Ball Tipped anemone and my OCD

[bfsaunde]

I have ball tipped anemones all over my tank. I don't think they are causing any issues at present. I have had trouble keeping any type of ornamental shrimp in the tank and they go through tiny snails like appetizers. They are hard to see during the day. I remember researching them when I first found it on my rock. Several forums mentioned that they shouldn't be a problem with many people saying "cool" and "you should keep it". Well, I kept it and two years later I have what seems like hundreds. The one benefit I think I have is that they catch all the food that the fish don't eat. I have some that open during the day and others only at night. Here is a pic I took of one this morning.

 

[KJ]

Try reduce feeding and this should help get your anemone population down.

 

[oneofmany]

You could also try roughing them up a little so that they withdraw and then smother it with some epoxy.

 

[bfsaunde]

Thanks, I really didn't discuss all the attempts to reduce and/or get rid of them. I once target fed the only fish I had in the tank for six months. A royal gramma. The ball-tips will survive. It's amazing. It is my personal opinion that ones fish will suffer from lack of nutrition first. It does make sense that feeding less will slow them, but my experience is they will remain.

 

[bfsaunde]

I have used aiptasia-x and the majano wand. They both work to reduce the number, but they are good hiders. I'm pretty sure I will never get rid of all of them.

 

[bfsaunde]

This what he looks like when the lights come on.