How to Feed a Salt Water Sea Anemone

Sea anemones are brilliantly colored invertebrates, animals without a spine that make interesting additions to a saltwater aquarium. They have a foot that anchors them to rocks, a tube-shaped body, venomous tentacles they use to snare fish or other prey and a mouth in the center of the tentacles. Ten types of sea anemones coexist with clownfish, but anemones do not need clownfish to thrive.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh or frozen seafood, insect larvae or lean raw meat
• Net or skimmer
• Gloves

Instructions

Feeding Your Sea Anemone

1. Thaw frozen food slightly so the anemone will consume it.

2. Break the food into pieces smaller than your anemone's tentacles.

3. Place the food directly into the path of the sea anemone's tentacles without touching the tentacles.

4. Remove excess anemone food from the tank after a half-hour using a net or tank skimmer.

5. Repeat this process one to two times per week.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have a clownfish in your tank, the sea anemone might not eat as much food since the clownfish provides some nourishment by bringing the anemone food or defecating on the anemone, according to Chuck's Addiction.

• Sea anemones require a delicate balance of salinity, pH, and lighting. Feeding is just one small element of the care of a sea anemone.

References

• "Saltwater Sea Anemone Species Profiles"
• "Sea Anemones ~ Tube Anemones"
• "Keeping Sea Anemones"

Resources

• "Sea Anemone"