Physical characteristics of a healthy anemone:
In its natural state, the Bubble tip anemone clings to the surface of a coral reef or a living rock. When it is healthy and filled with water, its body and tentacles are stretched. When they are stimulated, they become curved and their bodies contract sharply. A constant flow of water from the Siphonoglyph (ciliated grooves around the mouth of the sea anemone and some corals) moves downwards and rotates to breathe and keep the body inside the antron (sac-like digestive cavity).
The flow to the outside also rises to the esophagus. Therefore, in terms of appearance, it can be said that a healthy anemone must be full and cohesive, stable, and flourishing.
Anemone Aquaculture Aquarium - The Appearance of Healthy Anemones
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Color:
The colors of Bubble anemone species are different and include orange, purple, pink, red and green. Brightly colored anemones are much better and healthier than duller and faded colored anemones.
The discoloration, fading, or whitening of the Bubble tip anemone will result in the death of the anemone, in which case special care is needed to return the color to its original state. Sometimes by assigning a correct light, the color of anemone can be highlighted.
Mouth:
Anemone's mouth should be completely closed, otherwise it is a sign of stress or illness. Also, the mouth should not look as if it is upside down.
Anemone base:
The base of a healthy anemone should not be damaged. bubble tip anemone uses its base to attach itself to rocks or objects inside the aquarium. Base wounds can lead to anemone’s death, especially if they do not adapt well to aquarium conditions.
Therefore, we recommend that you buy an anemone that is well attached to the live rock and move it to your aquarium with the relevant rock. Also, do not try to separate it from the rock because it may damage the anemone's basal disk.
Nutrition:
Anemones have nematocysts (cells containing microscopic stinging capsules assigned to self-defense or to capture prey). But none of them can cause much inconvenience to humans. The food sticks to the tentacles of the anemone. Anemone captures food and swallows them.
Anemone tentacles, mouth plate and mouth in the center of the plate
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Tank requirements to maintain the Bubble tip anemone
Water parameters:
The bubble tip anemone is one of the invertebrates in the shallow saltwater. They need clean water, high level of dissolved oxygen and free of any contaminants. In order to successfully maintain the anemone in aquarium, the chemical parameters of the water must be stable and the nitrogen cycle in the aquarium must be complete.
Water should be tested before the anemone enters the aquarium. The amount of ammonia and nitrite must be zero and nitrate must be minimal and its salinity should be adjusted between 1.024 ─ 1.026. The optimum pH for keeping bubble tip anemone is 8.2 to 8.4 degrees and KH between 8 to 11 dkh is optimal. The ideal temperature for anemones is 25-27 °C. The presence of phosphate-containing compounds causes the anemones not to bloom, so the amount of phosphate in the aquarium water should be close to zero.
Lighting:
Anemones live in shallow areas and depended on photosynthetic organisms, therefor they need adequate light to survive. The light in the aquarium is achievable with moderate intensity by specialized reef aquarium lighting systems.
Water flow:
These animals need a medium-intensity indirect flow of water to grow and feed. This flow is necessary to feed and remove their waste. They breathe by absorbing oxygen from the surrounding water. If anemones are dissatisfied with their current living environment (light and flow or an unsuitable bed), they move to find a better place after which, they stay there for a long time (years).
The placement of bubble tip anemones in the aquarium:
Bubble tip anemones tend to live on live rocks. Before the anemone enters the aquarium, its habitat must be considered. Anemones may often move in the aquarium to find a more suitable location. During the anemone's movement inside the aquarium, if it collides with other corals, the anemone can damage them, so the anemone's path must be cleared until it reaches the desired location to avoid harming other corals.
How to move anemones in the aquarium:
It is difficult to move the anemone in the aquarium because its basal disc are firmly attached to the equipment, rocks and coral reefs or the aquarium glass. In addition, many anemones seek a cleft to hide. It is often not possible to move the anemone without injuring their basal disc.
Therefore, we recommend that by changing the light conditions or moving the rock or the intensity of the water flow, you force the anemone to move on its own. The pressure of the pump flow in the collision with the anemone's base can also cause movements. Occasionally, the anemone is seen sticking to the glass of the aquarium.
In such cases, the nail or a sharp object should be carefully placed under the base of the anemone and carefully separated from the wall.
Feeding the bubble tip anemone in the aquarium:
Anemones provide most of their energy from coexisting with chlorophyll-containing photosynthetic microorganisms (Zooxanthellae). To meet their other nutritional needs in nature, they prey on mollusks, crustaceans, and other fish. The prey is paralyzed by nematocysts and carried to the mouth by tentacles.
The mouth and esophagus can also be opened wide. The food enters the internal cavity of the antron, where it is digested by secreted enzymes and absorbed by the gastroderma (the inner wall of the digestive tract) and the undigested waste products are excreted through the mouth.
To have a healthy anemone in the aquarium, it is necessary to provide suitable food to these creatures on a weekly basis. Anemones can digest large amounts of food; however, it is recommended that they are fed frequently and in small quantities.
Proper diet should include fresh and frozen seafood, like krill shrimp and Mysis shrimp. Anemones can be fed by flaky food. To feed the bubble tip anemone, all you must do is close the food to their tentacles so that it comes in contact with the tentacles.
A healthy anemone swallows the food in a short time. Feeding rate is determined by size and growth rate. During anemone’s manual feeding, it should be prevented from being caught by fish or other invertebrates (crabs or shrimp, etc.). The presence of clownfish next to anemones is also very useful. Bubble tip anemone can form symbiotic mutualisms with most clownfish species. The clownfish delivers its excess food to the anemone during feeding, and this natural process helps feeding the anemone.
Fish clown and anemone
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