Life Of Anemone In Captivity

Salty Prata · #1 12/29/2007, 07:53 AM

I was walking through the pet store last week when I saw an article that said Anemone's live up to two years in captivity. I have had a two bubble tips. One made it a year, and the other split four times. They all died within Two years. Is this article True????

AquaReeferMan · #2 12/29/2007, 08:45 AM

Well, Ive had my carpet and bubble tip for longer then 2 years. Plenty of people here on RC have had anemones for a long time. That article is a bunch of BS. Anemone's out live humans. With good husbandry skills an anemone will live for a long time.

Froggy · #3 12/29/2007, 10:04 AM

I have had my Rose bubble tip anemone for nearly 5 years. It has split 3 times but I do still have the original. You can see a pic of the anemone with my Gold stripe maroon in my avatar. The clown was introduced the same day as the anemone.

greenbean36191 · #4 12/29/2007, 10:50 AM

Anemones have no defined lifespan. They're theoretically immortal and live until something kills them. There is no reason they can't live indefinitely in captivity too.

I used to work on clones of BTAs that came from the wild about 20 years ago.

brickbreaker33 · #5 12/29/2007, 10:53 AM

sad if this is true.

greenbean, that sounds really interesting.

llorence · #6 12/29/2007, 12:18 PM

I've had a Rose Anenone for about 5 years. I don't really know how old it is because it has probably split a dozen or more times so I'm not really sure how old you would say it (they) are. I've given away several to friends and I've also traded several at the LFS for other corals, LR, and fish.

reefergeorge · #7 12/29/2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brickbreaker33
sad if this is true.
greenbean, that sounds really interesting.

I totally agree. If you take something that can live for hundreds of years in the wild, and people only expect them to live for two in captivity. It is pretty sad.

tangers · #8 12/29/2007, 12:32 PM

I've had my green LTA for over 2 yrs and he shows no sign of slowing down.

KRussell · #9 12/29/2007, 01:04 PM

My green bubble tip is 4-5 years old. It has never split but has grown to about 8" diameter. It has two percula clowns and appears happy and healthy.

m2434 · #10 12/29/2007, 02:43 PM

Well, the anemone in this image was ~2" diameter when I got it ~5yrs ago. I think it's doing well

davocean · #11 12/29/2007, 03:40 PM

I've had both my Sebae and LTA for 5yrs now.
I agree w/ greenbean as well.
Here's a pic I took of my sebae yesterday when I saw tents hit both bottom and surface as it stretched out (24" tall)

reefkeeper2 · #12 12/29/2007, 03:48 PM

This guy is 5 years old now.

davocean · #13 12/29/2007, 03:52 PM

My LTA is a bit smaller, but here it is;

davocean · #14 12/29/2007, 03:54 PM

Nice REEFKEEPER!

AZDesertRat · #15 12/29/2007, 04:05 PM

My Sebae anemone in my 16G bowfront is in its fourth system I have owned and I have had it since 1991 or 1992, thats about 16 years now.

chrissreef · #16 12/29/2007, 04:52 PM

i'm always amazed at some of the things that get published. sometimes i think they work for petsmart.

garygb · #17 12/29/2007, 05:36 PM

Some great pics there.

shootist · #18 12/29/2007, 10:28 PM

Sad is that the avg. lifespan of an anemone in captivity is Im sure far below 2 years,most dont make it past the LFS. The really sad part is the damage that removing a single anemone from the wild causes. We see clowns hosting them when in actuality in the wild each one is the center of its own little ecosystem,not just a home for fish. Upon removal everything that lives on around the anemone dies almost immediately,they cant just move next door,competition for a good anemone is stiff.

Saiyan · #19 12/30/2007, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZDesertRat
My Sebae anemone in my 16G bowfront is in its fourth system I have owned and I have had it since 1991 or 1992, thats about 16 years now.

WOW

jerryz · #20 12/30/2007, 07:47 AM

I would agree that there is an argument to be made that they should be an endangered species because of the impact that harvesting practices has. Additionally when going to the LFS I see so many that are esentially dead already and don't know it being sold. They have gaping mouths and are housed in inadequate lighting and flow. So many of them will die in a very short period of time. If you factor in those very early deaths then the 2 year number becomes more believable. It's not a reflection of the healthy ones that are in captivity but of the vast number that are sold already ill or are sold to hobbiests with a low flow tank and CF lighting that can't figure why their anem dies in a matter of weeks/ months

davocean · #21 12/30/2007, 05:20 PM

My opinion is that short term success, or rather failure is from people who buy on impulse or rush getting nems.
Like anything living if you don't take care of it, it can die.
But properly prepared for and cared for they can live a long time, maybe longer than all of us.
I absolutely plan to have my nems until I leave this earth, and maybe I'll even be lucky enough w/ them to pass them on to my future children!
I'm also a huge advocate for tank bred ANYTHING, and think many of the BTA's we see are splits from other hobbiests.

new_world_disor · #22 12/30/2007, 05:45 PM

my mates bubble tip is 7+ years old. its split more times than i can remember . its huge.

ricks · #23 12/30/2007, 06:03 PM

We have 8 in our system now. I've had about 20 clones from the original. I purchased the first about 7 years ago. And agree that in the wild they can live forever...

here is a topdown shot of 4 RBT

Mattmcf · #24 12/30/2007, 06:50 PM

Sea in the City in Orlando has a LTA that is over 30 yrs old, also the maroon clowns that host it are 25+ years old.

cloak · #25 12/30/2007, 07:25 PM

I've had this one for almost three years. Split once.