I have had an anemone in my reef since 2001. The first one I kept for over a decade. It split numerous times and was featured in a magazine article, and finally I sold it for a large sum in the fall of 2014. Sadly it died in the care of the new owner within months. Happily I gave a clone to Jason Edward of Greenwich Aquaria in 2005, and he is holding a clone of that anemone for me at his shop today. After that first anemone, I bought a second that grew so large I gave it to the Norwalk Aquarium this past winter where it is on display today. I then purchased a third anemone alas it arrived with a torn pedicle and died within a month. I then bought my fourth and fifth anemone a Bubble Tip and my fourth Ritteri, both of which are in my tank today, doing quite well. I have never treated any of the anemones with ciprofloxacin. All of my Ritteri anemones deflated and presented a gaping mouth numerous times for the first month I had them. Recently I found a scientific paper that may explain why the Ritteri Anemones behave in this manner.
Depth Influence on the Zooxanthellae Abundance and Primary Productivity of Branching and Massive Corals on Bama Beach Baluran National Park
This paper provided data showing that the lower light environment corals live in the higher the concentration of zooxanthellae. This would explain why anemones expel zooxanthellae IF they are collected from anywhere other than the highest reaches of a reef. Also logically an anemone can only inflate and deflate and turn out its mouth as a means of expelling anything which would imply, to me, that deflation and mouth opening is a normal behavior.
I have scoured the internet for actual papers on bacterial infections of anemones in captivity and or treatment of captive anemones with antibiotics. All I found were numerous papers showing that ciprofloxacin has varying toxicity towards photosynthetic algae.
Growth Response and Toxic Effects of Three Antibiotics on Selenastrum Capricornutum Evaluated by Photosynthetic Rate and Chlorophyll Biosynthesis
In a recent thread one new anemone owner contacted a local vet and asked about using ciprofloxacin and here is the post:
In addition there was another paper quoted in that thread that provides evidence that direct feeding of anemones improves mass and may be necessary for anemones from warmer waters that have a higher metabolism
Effects of feeding regime on growth rate in the Mediterranean Sea anemone
Another paper offered evidence that having clownfish is important as they provide "food" for the anemone through their excretions
Nutrient transfer in a marine mutualism: patterns of ammonia excretion by anemoneWsh and uptake by giant sea anemones
Finally I would note that I maintain my reef at 78.0 to 78.5 degrees fahrenheit all year round.
So now getting to my point. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I think there are several commonly held beliefs on this forum:
1) Many anemones arrive unhealthy and with a bacterial infection.
2) The health or, lack there of, of an anemone is indicated by deflation and mouth extrusion.
3) The use of ciprofloxacin is the best means for "saving" an anemone that is deflating and has a gaping mouth.
4) Anemones should not be or do not need to be directly fed especially when newly arrived.
5) Many anemones prefer warmer water above 80 degrees fahrenheit.
Now my purpose in starting this thread is not to start an argument or say my methods are better than any other reefer out there. My purpose here is to uncover any scientific research to support the use of ciprofloxacin because it is my hypothesis that ciprofloxacin use is harming more anemones than helping, but I am very open to evidence to the contrary. What I am NOT looking for is a discussion that includes anecdotes from other reefs. I am keenly aware many people have used ciprofloxacin and have healthy anemones.
So if anyone has any links to scientific research supportive of treating captive anemones with antibiotics I would be most appreciative.
My anemones:
2001 the start
That anemone in my 180 in 2002
Then again in 2004
The first clone given to Jason Edward in 2005
My second anemone purchased in 2014 and shown here in 2017
and of course my current Ritteri
and my Ritteri on a magazine cover in 2012
Depth Influence on the Zooxanthellae Abundance and Primary Productivity of Branching and Massive Corals on Bama Beach Baluran National Park
This paper provided data showing that the lower light environment corals live in the higher the concentration of zooxanthellae. This would explain why anemones expel zooxanthellae IF they are collected from anywhere other than the highest reaches of a reef. Also logically an anemone can only inflate and deflate and turn out its mouth as a means of expelling anything which would imply, to me, that deflation and mouth opening is a normal behavior.
I have scoured the internet for actual papers on bacterial infections of anemones in captivity and or treatment of captive anemones with antibiotics. All I found were numerous papers showing that ciprofloxacin has varying toxicity towards photosynthetic algae.
Growth Response and Toxic Effects of Three Antibiotics on Selenastrum Capricornutum Evaluated by Photosynthetic Rate and Chlorophyll Biosynthesis
In a recent thread one new anemone owner contacted a local vet and asked about using ciprofloxacin and here is the post:
I called all the vets in my area (Northern California) and none will give me antibiotics of any kind. One who specializes in aquatic creatures even said that using cipro would be "irresponsible" because it is too harsh and leads to poor outcomes for anemones. Any thoughts on that or other ways to get cipro?
In addition there was another paper quoted in that thread that provides evidence that direct feeding of anemones improves mass and may be necessary for anemones from warmer waters that have a higher metabolism
Effects of feeding regime on growth rate in the Mediterranean Sea anemone
Another paper offered evidence that having clownfish is important as they provide "food" for the anemone through their excretions
Nutrient transfer in a marine mutualism: patterns of ammonia excretion by anemoneWsh and uptake by giant sea anemones
Finally I would note that I maintain my reef at 78.0 to 78.5 degrees fahrenheit all year round.
So now getting to my point. Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I think there are several commonly held beliefs on this forum:
1) Many anemones arrive unhealthy and with a bacterial infection.
2) The health or, lack there of, of an anemone is indicated by deflation and mouth extrusion.
3) The use of ciprofloxacin is the best means for "saving" an anemone that is deflating and has a gaping mouth.
4) Anemones should not be or do not need to be directly fed especially when newly arrived.
5) Many anemones prefer warmer water above 80 degrees fahrenheit.
Now my purpose in starting this thread is not to start an argument or say my methods are better than any other reefer out there. My purpose here is to uncover any scientific research to support the use of ciprofloxacin because it is my hypothesis that ciprofloxacin use is harming more anemones than helping, but I am very open to evidence to the contrary. What I am NOT looking for is a discussion that includes anecdotes from other reefs. I am keenly aware many people have used ciprofloxacin and have healthy anemones.
So if anyone has any links to scientific research supportive of treating captive anemones with antibiotics I would be most appreciative.
My anemones:
2001 the start
That anemone in my 180 in 2002
Then again in 2004
The first clone given to Jason Edward in 2005
My second anemone purchased in 2014 and shown here in 2017
and of course my current Ritteri
and my Ritteri on a magazine cover in 2012