot to sting other nems? I’ve only one men in a 250litre tank so I had hoped a small one may be safe enough but I read somewhere someone’s had eaten a clown fish!! I like the idea of the floating basket, or if they don’t need the light maybe the sump.
How did you find yours was to other fish and inverts with the exception of your anemones?

I'll be honest, mine wasn't around other animals very long. It started to crawl into the rockwork right away, and then after a couple days I dug it out because I knew it would starve if I couldn't feed it. But on it's way through, it gave quite a kick to few nems and corals, so I'd say it didn't hunt for something to sting but it definitely didn't have to go around anything either. Mine are pretty small, so I doubt they could eat a full grown a fish easily, but if they get bigger I believe the sting is strong enough to kill one.

 

[bradleym]

Here is mine right now, it worked it's way up to the corner and has been there for the last week. I'll probably buy a smaller basket for long term, this was one I originally bought for acclimating Magnificas. :)

 

[ecossebear]

He’s cool! Yeah they seem such characters I really fancied getting them. I pipette feed my corals anyway so I’ll try him in the DT but one attack at a new or coral and he’s going to fish jail

 

[ziejek]

I have a couple myself. From rock pools, so wild caught. They do very well transferred to the tank. At first they will travel a lot, looking for the spot.
I keep them in unheated tank, at room temp, that is still 22C, waaaay warmer than the sea. No bother, Once they will find their spot, they will stay there. Usually in the high current. But I have some that spread about. What I've noticed is two things. If they are closed and you feed your fish, they will open straight away. They can smell and they know.