In the wild Anemonies can live for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, in captivity even a good, experienced aquarist will be lucky to keep one alive for 2 - 3 years!!! most only survive a matter of Months.

 

In the wild Anemonies and Clownfish have a very special relationship. The Anemonies protect the Clownfish from predators with their stinging tenticles and in return the Clownfish supply food for the Anemonies. Unfortunately a lot of fishkeepers think that this relationship has to be reproduced in the home aquarium for their Clownfish to have a happy and fullfilled life. This is not true. Most of the Clownfish that we buy are tankbred and have no experience whatsoever with Anemonies!!! You will also find that a lot of Clownfish will find a host in other corals with long flowing polyps. My own Clownfish happily use a large Mushroom or sometimes my Hammerhead Coral.

 

Is it fair to take an Anemone that has lived a 100 years in the sea and put it in our tank, for our veiwing pleasure only for it to die??? Also the more we reap the seas of anemones we are taking away the home(and protection) from Clownfish in the wild which in turn could mean death and eventually extinction for some Clownfish!!!!

 

This is not me on my soapbox, it's just a personal view and it upsets me that shops will keep selling Anemones and aquarists will keep buying them .....how sad 

 

Here endith Goonerman's sermon

 

Here is a link to a diary of one fishkeepers attempt to keep an Anemone (albiet a cultured one) that shows just how difficult it can be even with a lot of dedication!!!