How Much to Feed Rock Anemone

Anemone Care Sheet

Developed with and approved by a qualified veterinarian.

Includes a variety of anemone, including:

Condylactis anemone
Bubble anemone
Carpet anemone
Long tentacle anemone
Haitian anemone
Sebae anemone

Overview

Scientific names Condylactis gigantea, Entacmaea guadricolor, Stichodactyla gigantea, Macrodactyla doreensis, Heteractis crispa

Sea anemones are beautiful invertebrates found in tropical reefs. The tips of their tentacles house stinging cells called nematocysts, which contain a venomous toxin, and neurotoxin, which is used for defense or to stun potential prey that comes within reach. Avoid direct contact with anemone tentacles, as they are venomous. People with strong reactions to bee stings may react similarly to contact with anemone tentacles. Recommended for experienced marine aquarists only

Typical appearance and behavior

Multiple tentacles arranged around the mouth.
Many anemones have developed a mutually beneficial relationship with clownfish and some marine crabs
Attach to rocks and other surfaces with a specialized adhesive foot
Very sensitive to rapid changes in their environment; require excellent water conditions to survive

Characteristics

Care Difficulty	Intermediate to advanced, depending on species
Average Life Span	Depends on species
Average Adult Size	4-48 inches across, depending on species
Diet	Carnivore and photosynthetic
Minimum Habitat Size	29+ gallons
Water Temperature	74-80°F
Specific Gravity	1.023-1.025

Habitat

Habitat size

An aquarium of 29 gallons or larger, depending on species, is recommended to provide enough room to thrive. As some anemone species grow quickly and can get quite large, ensure you research each individual species' needs when determining aquarium size.

Building your habitat

Water health - Provide proper filtration to ensure optimal water quality to help maintain health. Moderate water circulation should be provided to mimic water currents found in the anemone's natural habitat. Stable water quality (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite) and water temperature are critical to the health of aquatic life. If you are unsure of your water quality, bring a sample to Petco for free testing. The addition of a protein skimmer can aid with maintaining great water quality and high dissolved oxygen levels. An aquatic heater should be used to stabilize water temperature, ensuring it does not fluctuate more than +/- 2 degrees in a 24-hour period. The specific gravity should remain stable. Do not allow specific gravity to fluctuate more than +/- .001 in a 24-hour period.
Lighting - Full-spectrum lighting is essential for the health of the photosynthetic zooxanthellae cells living in the tissue of anemones
Décor- Live rock and sand can provide a stable location for the anemone to attach to while also enhancing biological filtration

Feeding

What to feed your anemone

A well-balanced anemone diet consists of:

Small amounts of frozen food such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp or silversides as well as freeze-dried krill

Things to remember when feeding your anemone:

Feed once or twice a week; larger anemones need more frequent feeding
Thaw frozen food before feeding

Anemone care

Water care:
Maintaining great water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration is important to the health of aquatic life
- Daily:Test specific gravity, check filter, water temperature and other equipment
- Weekly:Test water quality at least once a week
- Weekly to monthly:Change 10 to 25 percent of the total volume of water every two to four weeks, or as needed. Change filter media monthly.
Keep anemones away from the aquarium heater
Copper-based medications are toxic to anemones
Avoid overcrowded conditions, as this is a major cause of stress and disease.

Where to buy

Anemones are available for purchase at Petco online and in-store, availability varies by location. If visiting your local location, call ahead to check availability.

Supplies

Appropriate size aquarium
Appropriate food, dry and frozen
Décor
Water conditioner
Filter
Water test kit
Full-spectrum lighting
Net
Thermometer
Protein skimmer
Marine substrate
Heater
Refractometer
Live rock

Tank mates

Introduce new inhabitants to the aquarium gradually
Depending on species, compatible with species of clownfish, damsels and cardinals; check species-to-species compatibility before purchase
Anemones may eat smaller fish, urchins, crabs and other roaming invertebrates

Health

Signs of a healthy animal

Securely attached to chosen surface
Responds to food or touch
Healthy appetite
Fully expanded
Mouth closed

Red flags (If you notice any of these signs, contact your local aquatic specialist or veterinarian.)

Loss of color
Loss of appetite
No response to stimuli
Shrunken tentacles
Does not maintain an upright position
Remains closed up for more than 24 hours
Abnormal discharge coming from mouth
Mouth gapping open

Common health issues

Little is known about diseases that affect invertebrates; as long as environmental conditions and food supplies are adequate, invertebrates are fairly resistant to disease. Coral bleaching can be a concern with anemones. Bleaching can be triggered by drastic environmental changes from items like excessive lighting to large swings in temperature. An anemone experiencing bleaching may be corrected if environmental conditions are corrected and the anemone continues to eat

FAQs

What is an anemone? Anemones are predatory marine animals, similar to jellyfish, but they do not swim
What do anemones eat? In nature, anemones are predatory, feeding on plankton and fish. In the aquarium, you can provide frozen food such as mysis shrimp, brine shrimp or silversides as well as freeze-dried krill
How do you feed an anemone? Using feeding tongs or a syringe, food can be offered directly into the mouth of the anemone
How do sea anemones reproduce? Anemones can reproduce by budding or breaking a small fragment from the foot. These small tissues split off and develop into a new anemone. Some are capable of splinting in half, forming another anemone
Is a sea anemone an animal? Sea anemones are marine animals and close relatives to jellyfish and corals

Additional care sheets

Clownfish
Soft Coral
Hard Coral

Notes and sources

Ask a Pet Care Center associate about Petco's selection of products available for the care and happiness of your new pet. All products carry a 100% money-back guarantee.

Because all aquatic life are potential carriers of infectious diseases such asatypical mycobacterium and salmonella, always wash your hands before and after handling your aquatic life or habitat contents to help prevent the potential spread of disease.

Pregnant women, children under the age of 5, senior citizens and people with weakened immune systems should contact their physician before purchasing or caring for aquatic life and should consider not having aquatic life as a pet.

Go to cdc.gov/healthypets for more information about aquatic life and disease.

The information on this Care Sheet is not a substitute for veterinary care. If you need additional information, contact your veterinarian as appropriate.

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Source: https://www.petco.com/content/petco/PetcoStore/en_US/pet-services/resource-center/caresheets/anemone.html