How to feed 'baby' anemones

[MarkW]

I have a bubble tipped anemone that has split twice. From what I have
read sometimes after they split both are the side of an 'adult
anemone' but each time it has sseparated I find what I call a baby
anemon that is very small (about a 1/4 inch diameter). It's like just
a very small piece breaks off but both times I saw it for a few weeks
and never again. My concern is they are starving but yet how do you
feed one of these? I feed silversides to my regular anemone but know
I can't to these and is there something smaller to feed or is that not
the problem I'm having?

[Def Lizard]

How to feed 'baby' anemones

Group: rec.aquaria.marine.misc Date: Fri, Aug 8, 2003, 2:40pm (PDT+7)
From: (MarkW)
I have a bubble tipped anemone that has split twice. From what I have
read sometimes after they split both are the side of an 'adult anemone'
but each time it has sseparated I find what I call a baby anemon that is
very small (about a 1/4 inch diameter). It's like just a very small
piece breaks off but both times I saw it for a few weeks and never
again. My concern is they are starving but yet how do you feed one of
these? I feed silversides to my regular anemone but know I can't to
these and is there something smaller to feed or is that not the problem
I'm having?
************************************************** ****
For the most part (up to 80%) Tropical Pacific Anemones get their
nourishment from microscopic algae cells called Zooxanthellae residing
in their tissues. As all algaes they utilize light (photosynthesis)
along with nutrients, ingest CO=B2, respire O=B2, and utilize nitrogen
waste compounds (ammonia given off by the anemone) that then feeds the
anemone, within its own tissues. This is a symbiotic relationship,
without which one cannot live without the other. The secret of
successful anemone keeping is sufficient lighting intensity and proper
spectrum, besides pristine water conditions. Given these, the anemone
will do just fine with whatever microscopic particles are in the water
column. Its theoriized that, in captivity, Anemones divide as an
survival mechanism, where there is insufficient nutrients for one large
individual, but enough for two (or more) smaller individuals, although
budding is one form of assexual reproduction. Just make sure your
lighting is sufficiently intense and close to the spectrum of Sunlight
as it penetrates sea water at one meter (where most anemones live)
which is equivalent to a Kelvin temp of 6500=B0.
In terms of real life situations, that's one Metal Halide lamp with a
400W rating at 6500=B0K for every linear foot of aquaria surface area.
(A 5 foot tank requires 5 - 400W MH lamps) That is the ideal, but
anemones have been kept with lower lighting, but they do not thrive,
lose their color, eventually shrink and die, inspite of more and more
frequent feedings. There is something about that symbiotic relationship
with Zooxanthellae algae cells and the anemone that feeding alone cannot
substitute for. In the wild Anemones can be found several feet across,
having no need to divide. HTH


http://community.webtv.net/deflizard/doc
regards, John =