Thoughts on tube anemones?

AydenLincoln · Oct 28, 2022

I really love the way tube anemones look…I know they are NPS and I wanted to spend my birthday money on one. My LFS just told me they are super aggressive and will kill/eat anything near it. Is this true thoughts/experiences on them? I heard they were aggressive but maybe not that much. I have a 20 gallon mixed tank.

saltyhog · Oct 28, 2022

Very interested in hearing peoples first hand experiences with tube anemones. I've heard both extremes, but I'm thinking they're not as dangerous to livestock as sometimes touted to be.

ISpeakForTheSeas · Oct 28, 2022

I’m curious about this as well.

I’ve heard that they’re very aggressive too, but then I’ve also seen people have them as hitchhikers for months without issue. So, I’m assuming the aggressiveness varies depending on species, but I’m hoping to hear some first hand accounts as well.

Paleozoic_reefer · Oct 28, 2022

I have them in my tank and they have never taken a healthy fish. All my fish actively avoid them since they have a potent sting that I assume they’ve had experience touching. I firmly believe the only fish they are seen with dead were fish that were sick or already dead. I can see a slow and small fish get injured but I really can’t see one killing a healthy fish…just my 2-cents…

ReeferBill · Oct 28, 2022

Don’t worry. I have had many of them and they never cause an issue.

davidcalgary29 · Oct 28, 2022

I have one in an Evo, which it shares with a filefish, an itty bitty Royal Grama, and a tiny juvie angelfish. I haven't had heard any complaints from the fish.

Just make sure that your substrate is deep enough for them to bury themselves comfortably.

Paleozoic_reefer · Oct 29, 2022

davidcalgary29 said:
I have one in an Evo, which it shares with a filefish, an itty bitty Royal Grama, and a tiny juvie angelfish. I haven't had heard any complaints from the fish.

Just make sure that your substrate is deep enough for them to bury themselves comfortably.

You can keep them in bare bottom tanks too. You just need to place them in PVC pipes so they feel comfortable enough to create their mucus membranes