What should a person feed anemones? How Often?

[Jeremy Lain]

Hello,

What should a person feed anemones and how often?

 

[DSC reef]

There is some good info in the anemone section of the forum. We let our fish feed the anemones when we fed the fish.

 

[davocean]

Light is actually their main source of energy, you could not spot feed a healthy anemone and it would be fine.
A bleached anemone lacking zooxanthellae needed to process light may need help, and small easy to digest foods are really best, and not often, couple times a week is best

 

[evolve29]

What DC reef said. I never feed my anemone specifically. They eat what I feed my fishes which is myasis shrimp and reef plankton. They do just fine without target feeding.

 

[Captain Quint]

Once in a blue moon I'll thaw some mysis in tank water and spray my BTA's which they seem to enjoy but like everyone states, it is not really necessary.

 

[Ron Reefman]

IMHO if you want a RBTA to split or a RFA to to spawn, feeding them every week or two can help.

I've had colorful RFA's shrink from lack of food while less colorful RFA's thrived. I don't think the colorful RFA's zooxanthellae do photosynthesis as well as the shallow water, less colorful RFA's. And this was in a tank I fed quite well but wasn't spot feeding the RFA's. After I started spot feeding they all started growing bigger again.

But I readily admit this is my opinion and not scientific fact!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I'm also one who doesn't feed nems, but I've only really kept BTAs. @Amoo, any input?

 

[Amoo]

My thoughts on this are all in the sticky at the top of this forum.

 

[AndrewB]

Add me to the list that doesn't feed directly. They catch a mysis or 2 once I awhile and I've witnessed my clowns bring them food.

 

[Softhammer]

They can easily be fed. They can also handle bigger foods than you think. A dime sized chunk of scallop or fresh fish, silversides, mysis, krill pretty much anything will be taken. I fed mine about once a week when I wanted them to grow and split. Now I want them gone so no seafood buffet, other than incidental feeding from the fish.

 

[Jeremy Lain]

What DC reef said. I never feed my anemone specifically. They eat what I feed my fishes which is myasis shrimp and reef plankton. They do just fine without target feeding.

I have now tried both of these and it seems to be working fine. I have fed mysis shrimp and I had some phytoplex (which is reef plankton) left over from a while back and when I didn't have mysis, I tried to feed them that; In my opinion phytoplex has been working alright and I think I like it better because it gives a cleaner looking reef, I can't see pieces of mysis shrimp all over the anemones after feeding and it makes a more enjoyable reef tank to look at.

 

[Raptor777]

I feed my Btas scallops and krill and have already split twice this year

 

[Elegance Coral]

This happened after six months of feeding every day. The gigantia in the top left was bleached when I got it. I was feeding it every day as it recovered. While I was at it, I fed the other anemones as well. Then the female haddoni spawned. I credit the feeding for this spawn. JMHO though.

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[Dom]

Only occasionally (once per month) will I feed my Nems. I soak dried krill in tank water (so it doesn't float away). Then I give 1-2 pieces to each. I also feed frozen food. I thaw out a cube and then pour EVERYTHING into the tank. That liquid in the tank is also a food source for the news and other filter feeders.

 

[Mical]

I feed mine frozen shrimp or littleneck clams once a week w/no ill effects

 

[shred5]

I do not religiously feed but I feed maybe once or twice a week.

They have a way of feeding and have a mouth. I think they can survive with just light but I believe the do better when fed.

 

[OrionN]

I feed anemones if I want them to grow otherwise I don’t feed them. Carpets eat a lot but Magnifica will deflated if you feed him too much.

 

[Bmw015]

I feed mine twice a week. My Rainbow has split 10 times since November. The Sherman Rose has only split once.

 

[Phil85]

My experience is like BMW. What started as a single RBTA about a year ago is now 9. They often split a few days to a week after I feed. I use small krill piece about once a month. I also have a green BTA which has never split.

 

[Armt350]

It depends on the Nem. Of the 4 different species I have in tank, I target feed only one of them. It is a completely white/clear nem that does not appreciate light. Conversely it is also the most difficult to feed since it also displays the lowest ability to hold food.