Ball anemone

Nicksal · Dec 5, 2021

Hi everyone,
I bought a few frags and noticed that two of them had a few ball anemones on them. Should I get rid of them or keep them? Will they be a pest? Please let me know.

Goaway · Dec 5, 2021

I never heard of them being an issue. I have 1. And its hidding from my cbb. It's only a matter of time until it becomes dinner

Nicksal · Dec 5, 2021

Okay, thank you

TnFishwater98 · Dec 5, 2021

Nicksal said:
Hi everyone,
I bought a few frags and noticed that two of them had a few ball anemones on them. Should I get rid of them or keep them? Will they be a pest? Please let me know.

I think they are a issue. They eat you snails snd other CUC. They multiply heavily in my tank. I’ve introduced a Aiptasia eating Filefish to see if he finds them tasty

TnFishwater98 · Dec 5, 2021

They look cool but no-reason to have them in your tank

Tamberav · Dec 5, 2021

I would keep... they are actually a mushroom and not a nem. I think they look cool.

Nicksal · Dec 5, 2021

If they eat my CUC I will probably get ride of them then

Nicksal · Dec 5, 2021

Thank you all for your thoughts much appreciated

vetteguy53081 · Dec 5, 2021

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

TnFishwater98 · Dec 5, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
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 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’ve read it’s a hybrid between a mushroom and anemone. I’ve seen lots of small babies. I’ve introduced a few things I hope snacks on them. I’ve witnessed it eating a bristle worm! It was cool but never thought I’d see a bristle worm halfway out and halfway in a ball anemone. Disk was clear so you could see the worm on the inside on the anemone. Lots of snail shells pile up next to them and they keep them from moving across certain rocks. I’m not stressing about them but it would be impossible to remove them all manually. I only have them in one of my tanks and have managed to keep it that way.

sfin52 · Dec 5, 2021

They are also found in darker area of the tanks. Like others said they won't become a problem.

TnFishwater98 · Dec 5, 2021

sfin52 said:
They are also found in darker area of the tanks. Like others said they won't become a problem.

They are in the lower half but have migrated/multiplied across the bottom. They haven’t reached the other side of tank yet. Hopeful they are starting to lower in numbers.

Tamberav · Dec 5, 2021

TnFishwater98 said:
I’ve read it’s a hybrid between a mushroom and anemone. I’ve seen lots of small babies. I’ve introduced a few things I hope snacks on them. I’ve witnessed it eating a bristle worm! It was cool but never thought I’d see a bristle worm halfway out and halfway in a ball anemone. Disk was clear so you could see the worm on the inside on the anemone. Lots of snail shells pile up next to them and they keep them from moving across certain rocks. I’m not stressing about them but it would be impossible to remove them all manually. I only have them in one of my tanks and have managed to keep it that way.

Many corals eat bristle worms too and my plate coral eats small snails.

Yum!

TnFishwater98 · Dec 5, 2021

Tamberav said:
Many corals eat bristle worms too and my plate coral eats small snails.

Yum!

But those aren’t close to being invasive and ball anemones aren’t considered to be a prized anemone/mush. Just reporting what I’m dealing with and it’s not fun. Not the worst thing either.

Chrisv. · Dec 5, 2021

These became a problem for me. They stung zoanthids and RAPIDLY proliferated. Not easy to kill. I used kalk paste.

My vote is: kill them before they are a problem.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 5, 2021

TnFishwater98 said:
I’ve read it’s a hybrid between a mushroom and anemone. I’ve seen lots of small babies. I’ve introduced a few things I hope snacks on them. I’ve witnessed it eating a bristle worm! It was cool but never thought I’d see a bristle worm halfway out and halfway in a ball anemone. Disk was clear so you could see the worm on the inside on the anemone. Lots of snail shells pile up next to them and they keep them from moving across certain rocks. I’m not stressing about them but it would be impossible to remove them all manually. I only have them in one of my tanks and have managed to keep it that way.

If theres' a need to remove, place an ice cube on it and it will release

TnFishwater98 · Dec 5, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
If theres' a need to remove, place an ice cube on it and it will release

Way too many to make that happen

Sleeping Giant · Dec 5, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
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 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

Mine multiply at a pretty good pace, I have about 2 dozen or so. They are in darker areas, which I don't mind, because they do tend to give off a glow that can light up a dark area. I personally like them and haven't run into an issue yet.