Care of Anemones in the Home Aquarium

Anemones of many different species, shapes, colors and temperaments are often found in home saltwater aquariums. Although they look like plants, anemones are actually animals. Sometimes they even move around the aquarium, which a plant can't do. Anemones can be aggressive and are equipped with stinging tentacles. They are also fragile and usually not very adaptable, which can make caring for them difficult. They require very specific care to keep them healthy and happy in captivity.

Things You'll Need

  • Reef aquarium lighting
  • Thermometer
  • Water-testing kits
  • Anemone food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Research the specific needs of the type of anemone you have. Although anemones have some general requirements, each species has specific needs.

    • 2

      Provide adequate light for your anemones. Most anemones require a lot of light. Purchase reef-specific lightbulbs and mount them over the aquarium. Maintain a daylight schedule, turning the lights on and off at a scheduled time to mimic nature.

    • 3

      Keep the water in the aquarium pristine. Most anemones cannot tolerate waste in the aquarium. Make sure that you have a properly working filtration system and protein skimmer and that both are adequate for the size of your aquarium. The filtration system should also provide a moderate level of water current.

    • 4

      Perform partial water changes frequently. Remove some of the water from the aquarium once a week and replace it with fresh, clean water. This not only keeps the aquarium cleaner but decreases high toxin levels, which can harm anemones.

    • 5

      Install a thermometer in the aquarium, and make sure the water temperature stays consistently between about 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Some anemone species may require higher or lower temperatures. It's important to know exactly what temperature your anemones need and keep it in that range.

    • 6

      Test the water frequently, using an aquarium water-testing kit. Each anemone species needs a certain pH and salinity level. Know what levels your species needs, and use supplements, salt or water changes to adjust those levels. Generally, anemones prefer a salinity between 1.022 and 1.028 and a pH between 7.6 and 8.3.

    • 7

      Maintain a feeding schedule for your anemone. You can feed your anemone as frequently as every other day, or as seldom as a couple of times a month. More frequent feeding causes your anemone to grow quickly and may cause it to become more aggressive. Overfeeding can also lead to health problems. Usually, infrequent feeding is considered the best method.

    • 8

      Feed the anemone pieces of saltwater fish, shrimp, scallops or other marine invertebrates. Chop up the food so that it is smaller than the anemone's mouth, which is an opening located in the center of the anemone.