Box for Magnifica Anemone?

[VR28man]

So I see people temporarily house BTAs in anemone boxes. (and LFS' house them in such boxes for months!)

Are there any drawbacks to keeping a BTA in these boxes? (the pluses, it seems to me, are that it's easier to contain them and move them when necessary).

Will using such a box for initial acclimation of a Heteractis magnifica be useful?

Thanks!

 

[Ron Reefman]

So I see people temporarily house BTAs in anemone boxes. (and LFS' house them in such boxes for months!)
Are there any drawbacks to keeping a BTA in these boxes? (the pluses, it seems to me, are that it's easier to contain them and move them when necessary).
Will using such a box for initial acclimation of a Heteractis magnifica be useful?
Thanks!

I don't frequent many LFS and I've only seen anemones kept in cups that allow flow through and are stuck to the side of the tank with sucsion cups. Can you post a photo of one of these boxes?

 

[VR28man]

@Ron Reefman ,

Google image search for “anemone box”.

One thread with puctures is here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/to-host-or-not-to-host.246270/

 

[Ron Reefman]

Thanks. That isn't all that different than what I was talking about. It's just bigger and stronger. I don't see any long term harm in using a box like this. In fact, I've collected anemones from the beach of Sanibel Island (near Ft Myers, FL) during a serious red tide die off last summer. I kept 2 anemones in a plastic peanut butter jar outside the aquarium. I did 100% water changes (old down the sink, new from the DT) 2 or 3 times a day. I held them like this for 4 weeks because if they survived, I didn't want to contaminate my DT with any red tide toxin.

As to whether the box would be useful... probably some. I can see getting the anemone used to your water parameters and lighting while in the box. And maybe when you put it in the DT it will be less likely to hide or roam around the tank... maybe!

 

[Brad Miller]

I really like this idea.
I've put off getting one because of the damage they can do by moving around and stinging other coral.
If this is a viable long term solution, I'm very interested...as long as they wouldn't die and poison everything.

 

[D-Nak]

I don't think you need a box for a mag. They're not like BTAs that tend to release and float around when they don't like a spot. As long as you provide the mag a flat rock with good lighting and flow, it probably won't move at all.

 

[VR28man]

They're not like BTAs that tend to release and float around when they don't like a spot. As long as you provide the mag a flat rock with good lighting and flow, it probably won't move at all.

Thanks! So, you believe that it’s not necessary for them because they’re not anywhere near as mobile as BTAs? Hmm.......

 

[divecj5]

I don't think you need a box for a mag. They're not like BTAs that tend to release and float around when they don't like a spot. As long as you provide the mag a flat rock with good lighting and flow, it probably won't move at all.

I agree that they don’t release and find a spot that they like but they do tend to wander. Mine, which I’ve had for almost a year now, goes from the nice flat rock (epoxied just for it) at the top of my scape and wanders down to the bottom reaches of the reef. It’s a nem only tank so I could care less but they will go for a little “walk” every once in a while. It’s always back on its perch come morning but I have had to pry it off the bare bottom, which is no small task. Talk about sticky! As you mentioned, it usually walks about when I replace a T5 bulb or monkey with the flow. Otherwise, it’s petty stationary playing host to my clowns.