Can you feed an anemone too much?

[rcreations]

Just wondering if it's bad to feed your anemone too much? I've been feeding mine pieces of shrimp or silverside every other day and there are two maroon clowns hosting it. It eats every time I offer it something. I'm trying to keep it well fed but I don't want to make it sick either. I spot feed it pieces that are slightly smaller than its mouth.

 

[reefmate75]

no you cant if it dosent want to eat it will grab the food then let go of it...you can feed it every day and it will take it...maybe twice but not more then that, the more it gets to eat the faster it grows, but remember the more food you put in your tank all that much more ammonia

 

[nycbob]

i feed my bta once every 2 weeks. once every other day is a lot.

 

[rcreations]

My ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are all zero and I'm careful when I feed it. I watch to make sure it eats the chunk of food. If it drops it, I pick it up. That is if I get a chance, most of the time my cleaner shrimp runs away with it. But I don't want it to get too big, so I won't feed it so much anymore.

 

[reefmate75]

Originally Posted by RCreations
My ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are all zero and I'm careful when I feed it. I watch to make sure it eats the chunk of food. If it drops it, I pick it up. That is if I get a chance, most of the time my cleaner shrimp runs away with it. But I don't want it to get too big, so I won't feed it so much anymore.
well i mean you can over feed your system weather its being ate or not its still producing ammonia..they eat..then they poop ammonia =) hahaha

 

[tangwhispr]

I believe you can feed too much, the only time i overfeed is to try to induce a split. I have read and I believe it was Rod Buehler that has also said it actually takes more energy to digest the food then what it recieves from the food. Maybe rod can chime in here and let us know for sure.

 

[perfectdark]

Originally Posted by TangWhispr
I believe you can feed too much, the only time i overfeed is to try to induce a split. I have read and I believe it was Rod Buehler that has also said it actually takes more energy to digest the food then what it recieves from the food. Maybe rod can chime in here and let us know for sure.
I too have read that before, another reason why its recomended to feed your anemone food parts no larger than their mouth. Helps ease the stress or tireing of digesting.

 

[lsu]

I could have sworn that Fenner wrote on wetweb that the main cause of demise of anemones in home aquariums was due to overfeeding. I could be wrong, but I'm almost 100% positive that I read that.
Edit: just found it, page349-350 The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner clearly states that anemones can be overfed