Pom pom crab anemone

SeymourDuncan · Feb 27, 2013

Triactis producta (I believe) is the species found in the hands of the oh so awesome looking pom pom crab.

Often they loose their anemone within the first day or so of their new homes.

Is it possible to buy some of these anemones for him to "re-arm" so to speak?

I have one of his possibly still alive, but I don't think he can locate it in the gigantic 30g tank he lives in.

He runs aroun at night waving his "gloveless hands" like a drunken maniac, of course normally there should be nems attached so it looks like he's waving spoons. Lol

If its possible to restock these tiny anemone for him that would be so cool for him. It would excuse his late night belligerent waving lol.

SeymourDuncan · Feb 28, 2013

Ok Im not sure how often this happens but I found the anemone. I will take a pic when the lights are on

One out of 2 would still be cool. Hopefully he lets me photograph it before he finds it.

Would he?

Uchris · Mar 3, 2013

I had my little guy lose his anemones too..but I wasn't able to recover ten, I'd be very interested if there was a wag to re-arm them.

rajkovich207 · Mar 3, 2013

If he finds it he should pic it up, also when the single nem is large enough he will actually "frag it" himself so he can have 2. Just recently had mine do this. If you know where he lives or currently is, and it's not attached yet, I would put it near him for best bets. Other wise let me know what happens to it. I have often pondered the culturing of those nems and if without a crab, would their size stay the same, or does the crab impede the growth some how while he's pinching it.

Uchris · Mar 3, 2013

Interesting..I have to see if I can find the anemone's. Its a 10gal but still not easy to find.

There's no type of anemone you can just buy for them to swim around lol?

SeymourDuncan · Mar 3, 2013

Ok, great. The thing is too small for my iPhone camera. He lives really close to the nem which has been attached to a ricordia covered rock. Hopefully they don't get stung, if they even can.

Ill update when anything happens for sure!

Uchris · Apr 4, 2013

I will try to take a picture of my Pom Pom tonight, but it got a hold of two small mushrooms and is now swinging those around since he lost his abemones..quite a sight

neuwave · Apr 5, 2013

This little girl is over 4 years old and she started with one and ripped it in half to form two. Unfortunately no one sells the anemones since they are only found in the claws of the crab. As stated above they will find a substitute if their anemones die off. I've seen mushrooms, zoas, plays, even the occasional apistasia. One way to get more anemones is to introduce a Pom Pom with a healthy anemone. The crab without the anemone can find the other and cut the others anemone in half. Leaving both crabs with half a anemone. Then they will split it again as the anemone grows for each hand.

Once you have a healthy nem, you have to feed it. Cyclopeeze works well. Hope this helps.

Zoanthids · Apr 6, 2013

Uchris said:
I will try to take a picture of my Pom Pom tonight, but it got a hold of two small mushrooms and is now swinging those around since he lost his abemones..quite a sight

Thats awesome! Looking forward to pics...

Crabbysd · Apr 6, 2013

We have 3 Pom Pom crabs. 2 in the display and 1 in the pico. Only 1 of our Pom Poms came with both of her anemones, the other 2 each had 1 and lost them during their first molts. A while back I thought our first Pom Pom had lost one of her anemones, I found it floating in the current. I was surprised to see her later that day at feeding time with 2 anemones, one was much smaller, I guess she must have frag it because it go too big to hold.

This is Sam, she's our Pom Pom with both her nems:

Uchris · Apr 7, 2013

This is the only picture I have of my little guy with a mushroom. Will try to get a better shot

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1365314448.963007.jpg

Squishie89 · Apr 7, 2013

Any idea on how hardy or delicate these anemones are? I sometimes use them to gauge on well the the tank is doing (obviously not 100% dependent on the 'nems).

neuwave · Apr 8, 2013

Squishie89 said:
Any idea on how hardy or delicate these anemones are? I sometimes use them to gauge on well the the tank is doing (obviously not 100% dependent on the 'nems).

Fairly hardy. From my past experience they only go down hill if they don't get enough food.

Ealga · Jul 9, 2018

So... found a random Anemone in my reef tank... It was attached to the skimmer in the refugium... Managed to gently coax it off and am hoping it wants to stay on the rock I put it on...

Tried to give it a tiny nibblett of krill meat... Guess that was a little too much bc it dropped it after a while... Found a tiny brine shrimp... Tiny to me, not so tiny in comparison to the poor little guy... Guess we will have to go nearly microscopic for him...

Trying to figure out where he came from... Theory: Got some Pom Pom Crabs a while back... Have not seen them in quite some time... Maybe this is a surviving "Pom Pom"??? Can't seem to find what KIND of anemones they carry around....

Hmmm... Really cool if it would grow big enough for the clowns to adopt...

(Gonna have to get on the computer to share the pics)

Ealga · Jul 9, 2018

I know this is a rather old thread, but looking for info...

So... found a random Anemone in my reef tank... It was attached to the skimmer in the refugium... Managed to gently coax it off and am hoping it wants to stay on the rock I put it on...

Trying to figure out where he came from... Theory: got some Pom Pom Crabs a while back... Have not seen them in quite some time... Maybe this is a surviving "Pom Pom"??? Can't seem to find what KIND of anemones they carry around...

Tried to give it a tiny nibblett of krill meat... Guess that was a little too much bc it dropped it after a while... Found a tiny brine shrimp... Tiny to me, not so tiny in comparison to the poor little guy... Guess we will have to go nearly microscopic for him...

Hmmm... Really cool if it would grow big enough for the clowns to adopt...

PiggyPuffin · Jul 9, 2018

According to Wikipedia, the anemone is: Triactis producta

Ealga · Jul 10, 2018

PiggyPuffin said:
According to Wikipedia, the anemone is: Triactis producta

Thank you very much!!! Looked it up... I guess that means that my theory of its arrival is true... But that also means it may divide into clusters, but not grow big enough for the clown fish... Oh well... It is still cool to have... currently have it housed in a breeder basket I am using as a type of frag basket in my refugium...