Anemone Is Moving

[denverjon]

• I've got a Colorado Starburst that didn't move an inch for 6 months. All of sudden, it's moving all over the tank and stinging everything in it's path. Right now, it's on small rock that I can remove, but I'd rather figure out a way to keep it in my tank. I was thinking of creating a small island with the rock and have it be separated from the rest of the rockwork by the sandbed. My question is this...would the anemone be more likely to stay put if it's on a small island or could it move across the sandbed back to the main rockwork?

 

[jokervueboi]

IME, my anemone only move when they're unappy with any changes from flow or light. has anything changed? Also I have a seperate small island just for my white sebae, which recently split into 2, and each stays in their own cornder of the small island.

 

[Trex]

If it doesn't like the conditions, being on a small island won't stop it from moving. Need to figure out what is causing it to move.

What size tank?
What lights do you have?
Current water parameters -- with numbers please.

What, if anything, has changed recently? Cleaned or moved any powerheads? Added any new fish/inverts?

 

[denverjon]

Thanks for the feedback. I've got a 240g mixed reef with 400 watt 20k radiums. I did change the lights a couple months ago but the anemone didn't react negatively at that time, just in the last couple of weeks. Also, I haven't moved the powerheads in a couple years so the flow's the same. I've had some calcium issues recently which did affect my sps but that shouldn't bother my anemone. All of my other parameters have remained stable.

 

[Sun357]

I had a nem that moved every six months. He'd be fine, nothing changed in that time and tank was stable....but he moved once at the 6 month mark and again at the year mark for no reason. Stinkin crazy nems! =D

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Let me know if you want to sell it. As already mentioned, they will move when they want to. There is no way to contain it unless you make a mesh cage or something.

 

[tonyd300]

When I put mine in my tank it move all around the tank for a few days. Once it found a its spot it has not moved in over 6 months. My only problem is I want to get a clown fish to hangout in it.

 

[Reeferella]

In my experience, an anemone can't be confined. As a last resort, a BTA will simply inflate his foot like a balloon, catch a wave, and float away and around until he hits something. Like rockwork. Or a powerhead. For me personally, of all the nems I've kept, BTA's have been the most frustrating.

 

[Haddonis Reef]

It can be frustrating when these Guys move around stinging everything in its path. I have a nem tank w other sb nems, if u get to the point where u need a break from it I'd be interested in buying it from u, I'm in Greeley about 5 min away from gonzo.

 

[shred5]

No you can contain a anemone.. Like someone said Bta's can just inflate and move...
Like also was said they do move sometimes because they dont like the conditions or something has changed like you replaced the lamps or even improved water conditions.
Sometimes they move before or after a split, sometimes after they spawn... Sometimes they move because of allelopathy from another anemone or coral and they are trying to move away from, they dont know they are contained in a little jar... I also will say sometimes bta's just move for no reason. Bta's and magnificas are movers, sometimes they sit for years and other times they dont.

 

[miyags]

I had one stayed in the spot I put it for about a year. Then it split and both parts moved all over the tank sting every thing in their path. killing my candycane coral along the way.I got rid of mine. The nice thing about them. their easy to sell