Black widow question

[Lovefish77]

I have had black widow anemones in my tank for over 3 years and have been splitting over the years. The anemones have moved a lot and rubbed against other coral but they have never killed any other corals in my tanks. My question is: is this normal? I cannot be that lucky for that long.

Did anyone experience a similar situation? Or my black widows are very special?

Thanks everyone

 

[gaki]

In many cases, those corals would at least be very unhappy, so yeah- it’s entirely possible that your anemone is just... special. So much in this hobby depends on the individual, be it coral, fish, or in this case, anemone. It could also be that those corals they rubbed against have a certain immunity to anemone sting, like maybe they produce a similar toxin so they’re used to it.

 

[Lovefish77]

Unhappy yes but there has never been any ill effect to any coral. They might shrivel for a few hours but then back to normal. It happened with bubble coral, gorgonians, pipe organ, green nepthea, toadstool and on and on. It is not like an anomaly. IME anemones are smart if they rub against coral they will not like it and just move on.
Like I have seen my bubble coral hurt other corals to their demise in the tank but never the case with my nems!!

 

[Cell]

I think it typically takes prolonged contact for significant damage. Short term contact irritates, but doesn't necessarily cause necrosis.

 

[Lovefish77]

I think it typically takes prolonged contact for significant damage. Short term contact irritates, but doesn't necessarily cause necrosis.

One of my black widows kept rubbing its tentacles against a tool leather for days and then it moved with no damage to the leather. Anemone eventually moved and it went to park next to pipe organ rubbing against its tentacles against it with no ill effect at all!

 

[Cell]

Lucky you. Let me see if I can find some pics of BTA burns.

 

[Lovefish77]

Lucky you. Let me see if I can find some pics of BTA burns.

I am just asking the question because even though when I sell my black widows I try to make any blanket statements for people that it is docile thinking maybe i am just lucky.
All of 30+ black widows I had were split from a single one I got so no surprise. If the first I got was not that aggressive, then they are all the same.
Maybe one thing I have not seen them rub against yet is acropora.

 

[Cell]

I guess I dont have any BW sting pics, mine have stayed isolated so far. Here is my purple and green hitting a psammo.

 

[Cell]

Here is a Chicago Sunburst hitting an unknown acro.

 

[Lovefish77]

I guess I dont have any BW sting pics, mine have stayed isolated so far. Here is my purple and green hitting a psammo.

I have seen my bubble damage corals like this but my black widows moved several times but nothing was hurt. Only thing I have not tried is dropping a coral on their disc lol. But the tentacles did not seem to hurt.

 

[Cell]

That last pic isn't very good, I cropped a small corner of a full pic of the nem.

I'm not sure if a docile mother necessarily guarantees equally docile clones or not. Or if the animal has any control of the sting or it's intensity.

 

[Lovefish77]

Here is a Chicago Sunburst hitting an unknown acro.

Have not tried the acros yet coz I dont have many.

 

[Cell]

I'm going to find out about my BW sting soon and will let you know!

 

[RVA REEF]

I think you have the morph wannabe widows

 

[Lovefish77]

That last pic isn't very good, I cropped a small corner of a full pic of the nem.

I'm not sure if a docile mother necessarily guarantees equally docile clones or not. Or if the animal has any control of the sting or it's intensity.

No idea, just sharing my observation. When they move their goal it seems is just to find another spot with minimal contact with other corals. That is just my observation.

 

[Lovefish77]

I'm going to find out about my BW sting soon and will let you know!

Hoe are you going to try that?

 

[Lovefish77]

I think you have the morph wannabe widows

Lol what does that mean?

 

[RVA REEF]

lol real black widows are deadly

 

[Lovefish77]

lol real black widows are deadly

Yeah you mean the spiders? Lol
A black widow nems aggression is the same as any other bubble tip. Although given good conditions they should not have bubbles really. Mine always have long tentacles except some of them only when lights are off.

 

[Cell]

I think you have the morph wannabe widows

It's always seemed low grade to me. Weak webbing. Wasn't aware of "morphs" though. I mean, they are all morphs really.