LiveAquaria.com Diver`s Den® Quarantine Procedures for Anemones

LiveAquaria.com Diver's Den® Quarantine Procedures for Anemones
Drs. Foster & Smith Educational Staff
Over the last decade, the scientific
"My primary job is to acquire the healthiest
animals available in the trade. Together
community and aquarists have made
with the dedicated staff at our Aquaculture
incredible progress regarding the care of
Coral and Marine Life Facility in
marine organisms - including those
Rhinelander, Wisconsin, we strive to
considered challenging. However, even
develop the best practices, guidelines, and
dedicated and experienced hobbyists can procedures pertaining to acclimation,
husbandry, handling, packaging and
attest to the difficulties associated with
shipping of the livestock that enters and
certain species of delicate anemones.
leaves our facility."
Having access to the healthiest specimens Kevin Kohen - Director of LiveAquaria
is the most important first step towards
successfully maintaining these challenging marine organisms in the home aquarium.
Discover how LiveAquaria.com ensures the best care for these animals, so you
receive the healthiest anemones found exclusively in the Diver's Den® at
LiveAquaria.com.
Strict Selection Procedures
LiveAquaria.com actively source anemones from reputable suppliers with years
of experience in the trade. We work diligently to obtain anemones that are
harvested and handled properly before export to the U.S. to ensure quality and
health. Improper harvest or handling can seriously compromise the health of
these delicate organisms. Our relationship with reputable suppliers significantly
reduces potentially serious problems that normally arise at this early stage of
custody.
Careful Acclimation and Housing of Anemones
We begin temperature acclimation once we receive anemones from our overseas
exporters or from importers in the U.S. We float them in the system where they
will be housed until the water temperature has equalized. The anemones are
then drip acclimated, keeping each species separate in their own acclimation
vessel. Once the new anemones are acclimated, each species is placed in its own
LiveAquaria.com Diver's Den® Quarantine Procedures for Anemones - Page 1 of 3
Unauthorized use of any images, thumbnails, illustrations, descriptions, article content, or registered trademarks of Foster & Smith, Inc. is strictly
prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or
images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.
segregated section of a dedicated raceway that measures 6 ft long x 3 ft wide x
16 inches high.
Each segregated section has its own return port so each anemone species is
supplied with filtered water. In addition, a supplemental high-flow pump with
protective screens is used to supply the proper water flow. Each section also has
substrate of proper composition and depth, along with live rock fragments or
coral rubble (when needed), to replicate natural environmental conditions.
Superior Water Quality through Custom Filtration
To ensure pristine water chemistry, filtration consists of a 12 ft x 2 ft diameter
commercial foam fractionator (protein skimmer) with ozone injection (by
means of a 1 gram ozone generator controlled by a dedicated electronic system
monitor and controller). The filtration system also incorporates a 12 ft x 10 inch
diameter fluidized sand bed filter for exceptional biological filtration. The
filtered water is temperature controlled by a 2HP chiller and is directed through
multiple, 100-micron industrial nylon filter socks containing activated carbon
or Poly Filter® media before it returns to the raceways through the use of a 2HP
pump.
Photo-Acclimation
All new anemones are carefully photo-acclimated to artificial lighting over
varying lengths of time. Lighting consists of two 10,000K, 250 watt
double-ended metal halide lamps over each six foot raceway. However, the
specific lighting requirement of each anemone is carefully determined by
assessing their coloration and behavior. Anemones that require the most intense
light are located in the area directly below the suspended metal halide fixture.
Species that are more adaptable and require less intense light are maintained in
the margins of each raceway. When necessary, multiple layers of egg crate light
paneling or egg crate that is covered in nylon screen or mesh are used to adjust
light intensity.
Anemone Identifying Care Level of Anemones
Care and
Among the anemone species available from the
Husbandry Indo Pacific, South Pacific, and the Indian
Care and
husbandry during
and after
photo-acclimation
involves close
monitoring and
inspection of
anemone
behavior and
health. A varied
diet consisting of
finely chopped
fresh seafood
(such as grouper
and raw shrimp),
PE Mysis®
Shrimp, lobster
eggs, and
enriched brine
shrimp are offered
to the anemones.
If, after several
weeks (or even
months later for
some animals),
the anemone is
healthy enough
for sale, it is
carefully
transferred to an
adjacent raceway
Ocean, Entacmaea quadricolor is arguably the
hardiest Cnidarians available to aquarists. This
popular anemone can tolerate a series of
stressors, including harvest, post-harvest
handling, holding, shipping, acclimating, and
adaptation into our home aquariums. Next on
the list of relatively hardy anemones include
Macrodactyla doreensis followed by
Stichodactyla haddoni. Both of these anemones
are quite tolerant and adaptable if maintained in
an appropriate aquarium environment with
pristine water chemistry, proper water flow,
intense lighting, and proper substrate depth and
composition.
All other species of anemones are far more
challenging to maintain, even when these
Cnidarians are in the hands of biologists at
public aquariums. Cryptodendrum adhaesivum,
Heteractis crispa, Heteractis malu, Heteractis
aurora, Stichodactyla tapetum, Stichodactyla
mertensii and finally Stichodactyla gigantea and
Heteractis magnifica are the least tolerant of
any environmental change that occurs during
the long chain of custody - beginning with
harvest and ending in home aquarium.
LiveAquaria.com Diver's Den® Quarantine Procedures for Anemones - Page 2 of 3
Unauthorized use of any images, thumbnails, illustrations, descriptions, article content, or registered trademarks of Foster & Smith, Inc. is strictly
prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or
images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.
harvest and ending in home aquarium.
on the same
system illuminated with identical lighting so it can be photographed for the Diver's Den®.
Assessing Anemone Health for Sale
The preliminary health check begins with a thorough visual inspection. Though basic coloration may differ greatly among
individual species, the overall appearance and coloration is a very good indicator of anemone health. A stressed anemone
exposed to rapid temperature change is extremely susceptible to bleaching, or unnatural color loss. For example, a bleached
Heteractis malu is translucent white. Individuals exported from the Philippines commonly demonstrate this type of
bleaching. Along with coloration, fullness or how taut the anemone appears is another important criterion in the health check.
We start by inspecting the anemone's oral disc and mouth. The anemone's mouth should be closed and not gaping too wide,
which indicates the anemone is in prime health.
We continue the health check by monitoring anemone behavior, including feeding response. Feeding response is very
important to assess the health of the animal. Reaction to food and how the tentacles stick varies among anemone species.
However, a healthy anemone is able to successfully hold on to offered food, transfer this food to its mouth and consume it.
The anemone must also be firmly attached to either a smooth surface or rock, depending on the species, and must not be
deflated for an extended period of time.
Finally, we inspect the pedal disc and column of the anemone. During this examination, we methodically look for signs of
any damage that could be detrimental to the animal during transit. Any open wound or damaged area can encourage the onset
of bacterial infection. Only when the anemone passes our health check will it be transferred to our adjacent raceway to be
photographed for sale.
Packaging and Shipping Anemones
We employ a special packaging procedure to properly address the particular needs of anemones. The successful methods
utilized by exporters and distributors for many years have been modified to help ensure water quality and stable water
temperature. By tripling the volume of shipping water and increasing the shipping bag and box size for each anemone, the
likelihood of water fouling during transit is reduced while maintaining a more stable water temperature.
Successfully maintaining some of the more challenging species of anemones is difficult even for the most skilled aquarist or
public aquariums. Various environmental changes and stressors influence individual success or failure when keeping
anemones in the home aquarium. However, by selecting anemones from the Diver's Den® at LiveAquaria.com you can be
confident you will receive the healthiest aquatic life available anywhere.
LiveAquaria.com Diver's Den® Quarantine Procedures for Anemones - Page 3 of 3
Unauthorized use of any images, thumbnails, illustrations, descriptions, article content, or registered trademarks of Foster & Smith, Inc. is strictly
prohibited under copyright law. Site content, including photography, descriptions, pricing, promotions, and availability are subject to change without
notice. These restrictions are necessary in order to protect not only our copyrighted intellectual property, but also the health of pets, since articles or
images that are altered or edited after download could result in misinformation that may harm companion animals, aquatic life, or native species.