Anemones are amongst the most iconic of marine life. Try imagining a reef system, reef television show, or fish store without anemones. Hard to do, isn't it? Anemones are seemingly ubiquitous fixtures in all these. Sea Anemones are also near the very top of livestock groups being easily killed; know that the vast majority of specimens aquarists try only live days to a few weeks in hobbyists care. The great shame is that the majority of these losses could be prevented by simple practices, through knowledge proffered here that is readily available regarding their captive husbandry. After decades of working in the ornamental aquatics trade; spanning collecting these animals, retailing them; keeping them in service account tanks... and the past twenty years aiding others through our website, WetWebMedia.com, I have decided (as in nothing is decided till it's done) to produce this written work detailing the gross to minor errors that to date result in mass mortality of Anemones. As you will find, the problems with Anemone keeping are diverse and several. From a too-often lack of patience in their removal (tearing of the foot/pedicle) in the wild and along through the chain of custody; through foolish lack of provision for their basic needs in terms of light, circulation, water quality, nutrition; as well as errors in mis-stocking/incomplete acclimation and placement with inappropriate tankmates... all will be revealed here.
