Sea anemones - corals, jellyfish, or sea flowers? Sea anemones What does sea anemone eat?

About animals included in the order Actiniaria. The name of the animals comes from the name of an earthly flower, anemone.

If you check the classification, sea anemones are included in the class Anthozoa, a phylum of cnidarians and a subclass of six-rayed corals. This animal is known to the world because of its symbiotic relationship with fish.

Sea anemones benefit from their association with fish - improved gas exchange and nutrition (food that remains after the fish eat).

The same symbiosis has developed between sea anemones and crabs of the genus Lybia. Boxer crabs use the stinging polyps of sea anemones to protect themselves from predators. The crabs pick up sea anemones and hold them as a shield. Anemones, in turn, thanks to crabs gain mobility, because they cannot move independently.

Here are some interesting facts about sea anemone:

Sea anemones, like all other cnidarians, have mesoglea in their body - a jelly-like substance. Anemones have a close relationship with corals, hydra and jellyfish.

Sea anemones can decorate any aquarium. For commercial purposes, sea anemones are considered as aquarium collection. Thus, the sea anemone trade is increasing.

These Marine life have an amazing range of color diversity. Their vitreous bodies are always bright and delicate.

Sea anemone size.

The diameter can reach 1.8 - 3 cm. The largest sea ​​anemones have a span of 2 meters. The smallest ones barely reach 4 mm.

The sea anemone's mouth functions like an anus. Capture function and prey catching. The location of the mouth is the center of the disc cavity. And several tentacles located around the mouth.

Sea anemones are harmless and harmless animals. The sea anemone is not dangerous to humans. However, some sea anemone species have a toxin that can cause burns to humans.

Sea anemones feed on fish, shellfish and small sea animals. Peaceful anemones are calm individuals: they eat everything that floats in the water. However, they distinguish between edible food and inedible food.

• Next to sea anemones live those fish and shellfish that are insensitive to their poison.
• For large and predatory fish, sea anemones serve as a place of camouflage and shelter.

This animal, sea ​​anemone, is completely different from other cnidarians in its lifestyle. They have the disadvantage of free swimming, as for example jellyfish do. They differ from corals in that they do not live in colonies or groups, but individually - they prefer to live alone.

Life cycle of sea anemone. The polyp arises from Planula after the egg, fertilized by sperm, begins its division.

Asexual reproduction is also characteristic of sea anemones. In some species of sea anemones, division is the result
asexual reproduction.

Most sea anemones live in one place permanently. However, they may move to another place if it is not suitable for them to live in. They move if predators harass them or the location encounters prolonged dryness. To get to a new place they use crawling-like movements.

Sea anemone can be eaten. It is used as a delicacy in southwestern Spain and southern Italy.

Sea anemones are often served battered or marinated in vinegar.

The animal sea anemone really looks like a flower. They were called anemones, but to some it resembles an aster. Researchers depths of the sea We counted one and a half thousand different species of anemones.

When cut into pieces, sea anemones demonstrate their remarkable ability to reproduce and regenerate.

In one row, all tentacles of an anemone are identical in color, structure and length. however, they may differ from row to row.

Any person who saw this amazing creature, is primarily interested in: is sea anemone an animal or a plant? Many are misled by the definition of this creature - “sea anemone”: nevertheless, most people know that an anemone is a flower. The amazingly beautiful ones that have managed to adapt to life in the form of rather vulnerable organisms amaze the imagination: you just want to take them with you, protect and shelter them. Not worth it! First of all, it’s not for nothing that these creatures are sometimes called “jellyfish-anemones”: they are quite capable of standing up, and not only for themselves. And secondly, you are unlikely to be able to create suitable living conditions for them. So, while at the resort, just enjoy the view of them and try not to swim too close, so as not to treat the rather painful burns after.

Appearance

It is the appearance of these creatures that gives rise to the eternal question: is sea anemone an animal or a plant? And by the way, until the end of the 19th century they were classified as plant species. However, science does not stand still: it has been established that “sea anemones” are animals that, in their structure and lifestyle, are close to jellyfish and other coelenterates, to which many biologists include ctenophores.

If we explain it in a primitive way, then any sea anemone (photos are presented) is one continuous mouth on a stalk. The flower-like “petals” are the tentacles responsible for delivering food. Most often, the “stand” has a flat sole, with which the “sea anemones” are attached to a rock or hard bottom; but there are species with a pointed limb - they are stuck into the bottom like a bouquet; And there are floating varieties. Observing the behavior of these creatures, you will no longer be puzzled: is sea anemone an animal or a plant? It immediately becomes clear that she is not just an animal - she is a predator.

Sea anemones are not polyps

It would also be wrong to say that this most beautiful creature- coral The sea anemone is, without a doubt, very close to the polyps that form the islands that captivate everyone. However, they do not form a skeleton, and corals are the skeletons of polyps. At the same time, it cannot be said that sea anemone is “soft-bodied”, since the substance that fills the space between its cells forms a very thick layer and is similar in density to cartilage in vertebrates.

What do they eat?

Another argument in doubt is whether sea anemone is an animal or plant - its diet. If those interested remember, plants feed on water (with substances dissolved in it) and what they can get from the soil. However, sea anemones prefer a completely different menu. It includes small invertebrates and small fish(if you're lucky). The method of obtaining food is also completely non-vegetative: the tentacles paralyze the prey and pull it towards the mouth. Some may object: this is also known, but they cannot boast of a mouth and dissolve prey with enzymes located directly on the leaf plate or in a trap flower. That is, they do not have organs intended exclusively for digestion.

Impact on the victim

Even if we assume that sea anemone is a plant, then we must look for an explanation for its hunting method. In each stinging cell - albeit very, very small - there is a kind of capsule containing poison. And on the outside there is a stinging thread with spines facing backwards. Visually, under a microscope, this entire device resembles a miniature harpoon. When an anemone attacks, the thread straightens, the needle pierces the victim’s body and releases poison. Not a single plant has such a complex structure - they are much lower on the evolutionary ladder and have a much simpler structure.

By the way, the stinging venom of sea anemones is dangerous even for such a large organism as a person. TO fatal outcome it, of course, will not lead, but it will provide a burning sensation with itching, and in some cases, necrosis will develop. Almost all of those who regularly interact with gentle “anemones” have allergies.

Famous symbiosis

I must say that the majority sea ​​flowers leads a sedentary lifestyle. However, updating the hunting grounds is what any sea anemone needs. Movement is usually accomplished through symbionts. The most famous of them (familiar thanks to the touching Soviet cartoon) is the hermit crab. The most interesting thing is that this shellfish itself transfers to its “shell” a creature that is deadly for mollusks. Enough for a long time they coexist peacefully: the crayfish carries the sea flower from place to place, the sea anemone repels the attacks made against it natural enemies. However, everything is not so rosy: the “leg” of the sea “flower” easily dissolves the organic matter that makes up the host’s shell, after which the cancer comes to an end.

Moving sea anemones

Even those sea anemones that are designed by nature to “sit” in place can move. In the end, the small inhabitants of the oceans, as people say, are “no dumber than a steam locomotive” and over time they realize the danger of some bottom area. Accordingly, ocean flowers are forced to migrate as their hunting grounds become scarce. What does the average sea anemone do in this case? She moves slowly but surely. The sole is separated from the bottom, extended a short distance, secured and tightens the rest of the body. However, small species (like gonactinia) can even swim, straightening their tentacles back.

Fish-anemone cooperation

It must be said that ocean anemones symbiote not only with hermit crabs. They also travel on other armored animals (however, for carriers this usually ends the same way, even in the case of small varieties). However, sea anemones can coexist quite peacefully with fish. Off the Australian coast, the largest sea anemones on earth (their “mouth” is often not limited to one and a half meters in diameter) provide shelter among their tentacles for amphiprions - very bright fish that feed the “host” with fallen food debris, and with the work of their fins they create additional aeration for it. At the same time, anemones are quite capable of distinguishing their friends from other fish and actively protect them from predatory attacks.

Reproduction of sea anemones

They give preference to the sexual method, which is another proof that sea flowers are animals, not plants. However, in unfavorable conditions they can use budding, in which you begin to remember the misconception about “anemone is a plant,” and longitudinal or transverse division. This is especially true for small varieties. The same gonactinia tends to split across. It is extremely interesting to observe: first of all, a wreath of tentacles grows around the circumference of the body, and then it divides. The upper half grows a sole, the lower half grows a “mouth” and another set of goads. It is noteworthy that the second division does not wait until the end of the first, so that the sea anemone of this species can be surrounded by several rings of tentacles, foreshadowing the imminent appearance of several individuals.

You can check whether an anemone is an animal or a plant by your own example. Sea anemones do not regard humans as either an enemy or prey. So, when touched by a person, they simply curl up (if you don’t fiddle with them, of course). You could say they are hiding. Otherwise, the sea anemone (the photos demonstrate this) is a very beautiful and interesting creature, which is interesting even just to watch.

Sea anemones are large coral polyps that, unlike most other corals, have a soft body. Sea anemones are classified as a separate order in the class of Coral polyps; in addition to corals, sea anemones are related to other coelenterates - jellyfish. They received their second name, sea anemones, for their extraordinary beauty and external resemblance to flowers.

Colony of sun anemones (Tubastrea coccinea).

The body of sea anemones consists of a cylindrical leg and a corolla of tentacles. The leg is formed by longitudinal and circular muscles, which allow the body of the sea anemone to bend, shorten and stretch. The leg may have a thickening at the lower end - a pedal disk or sole. In some sea anemones, the ectoderm (skin) of the legs secretes hardening mucus, with the help of which they stick to a solid substrate, in others it is wide and swollen, such species are anchored in loose soil with the help of the sole. The structure of the leg of sea anemones of the genus Minyas is even more surprising: their sole has a bubble - a pneumocystis, which plays the role of a float. These sea anemones swim upside down in the water. The tissue of the leg consists of individual muscle fibers immersed in a mass of intercellular substance - mesoglea. Mesoglea can have a very thick consistency, similar to cartilage, so the sea anemone leg is elastic to the touch.

A single sun anemone with translucent tentacles.

At the upper end of the body, sea anemones have an oral disc surrounded by one or several rows of tentacles. All tentacles of one row are the same, but in different rows they can differ greatly in length, structure and color.

Deep sea anemone (Urticina felina).

In general, the body of sea anemones is radially symmetrical, in most cases it can be divided into 6 parts; for this reason they are even classified as a subclass of Six-rayed corals. The tentacles are armed with stinging cells that can shoot thin poisonous threads. The mouth opening of sea anemones can be round or oval. It leads into the pharynx, which opens into a blindly closed gastric cavity (something like a stomach).

Often at the ends of the tentacles you can see swellings formed by accumulations of stinging cells.

Sea anemones are quite primitive animals; they do not have complex sensory organs. Their nervous system is represented by groups of sensitive cells located at vital points - around the oral disc, at the base of the tentacles and on the sole. Nerve cells specialize in different types external influences. Thus, nerve cells on the sole of the sea anemone are sensitive to mechanical influences, but do not respond to chemical ones, and nerve cells near the oral disc, on the contrary, distinguish substances, but do not respond to mechanical stimuli.

Bubble-like thickenings at the ends of the tentacles of Entacmaea quadricolor.

Most sea anemones have a naked body, but trumpet sea anemones have a chitinous outer covering, so their leg looks like a tall, hard tube. In addition, some species may include grains of sand and other building material in their ectoderm, which strengthens their integument. The color of sea anemones is very diverse; even representatives of the same species can have different shades. These animals come in all the colors of the rainbow - red, pink, yellow, orange, green, brown, white. Often the tips of the tentacles have a contrasting color, which makes them colorful. The size of sea anemones varies within very wide limits. The smallest sea anemone (Gonactinia prolifera) has a height of only 2-3 mm, and the diameter of the oral disc is 1-2 mm. The largest carpet anemone can reach a diameter of 1.5 m, and the sausage sea anemone (Metridium farcimen) reaches a height of 1 m!

The carpet anemone (Stoichactis haddoni) has tiny wart-like tentacles, but can reach a diameter of 1.5 m.

Sea anemones are common in all seas and oceans of our planet. The largest number of species is concentrated in tropical and subtropical zone, but these animals can also be found in the polar regions. For example, sea anemone metridium senile, or sea pink, is found in all seas of the Northern basin Arctic Ocean.

Cold-water anemone metridium senile, or sea pink (Metridium senile).

The habitats of sea anemones cover all depths: from the surf zone, where during low tides sea anemones can literally find themselves on land, to the very depths of the ocean. Of course, few species live at depths greater than 1000 m, but they have adapted to such an unfavorable environment. Despite the fact that sea anemones are purely marine animals, some species tolerate slight desalination. Thus, 4 species are known in the Black Sea, and one is found even in the Azov Sea.

Deep-sea tube anemone (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus).

Anemones that live in shallow water often contain microscopic algae in their tentacles, which gives them a greenish tint and partially supplies their hosts with nutrients. Such anemones live only in illuminated places and are active mainly during the day, since they depend on the intensity of photosynthesis of green algae. Other species, on the contrary, do not like light. Sea anemones living in the tidal zone have a clear daily rhythm associated with periodic flooding and drying of the territory.

Anthopleura xanthogrammica lives in symbiosis with green algae.

In general, all types of sea anemones can be divided into three groups according to their lifestyle: sessile, swimming (pelagic) and burrowing. The vast majority of species belong to the first group; only sea anemones of the genus Minyas are swimming, and the burrowing lifestyle is characteristic only of sea anemones of the genera Edwardsia, Haloclava, and Peachia.

This green sea anemone lives in the Philippines.

Sedentary sea anemones, despite their name, are capable of moving slowly. Usually sea anemones move when something does not suit them in their old place (in search of food, due to insufficient or excessive light, etc.). To do this they use several methods. Some sea anemones bend their body and attach to the ground with an oral disc, after which they tear off the leg and move it to a new place. This tumbling “from head to toe” is similar to the method of movement of sessile jellyfish. Other sea anemones move only the sole, alternately tearing off different sections of it from the ground. Finally, the Aiptasia anemones fall on their sides and crawl like worms, alternately cutting different parts of the leg.

Single tube anemone.

This method of movement is also similar to burrowing species. Burrowing anemones actually don’t dig that much, most of the time they sit in one place, and they were called burrowers for their ability to burrow deep into the ground, so that only the corolla of tentacles sticks out. To dig a hole, the sea anemone resorts to a trick: it draws water into the gastric cavity and closes the mouth opening. Then, alternately pumping water from one end of the body to the other, it, like a worm, goes deeper into the ground.

The tallest sea anemone is Metridium farcimen.

Small sessile gonactinia can sometimes swim, rhythmically moving its tentacles (such movements are similar to contractions of the dome of a jellyfish). Swimming sea anemones to a greater extent rely on the strength of currents and are held on the surface of the water passively with the help of pneumocystis.

A lush colony of sea carnations (metridiums).

Sea anemones are solitary polyps, but under favorable conditions they can form large clusters similar to flowering gardens. Most sea anemones are indifferent to their fellows, but some have a quarrelsome “character”. When such species come into contact with a neighbor, they release stinging cells; when they come into contact with the enemy’s body, they cause necrosis of its tissues. But sea anemones are often “friends” with other species of animals. The most striking example is the symbiosis (cohabitation) of sea anemones and amphiprions, or clown fish. Clown fish take care of the sea anemone, clearing it of unnecessary debris and food debris, and sometimes pick up the remains of its prey; the sea anemone, in turn, eats up what is left of the amphiprion's prey. Also, tiny shrimps often play the role of cleaners and parasites, which find refuge from enemies in the tentacles of sea anemones.

Shrimp in the tentacles of a giant sea anemone (Condylactis gigantea).

The cooperation of hermit crabs with adamsia sea anemones has gone even further. Adamsias generally live independently only at a young age, and then they are picked up by hermit crabs and attached to shells, which serve as their home. Crayfish attach the sea anemone not only as if, but precisely with the oral disc forward, thanks to this the sea anemone is always provided with food particles that reach it from the sand disturbed by the cancer. In turn, the hermit crab receives reliable protection from its enemies in the form of the sea anemone. Moreover, he transfers the sea anemone from one shell to another every time he changes his house. If a crayfish does not have an anemone, it tries to find it in any way, and more often, take it away from a happier brother.

Sea anemones perceive their prey differently. Some species swallow everything that touches their hunting tentacles (pebbles, paper, etc.), others spit out inedible objects. These polyps feed on a variety of animal foods: some species play the role of filter feeders, extracting the smallest food particles and organic debris from the water, while others kill larger prey - small fish that inadvertently approach the tentacles. Sea anemones, living in symbiosis with algae, feed mostly on their green “friends.” During the hunt, the sea anemone keeps its tentacles spread out, and when satisfied, hides them in a tight ball, covering itself with the edges of the body. The anemones shrink into a ball and in case of danger or when drying out on the shore (during low tide), well-fed individuals can remain in this state for many hours.

A colony of sun anemones hiding their tentacles.

Sea anemones can reproduce asexually and sexually. Asexual reproduction occurs through longitudinal division, when the body of the sea anemone is divided into two individuals. Only in the most primitive gonactinia does transverse division occur, when a mouth grows in the middle of the leg, and then it splits into two independent organisms. Some sea anemones may experience a kind of budding, when several young organisms separate from the sole at once. The ability for asexual reproduction determines a high ability for tissue regeneration: sea anemones easily restore severed body parts.

The same sun anemones, but with tentacles extended.

Most sea anemones are dioecious, although males do not differ in appearance from females. Only in some species can both male and female reproductive cells be formed simultaneously. Spermatozoa and eggs are formed in the mesoglea of ​​sea anemones, but fertilization can occur both in the external environment and in the gastric cavity. During the first week of life, sea anemone larvae (planulae) move freely in the water column and during this time they are carried by currents over long distances. In some sea anemones, planulae develop in special pockets on the body of the mother.

Touching the tentacles of large sea anemones can cause painful burns from the stinging cells, but no deaths are known. Some types of anemones (carpet, horse or strawberry, etc.) are kept in aquariums.

Before buying an anemone, as well as others sea ​​creatures, you need to make sure you have a good idea of ​​how to properly maintain them. Their demands may surprise you. Below I will give some recommendations based on my own experience.

Water quality

IN general outline we can say that to support anemones, the same water parameters are required that are required for SPS corals (small polyp stony corals). In particular: high level dissolved oxygen content, SG from 1.024 to 1.026, stable pH level from 8.1 to 8.3, temperature from 76 to 78 F, calcium content from 400 to 450, dKH level from 8.0 to 12.0, magnesium content from 1250 and 1350 ppm, level nitrates of 2 ppm or less (closer to zero is better), stable phosphate levels of about 0.002 ppm or less (closer to zero is better), and finally zero ammonia and nitrites. The key to the healthy and prosperous existence of sea anemones, as well as all representatives underwater world living in captivity is to maintain stable water parameters in the aquarium at or close to a given level.

Aquarium conditions/parameters

B) Flow and circulation of water. Sea anemone requires the presence of at least a small current. They breathe by absorbing oxygen directly from the water. In their natural habitat, sea anemones also need a current that brings food and carries away waste. Essentially, sea anemones require medium to low currents. One of the most common causes of sea anemones feeling unwell is an abnormal flow. As a result, they begin to move around the aquarium in order to find the most favorable place. Different sea anemones have different attitudes towards the flow and circulation of water in the aquarium.

B) Lighting requirements. To thrive, sea anemones require the same good lighting as SPS corals (small polyp stony corals). Through photosynthesis, sea anemones produce a large number of essential nutrients. The tissues of sea anemones contain zooxatenella algae, which allow them to use light. Conventional wisdom has it that metal halide or T5 HO lamps are best suited for keeping sea anemones. High quality LEDs also provide the good lighting that sea anemones need. When I kept bubble anemones and carpet anemones, I used T5HO bulbs and high quality LEDs with great success. As a general rule, if your lighting is a little less than ideal, you can always compensate by feeding regularly.

There are many different opinions about what optimal lighting should be. I have developed my own rule: 4 watts per gallon of water (14,000K bulb). This lighting will be optimal for aquariums with a height of about 20 centimeters. Once again, this rule is based on personal positive experience of keeping sea anemones.

D) Oxygen level. For sea anemones, as well as for other representatives of the underwater world, the most favorable is a high level of oxygen. Achieving optimal oxygen levels is not difficult, especially if you ensure good water circulation in the aquarium and use a flotator.

Feeding sea anemones

There are several opinions about feeding sea anemones. Some do not feed them at all, and the sea anemones remain healthy and grow in the aquarium for many years, provided there is sufficient lighting. Personally, I fed the sea anemones two to three times a month, which contributed to their rapid growth and healthy existence. If you want to speed up the growth of sea anemones, you can feed them even 3 times a week. I fed my anemones every week, as a result of which they grew quickly, multiplied and looked quite happy with life.

Animal foods high in protein, such as clams, scallops, shrimp, mussels and shrimp larvae, are ideal for sea anemones. There are other types of sea anemone food, but I have not tried them.

Before feeding your sea anemone, make sure the food is crushed enough for him to swallow it easily. Place the food as close to the sea anemone as possible (I use long tweezers for this). As soon as food comes into contact with the sea anemone, it should react immediately. It may take up to 2-3 minutes for the sea anemone to pick up the food and swallow it. If the sea anemone is stressed, it may take longer. And be sure to keep an eye on other animals and fish in the aquarium, as they will usually try to take food from the sea anemone while it is trying to eat it.

Clown fish

Do anemones need clownfish?... The answer is no. Sea anemones can do just fine without them. However, such an alliance is mutually beneficial and has a number of advantages for both parties: clown fish protect the sea anemone from other fish and even from some animals inhabiting the aquarium, in addition, clowns leave uneaten food on the sea anemone (that is, they actually feed it), and, finally, Clownfish hide in sea anemones to protect themselves from other fish. At the same time, both sea anemones and clown fish can exist perfectly well and remain healthy and happy separately from each other.

If you are considering purchasing a pair of clownfish for your anemone, make sure that you choose the right species and that they will actually live in union with your anemone, since usually certain types of clownfish live in certain types of anemones.

On the other hand, sea anemones can become dangerous for other inhabitants of the aquarium, because they are not particularly picky about food. Representatives of some species catch and eat almost all slow-moving small fish or paralyze those who swim too close to their tentacles. My carpet anemone ate a large number of snails (and then spat out the shell), a dwarf wrasse (orange-backwrasse species), and all the cleaner shrimp, while the bubble anemone left none of them.

Movement of sea anemones

The movement of sea anemones around the aquarium may indicate a change in water quality or other conditions, which negatively affects their existence. If your sea anemone begins to move around without you changing the lighting or current, the problem may be due to changes in water parameters. Some sea anemones are more prone to movement than others. For example, I had a bubble anemone that split, and one of the separated parts began to move around until it found a suitable place away from the rest of the anemones. At the same time, my carpet anemones have remained in one place for several years.

Adding sea anemones to the aquarium

A) First of all, as soon as you lower the sea anemone into the aquarium, turn off the flow for 24 hours. This will help him get used to his new home.

B) First, it is necessary to ensure the “maturity” of the aquarium environment and make sure that the water parameters correspond to the required level and remain stable.

C) Then you need to choose a suitable place in the aquarium. Some sea anemones prefer to attach themselves to rocks with their feet, while others like to stick to the bottom of the aquarium. Some sea anemones attach to a substrate that can be placed in the aquarium (3 to 6 inches). Therefore, you should first consider everything possible options and choose the best place for your sea anemone. In addition, you need to think about lighting and water circulation.

D) Now you are ready to buy sea anemone. It is important to choose a healthy individual, so in the store pay attention to the color of the sea anemone (the color should not be pale) and the mouth (it should be closed).

E) After purchasing, you must carefully bring the sea anemone home and help it adapt to new living conditions.

E) In addition to acclimatizing the sea anemone to water parameters, you should pay attention to adaptation to aquarium lighting. One of the best ways is to use a translucent plastic screen for shading. Place three of these screens at the top of the aquarium and remove one about every 3 days. This will allow the sea anemone to gradually get used to the new lighting.

G) From several days to a week, the sea anemone will be in a stressful state until it gets used to the new living conditions. For a day or two, the sea anemone may hide in the rocks or keep its mouth wide open. A similar reaction can be repeated several times.

H) Until your sea anemone settles into its new home, it is better to turn off the flow at night. From my own experience, I can say that sea anemones begin to move after you turn off the lights. And when moving, they can easily penetrate the pump.

If you notice one or more of the following signs within a week of placing your sea anemone in your aquarium: stress state, or noticed them after a long stay of the sea anemone in the aquarium, this indicates difficulties with adaptation or the unfavorable state of your sea anemone.

A) Sea anemone secretes a lot of viscous liquid Brown. This may indicate that the water conditions are not suitable for your sea anemone, causing it to lose zooxatenelles. This can be a serious problem.

B) The sea anemone shrinks or swells too much. This usually happens when the sea anemone cleans itself of waste by changing the water inside. However, if this happens constantly (say, every day or more often), or the sea anemone remains compressed for a long time, this is a sure sign of a stressful condition.

C) The sea anemone's mouth is open even when it is not eating or excreting waste.

D) The sea anemone moves in the stones and disappears from view (this is the norm for stone sea anemones).

D) The sea anemone has turned pale or almost colorless; this effect is also called “bleaching.” In general, this is another symptom of the loss of zooxatenelles or the result of insufficient preparation of the sea anemone for the new aquarium lighting.

E) The sea anemone's mouth remains open or widened even when the sea anemone is not eating. In extreme cases of stress, the mouth will appear everted.

G) The sea anemone does not become fixed in any place in your aquarium.

Sea anemone bleaching

If, during a long stay in the aquarium, your anemone suddenly becomes discolored (or has lost most of its color), this indicates problems with lighting or water quality. The following are the most common causes of sea anemone bleaching.

A) Too much lighting
B) Insufficient lighting
B) Nutrient levels in water are too high
D) Too low level nutrient content in water

Below I have provided recommendations based on my own experience for keeping carpet and bladder anemones. Today there are many other species of sea anemones suitable for keeping in an aquarium, but personal experience I haven't encountered them.

Blister sea anemones

Currently, this species is one of the most common in the aquarium hobby. From my own experience I can say that bubble anemones are one of the most unpretentious and probably the hardiest species for aquarium keeping. Typically, bubble anemones choose cracks in rocks to anchor themselves and protect their legs. The most favorable conditions for them are moderate water flows and average light levels.

Red and green bubble anemones are the most common, but blue and orange anemones can also be found. They are easy to distinguish due to their very long tentacles (1-2 inches in length) with bubbles at the ends. The size and shape of the bubbles, depending on the type of sea anemone, can vary from very large to almost invisible. Bubble anemones can grow up to one meter in diameter, so I suggest using a tank that is at least 30 gallons in size.

Typically, bubble anemones penetrate with their legs into a rock crevice, where they later become attached. They prefer moderate water flows and average lighting levels. Bubble sea anemones are the most active in the aquarium. Any change, even a minor one that is difficult to detect, can set these sea anemones in motion.

Ideal conditions for keeping bubble anemones promote rapid reproduction, which occurs in two ways - sexual (spawning) and asexual (division). In just one year, living in my aquarium, the bubble anemone turned into five full-fledged anemones. This happens as follows: when the sea anemone reaches maximum size, it divides and one part begins to move around the aquarium until it finds a suitable place.

If you are interested in adding clownfish to your aquarium, check out the list below for species that prefer to live in bubble anemones. I found this list in a marine aquarium magazine.

The photo below is of my bubble anemone three weeks after dividing. After I took the photo, after one or two weeks, the left sea anemone began to move around the aquarium.

Carpet sea anemones

This type of sea anemone is one of the most difficult to keep in an aquarium. The most common carpet anemones are Stichodactyla gigantea And Stichodactyla haddoni. They are very similar in appearance, so it is quite difficult to distinguish them from each other. However, due to slight differences in the needs of these anemones, which may affect their further development, you should learn to distinguish them.

Carpet sea anemones Stichodactyla gigantea

These sea anemones are the most difficult to care for. I've spent a lot of time studying these sea anemones, so I can say with certainty what the difference is between gigantea And haddoni. In diameter gigantea (Stichodactyla gigantea) reaches more than 1.5 meters, and often weighs about 2 pounds when kept in ideal conditions. IN natural environment habitat, the diameter of these sea anemones can reach three meters. Their tentacles are the longest among carpet anemones, but much shorter than those of bubble anemones. The tentacles reach ¼ to ¾ inches in length. In appearance, these sea anemones look like a shaggy carpet from the 60s. As a rule, they are brown or sandy in color, with green, blue, yellow, purple and pink anemones being less common. The rarest colors are red and dark blue. There are no known cases of reproduction in the home aquarium.

For content S. gigantea Many people recommend using a species aquarium that is at least 40 gallons, but I would suggest an aquarium that is at least 75 gallons. In addition, it is necessary to ensure moderate (or slightly more than average) water circulation in the aquarium. I saw such an anemone located right in the flow of the return pump. Sea anemones S. gigantea are the most demanding in terms of lighting conditions, therefore, compared to others, they need more light. They like to bury their foot 3-6 inches into the substrate and attach themselves to the bottom of the tank. Thus, when they feel threatened, they are completely drawn into the substrate.

You can see sea anemones in this photo S. gigantea rare colors.

I took this photo at a local aquarium store.

Below is my blue carpet anemone.

Carpet sea anemones Stichodactyla haddoni

S. haddoni increase in size very quickly. My sea anemone went from 4 inches to 12 inches in 18 months. Many people recommend using at least a 40 gallon aquarium for your initial setup, but I recommend at least 75 gallons. They are usually placed in the sand, with their foot buried 3-6 inches into the substrate, and attached to the bottom of the aquarium. As soon as they sense danger, they are completely drawn into the substrate. Although haddoni and gigantea have the same lighting requirements, haddoni prefer less water circulation than gigantea (below average level).

Sea anemones S. haddoni They are quite aggressive with their victims: as soon as they get too close to their tentacles, haddoni immediately grabs and eats them. Their highly sticky tentacles make them quite difficult to deal with. My sea anemone ate a large number of snails (and then spat out the shells), shrimp and a few fish.

Clown fish generally prefer to settle in carpet anemones. [ Note ed.: Dubious statement] If you are interested in adding clownfish to your aquarium, check out the following list to help you determine which type of clownfish is most suitable for carpet anemones.

Amphiprion ocellaris(anemone clown (all types of colors))
Amphiprion akindynos(reef clown)
Amphiprion chrysogaster(Muritisn clown)
Amphiprion chrysopterus(orange-finned clown)
Amphiprion clarkii(Clark's clown)
Amphiprion polymnus(saddle clown)
Amphiprion sebae(Seba the clown)
Amphiprion chrysopterus Blueline(orange-finned clown)
Amphiprion ephippium(fire clown)
Amphiprion frenatus(tomato clown)

Below is my red carpet anemone haddoni. This photo was taken immediately after being placed in the aquarium, which was then about 4 inches in size. In the following photos you can see the normal sized haddoni - about 14 inches.

Sea anemones are large coral polyps that, unlike other corals, have a soft body. Sea anemones belong to a separate class coral polyps, they are also related to jellyfish. They are also called sea anemones because they have such beautiful view that look like flowers.

Features of the appearance of sea anemones

The body consists of a cylindrical leg and a bunch of tentacles. The leg consists of circular and longitudinal muscles, thanks to which the sea anemone can stretch, shorten and bend. At the bottom of the leg there is a sole or pedal disc.

Mucus is released from the sea anemone's leg, which hardens, and the sea anemone sticks to the substrate. Other sea anemones have wide legs, with their help they cling, like an anchor, to loose soil, and the sole with a bladder acts as a fin. These types of sea anemones swim upside down.

At the upper end of the body is an oral disc, which surrounds a row or rows of tentacles. In one row the tentacles are the same, but in different rows they may differ in color and size. The tentacles are equipped with stinging cells, from which thin poisonous threads fly out. The mouth opening may be oval or round in shape.

Sea anemones are fairly primitive creatures that do not have complex sensory organs. The anemone's unequal system consists of a group of sensory cells located on the sole, base of the tentacles and around the mouth opening. These nerve cells respond to various stimuli, for example, cells near the mouth are able to distinguish substances, but do not respond to mechanical influence, and cells on the sole do not respond to chemical influence, but are sensitive to mechanical influence.

Most sea anemones have a naked body, but sea trumpet anemones have a chitinous cover, their leg looks like a tube, which is why they are called “tubular”. The bodies of some sea anemones are covered with grains of sand and various building material, which make the cover more durable.

The color is so diverse that even representatives of the same species can have different shades. Sea anemones can be all the colors of the rainbow: pink, red, green, orange, white and the like. Often the edges of the tentacles have a contrasting color. The body sizes of anemones vary over a wide range.

The body height of the smallest one, gonactinia, is 2-3 mm, the largest is the carpet anemone, with a diameter of up to 1.5 meters, and the height of the metridium sea anemone reaches 1 meter.

Distribution and habitats of sea anemones

Sea anemones live in all oceans and seas. Most of these animals are concentrated in subtropical and tropical zones, but they are also found in the polar regions. For example, in the seas of the Arctic Ocean lives the sea pink or the senile metridium.

The habitats are quite diverse: from the depths of the ocean to the surf zone. Few species of sea anemones live at ocean depths of more than 1000 meters. Although sea anemones are mostly marine animals, certain species can live in fresh water. There are 4 species of sea anemones in the Black Sea, one species lives in the Sea of ​​Azov.

Anemone lifestyle

Anemones that live in shallow water often have microscopic algae in their tentacles, which gives them a green tint and supplies them with nutrients. These sea anemones live in illuminated places and are active mainly during the day, as they depend on the photosynthesis of algae. And certain species cannot tolerate light at all. Sea anemones that live in the tidal zone have a clear diurnal regime, which is associated with the time of drying and flooding of the territory.

All sea anemones can be divided into 3 types according to their lifestyle: swimming, sessile and burrowing. Most sea anemones are sessile, the burrowing ones include the genera Haloclava, Edwardsia and Peachia, and only the genus Minyas is swimming.

Sedentary sea anemones, contrary to their name, are capable of moving slowly. As a rule, they begin to move if something does not suit them, for example, lighting or lack of food. Sea anemones move in several ways. Some species arch their body and attach themselves to the ground with their oral disc, then tear off their leg and move it to a new place. Sessile jellyfish move in a similar way. Other species move their sole, alternately tearing off sections of it from the ground. And the third way is that sea anemones lie on their sides and crawl like worms, while different parts of the leg contract.

In fact, burrowing sea anemones do not burrow that often. They sit most of their lives, and they are called burrowers because they can burrow into the ground, and only the corolla of the tentacle remains visible from the outside. In order to dig a hole, sea anemone acts quite in an interesting way: draws water into oral cavity, and alternately pumps it to one end of the body, and then to the other, so it goes deeper, like a worm, into the ground.

Sessile small gonactinia is sometimes capable of swimming; during swimming, it rhythmically moves its tentacles, its movements are similar to contraction of the dome. Floating species float passively on the water with the help of pneumocystis, and move with the help of the current.

Relationships between sea anemones and other marine inhabitants

Sea anemones lead a solitary lifestyle, but if conditions are favorable, then these polyps unite in colonies, forming beautiful flowering gardens. Basically, sea anemones do not show interest in their relatives, but some of them have a quarrelsome disposition. When these anemones touch a relative, they attack it with stinging cells, which cause tissue necrosis.

But sea anemones often get along well with other species of animals. The most striking example of symbiosis is the life of sea anemones and clown fish. The fish take care of the polyps, cleaning them from food debris and various debris, and the sea anemones eat the remains of the clown fish’s prey. And shrimp often find shelter from enemies and food in the tentacles of sea anemones.

The relationship between adamsia sea anemones and hermit crabs is even better established. Only young Adamsia live independently, and then hermit crabs find them and attach them to their shells. In this case, the sea anemone is attached with its oral disc forward, thanks to which it gets food particles from the soil churned up by cancer. And sea anemone protects crayfish from enemies. Moreover, when a crayfish changes its home, it transfers the sea anemone to a new shell. If the cancer has not found its sea anemone, it tries to take it away from its fellow.

Feeding sea anemones

Some sea anemones send everything that touches their tentacles into the oral cavity, even pebbles and other inedible objects, while others spit out what cannot be eaten.

Polyps feed on various animal foods. Some species filter water and extract organic debris from it, while others hunt larger prey - small fish. For the most part, sea anemones feed on algae.

Anemone reproduction

Reproduction in sea anemones can occur sexually and asexually. Asexual reproduction occurs due to longitudinal division, in this case two individuals are produced from one individual. This method of reproduction is found in the most primitive sea anemones, gonactinia. A mouth is formed in the middle of the leg of these sea anemones, after which the animal splits into two independent organisms. Since sea anemones are capable of asexual reproduction, they have a high ability to regenerate tissue: sea anemones quickly restore lost body parts.

Most sea anemones are dioecious. But there are no differences between male and female sea anemones. In certain species of sea anemones, both female and male reproductive cells can simultaneously form.

The process of fertilization in sea anemones can occur in the gastric cavity or in the external environment.

In the first week of life, anemone larvae move freely in the water, due to which they are carried over long distances by the current. In some species, larvae develop in special pockets that are located on the bodies of the mother.