more than one anemone

[corally]

Can you have more than one anemone in a tank? I was told here that you can't but I've seen pictures of tanks with more than one. I'm not planning on getting another one since I seem to be having bad luck with mine, but I was just curious.

 

[corally]

anyone?

 

[speg]

Who said you couldnt have more than one? As long as they dont sting each other there is no problem. Maybe you're thinking of clownfish... those you dont wanna have two different kinds of in the same tank.

 

[corally]

someone on this forum said you shouldn't have more than because they can move around the tank and sting each other, lfs told me this wasn't true but I was afraid to trust lfs

 

[dogstar]

One anemone can move around and sting corals, so thats a risk. Mainly depends on the size of the tank and if they stay happy and are place far enough apart that they dont feel threated by each other. Some of the same speices can live in contact with each other but still try to move away. Realestate is the name of the game on a reef. Some split and you end up with two any way. I have a BTA and a LTA in my 150g about 3 ft apart and they are happy. Some anemones can release toxic secreations as a means of warfare if they feel threatened buy the others. Anemones ,like any other animal has its risk but you have to decide if your skills and the rewards of haveing one or two is worth the risk of something going wrong.

 

[thomas712]

I'm not fond of mixing different species of anemones in one tank. However some with larger tanks do get away with having two different ones. For instance a BTA will mostly stay on the rocks, an LTA will stay in the sand bed. there usually isn't anything to fear unless they start to move, and it can happen.
IMO its best to simply avoid the danger of their meeting. There is also fear that a clownfish might swim from one to another thereby spreading the nematocysts. I'm not sure if that can happen anymore, I know I used to know but have forgotten now.
Thomas