ANEMONES

[Corey]

Hey Ive never tried it but can you have more than one type of anemone in a tank

[Delphinus]

As a general rule of thumb, not the best idea. But there are of course exceptions based on the tank (size, tankmates) and your experience level.

How big is your tank, how long has it been set up, and what anemones are you hoping to keep?

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I have a 12" LTA and I put in a really healthy looking BTA. Didn't work out. Chemical warfare I think. The new anemone never took to the tank. However, my hex has 5 green tipped BTA clones & a different type of BTA clone, and all are doing great together. Maybe use ChemiPure or other filter media to remove the chem-warfare toxins. LTA shrank up when new BTA intro, but back to normal now that it's gone.

[AJ_77]

It seems like it would have to be a pretty huge tank, and well-equipped. Keeping more than one type of anemone has been called "a recipe for disaster" even though you hear of people doing it.

Some will release chemicals (as menioned just now - quick post ) when they sense another anemone close by, while others will actually go after the other and physically attack it. While I haven't seen it happen, I've read a few of these examples - one guy on ReefCentral had pictures of his carpet anemone destroying another species...

So yeah, playing with fire to mix them...

[Corey]

I have a 60 gal. too small I know but can you mix different BTA

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by AJ_77

It seems like it would have to be a pretty huge tank, and well-equipped. Keeping more than one type of anemone has been called "a recipe for disaster" even though you hear of people doing it.

Actually I find that the worst cases of competition tend to be among the same type of anemone but who are not genetic siblings. Which I think makes sense, because since the niche occupied will be the same, and the competition for resources will be identical. Your greatest competitor will be the one who is competiting for the exact same resources.

Originally Posted by Corey

I have a 60 gal. too small I know but can you mix different BTA

In a 60gal ... I don't think I would. BTA's can give you a headache down the line when you have splits so more of one than another.

The easiest recipe for avoiding heacaches is to pick your favourite. I know it's hard to do.

[Corey]

guess I wont try, would be a pretty expensive mistake

[Samw]

I added a green w/ pink tip BTA beside my 2 Rose BTA's. It seems happy and hasn't moved away from the Rose BTA's.

[Quinn]

It sounds like one can expect separate individuals of the same species to be more comfortable together than separate individuals of separate species.

[Son Of Skyline]

Lately I've read as much as I can on this same topic. From all the posts I've read on various boards, there seems to be some evidence of different anemones not doing well when mixed together, but no solid proof (that i can find at least). I also read of many cases where it works, even in nano tanks. Personally I'd rather take the "better safe than sorry" approach and avoid mixing anemones.