Sea anemone - plant or animal? Sea anemones, sea anemones A story about sea anemones.

Yellow sand, waves hitting the shore, tropical trees, and the water in the sea is so transparent that stones and... flowers are visible at the bottom. Flowers?

But how can they grow underwater? This doesn't happen! Although this statement can still be argued. Indeed, you were not mistaken, at the bottom of the sea you can see sea inhabitants of extraordinary beauty - anemones, which got their name for their resemblance to the Anemone flower.

But here animals are like flowers. Anemone is not a plant, but an animal, better known to all of us as.

Anemones or anemones- close relatives of corals, but if corals are colonies of polyps, anemones are large polyps themselves.

Their structure is very simple and has undergone minor changes over millions of years, they are practically a “skin bag” that is inflated with water, which gives them a certain shape.

Attached to the bottom or to rocks and shells lying on the bottom, sea anemones gracefully sway their “petals,” like flowers in the wind.

The cylindrical stalk body ends at the top with a delicate corolla of numerous tentacle petals.

And what colors are not found in nature: pink, green, blue, yellow, purple and violet.

Their size sometimes does not exceed a few millimeters, and sometimes reaches 15 centimeters. It all depends on the type of sea anemone, and there are not many of them, no less than 1500, found in almost all seas of the world, except the Caspian and Aral Sea.

They live in arctic latitudes and on the equator, in the sands on the shore and in areas deprived of light. depths of the sea ah over 10,000 meters. However, most species of sea anemones prefer shallow coastal shallow waters and water with fairly high salinity. Some species have a sucker-like leg for attaching to something, while others burrow their legs into the soil. Over the course of a million-year existence, they have undergone little change.

But such beauty is far from safe for other marine life.

The sea anemone is carnivorous. As soon as a small fish or shrimp touches the “petals” of a plant, or rather it would be more correct to call it an animal from now on, it will immediately receive a share of a strong paralyzing poison. Next, the tentacles direct the prey to the center of the corolla, to the mouth opening, where the juice of the pharynx and stomach finally deals with it.

Also, the tentacles serve not only as a source of food, but also as a protector from larger sea inhabitants that are not averse to feasting on sea anemones. Among sea anemones there are: peaceful views, which suck nutrients from sea water, and predators.

And there are such “smart” predator anemones that can distinguish between edible and inedible, and there are others, especially hungry ones, who drag everything into their mouths indiscriminately, even objects that are dangerous to them.

It seems that the sea anemone is such a small bloodthirsty monster at the bottom of the seas, and the desire to touch the wonder with your hands immediately disappeared. And for good reason.

There are giant anemones (Stoichactis, Condylactis spp.) and trumpet anemones (Pachycerianthus spp.) that have dangerous stinging appendages and should not be touched with bare hands, especially sensitive places, like the outer part of the elbow or the back of the hand. One touch can cause a burn, like a poisonous jellyfish.

You will learn about other “colors” of the sea - corals in the topic

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About the animals included in the order Actiniaria. The name of the animals comes from the name of an earthly flower, anemone.

If you check the classification, sea anemones are included in the class Anthozoa, a phylum of cnidarians and a subclass of six-rayed corals. This animal is known to the world because of its symbiotic relationship with fish.

Sea anemones benefit from their association with fish - improved gas exchange and nutrition (food that remains after the fish eat).

The same symbiosis has developed between sea anemones and crabs of the genus Lybia. Boxer crabs use the stinging polyps of sea anemones to protect themselves from predators. The crabs pick up sea anemones and hold them as a shield. Anemones, in turn, thanks to crabs gain mobility, because they cannot move independently.

Here are some interesting facts about sea anemone:

Sea anemones, like all other cnidarians, have mesoglea in their body - a jelly-like substance. Anemones have a close relationship with corals, hydra and jellyfish.

Sea anemones can decorate any aquarium. For commercial purposes, sea anemones are considered as aquarium collection. Thus, the sea anemone trade is increasing.

These sea creatures have an amazing range of color diversity. Their vitreous bodies are always bright and delicate.

Sea anemone size.

The diameter can reach 1.8 - 3 cm. The largest sea anemones have a span of 2 meters. The smallest ones barely reach 4 mm.

The sea anemone's mouth functions like an anus. Capture function and prey catching. The location of the mouth is the center of the disc cavity. And several tentacles located around the mouth.

Sea anemones are harmless and harmless animals. The sea anemone is not dangerous to humans. However, some sea anemone species have a toxin that can cause burns to humans.

Sea anemones feed on fish, shellfish and small sea animals. Peaceful sea anemones are calm individuals: they eat everything that floats in the water. However, they distinguish between edible food and inedible food.

Living next to sea anemones are those fish and shellfish that are insensitive to their poison.
For large and predatory fish, sea anemones serve as a place of camouflage and shelter.

This animal, the sea anemone, has a completely different way of life from other cnidarians. They have the disadvantage of free swimming, as for example jellyfish do. They differ from corals in that they do not live in colonies or groups, but individually - they prefer to live alone.

Life cycle of sea anemone. The polyp arises from Planula after the egg, fertilized by sperm, begins its division.

Asexual reproduction is also characteristic of sea anemones. In some species of sea anemones, division is the result
asexual reproduction.

Most sea anemones live in one place permanently. However, they may move to another place if it is not suitable for them to live in. They move if predators harass them or the location encounters prolonged dryness. To get to a new place they use crawling-like movements.

Sea anemone can be eaten. It is used as a delicacy in southwestern Spain and southern Italy.

Sea anemones are often served battered or marinated in vinegar.

The animal sea anemone really looks like a flower. They were called anemones, but to some it resembles an aster. Explorers of the deep sea have counted one and a half thousand various types anemone.

When cut into pieces, sea anemones demonstrate their remarkable ability to reproduce and regenerate.

In one row, all tentacles of an anemone are identical in color, structure and length. however, they may differ from row to row.

Sea anemones, or Sea Anemones, refer to class coral polyps . This is the largest group of coelenterates, numbering more than 6,000 thousand species. Most of the representatives of the group are colonial corals, which are described on the following pages. But the most famous are sea anemones. They are larger and most often live in the form of single individuals, rather than in colonies. They live in shallows along coasts, usually attached to rocks, plants, shells or other surfaces. However, sea anemones are capable of slow movement, crawling or sliding on their soles. If they are “in a hurry”, they can make a somersault. Few people can swim - by contracting the tentacles or bending the whole body. But usually we only see the swaying movements of anemones that they make in the process of obtaining food. Sea anemones- this is, but they do not have a medusoid stage in their life and live their entire lives in the form of polyps. Outwardly, they resemble, but are larger and much more complex; in addition, most often they do not unite in colonies, but live alone. The sole of the sea anemone is thicker, and the tentacles around the mouth opening are thicker and stronger. In addition, most anemones are colored in bright red, yellow, pink, brown and blue tones. This coloring is a warning to other animals that anemones are not edible and can sting with their tentacles.

Most anemones feed by catching small fish, shrimp and other animals with their tentacles. The stinging cells of the tentacles kill or paralyze prey. Sea anemones do not have eyes, but they react to touch and shoot poisonous stings. Moreover, they are able to detect substances that emit from the bodies of their victims. Thanks to this, more and more new ones are involved in retaining and killing prey. The venom of most common sea anemones is not strong enough to harm humans.
The anemone's mouth opening, located in the middle of the tentacles, stretches so wide that the animal is able to swallow prey much larger than itself! Food enters and is slowly digested in the gastric cavity, located in the body of the animal. Undigested remains are removed from the anemone’s body through the same hole through which food enters. Sea anemones reproduce in the same way as hydras - by growing young individuals on the surface of their body. They also produce eggs and sperm like most animals.
The sea anemones do not appear to be aggressive. But during the battle best place on the rocks they slowly push each other, trying to push their opponent off the rocks into the mud and sand.

The short tentacles of the sea anemone Dahlia are covered with cones, to which pieces of gravel, shells and blades of grass are glued. When the tide goes out, the sea anemone retracts its tentacles and becomes like a piece of gravel.
The orange sea anemone has powerful, strong tentacles around its mouth opening.
Some sea anemones live longer than people. They can reach an age of over seventy years in protected and food-rich large sea lagoons or water areas with clean water.
Typically, anemone tentacles are arranged in circles, the number of tentacles being a multiple of 6 or 8.
The sea anemone pseudocorynactis has bright, rounded yellow-orange tips on its widely spread pale blue tentacles.
The largest anemone is the discoma. It can reach 60 cm in diameter. Lives between corals on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
One of the most common colorful anemones is the horse anemone. It lives on rocks in the tidal zone. It is most often red, but can be brown, orange or green.

Coral polyps:
- About 6,000 thousand species of marine life
- Stem-shaped body attached by the sole to the substrate, bearing tentacles at the apex (polypoid stage only)
- Round body with tentacles, genitals and other organs, the number of which is a multiple of 6 or 8

Before buying an anemone, as well as others sea creatures, you need to make sure you have a good idea of how to properly maintain them. Their demands may surprise you. Below I will give some recommendations based on my own experience.

Water quality

IN general outline we can say that to support anemones, the same water parameters are required that are required for SPS corals (small polyp stony corals). In particular: high level dissolved oxygen content, SG from 1.024 to 1.026, stable pH level from 8.1 to 8.3, temperature from 76 to 78 F, calcium content from 400 to 450, dKH level from 8.0 to 12.0, magnesium content from 1250 and 1350 ppm, level nitrates of 2 ppm or less (closer to zero is better), stable phosphate levels of about 0.002 ppm or less (closer to zero is better), and finally zero ammonia and nitrites. The key to the healthy and prosperous existence of sea anemones, as well as all representatives underwater world living in captivity is to maintain stable water parameters in the aquarium at or close to a given level.

Aquarium conditions/parameters

A) Maturity of the aquarium. When keeping sea anemones, this aspect is most important for beginners rather than seasoned veterans (to be clear, I do not consider myself one of the latter). The bottom line is that aquariums younger than 6 months can be subject to fluctuations in water parameters, and not all sea anemones can withstand such changes.

B) Flow and circulation of water. Sea anemone requires the presence of at least a small current. They breathe by absorbing oxygen directly from the water. In their natural habitat, sea anemones also need a current that brings food and carries away waste. Essentially, sea anemones require medium to low currents. One of the most common causes of sea anemones feeling unwell is an abnormal flow. As a result, they begin to move around the aquarium in order to find the most favorable place. Different sea anemones have different attitudes towards the flow and circulation of water in the aquarium.

B) Lighting requirements. To thrive, sea anemones require the same good lighting as SPS corals (small polyp stony corals). Through photosynthesis, sea anemones produce large number necessary nutrients. The tissues of sea anemones contain zooxatenella algae, which allow them to use light. Conventional wisdom has it that metal halide or T5 HO lamps are best suited for keeping sea anemones. High quality LEDs also contribute to the good lighting that sea anemones so need. When I kept bubble and carpet anemones, I great success used T5HO lamps and high quality LEDs. As a general rule, if your lighting is a little less than ideal, you can always compensate by feeding regularly.

There are many different opinions about what optimal lighting should be. I have developed my own rule: 4 watts per gallon of water (14,000K bulb). This lighting will be optimal for aquariums with a height of about 20 centimeters. I repeat once again, this rule based on personal positive experience of keeping sea anemones.

D) Oxygen level. For sea anemones, as well as for other representatives of the underwater world, the most favorable is a high level of oxygen. Reach optimal level oxygen is not difficult, especially if you ensure good water circulation in the aquarium and use a flotator.

Feeding sea anemones

There are several opinions about feeding sea anemones. Some do not feed them at all, and the sea anemones remain healthy and grow in the aquarium for many years, provided sufficient level lighting. Personally, I fed the sea anemones two to three times a month, which helped them rapid growth and healthy existence. If you want to speed up the growth of sea anemones, you can feed them even 3 times a week. I fed my sea anemones every week, as a result of which they grew quickly, multiplied and looked quite happy with life.

Animal foods high in protein, such as clams, scallops, shrimp, mussels and shrimp larvae, are ideal for sea anemones. There are other types of sea anemone food, but I have not tried them.

Before feeding your sea anemone, make sure the food is crushed enough for him to swallow it easily. Place the food as close to the sea anemone as possible (I use long tweezers for this). As soon as food comes into contact with the sea anemone, it should react immediately. It may take up to 2-3 minutes for the sea anemone to pick up the food and swallow it. If the sea anemone is stressed, it may take longer. And be sure to keep an eye on other animals and fish in the aquarium, as they will usually try to take food from the sea anemone while it is trying to eat it.

Clown fish

Do anemones need clownfish?... The answer is no. Sea anemones can do just fine without them. However, such an alliance is mutually beneficial and has a number of advantages for both parties: clown fish protect the sea anemone from other fish and even from some animals inhabiting the aquarium, in addition, clowns leave uneaten food on the sea anemone (that is, they actually feed it), and, finally, Clownfish hide in sea anemones to protect themselves from other fish. At the same time, both sea anemones and clown fish can exist perfectly well and remain healthy and happy separately from each other.

If you are considering purchasing a pair of clownfish for your anemone, make sure that you choose the right species and that they will actually live in union with your anemone, since usually certain types of clownfish live in certain types of anemones.

On the other hand, sea anemones can become dangerous for other inhabitants of the aquarium, because they are not particularly picky about food. Representatives of some species catch and eat almost all slow-moving small fish or paralyze those who swim too close to their tentacles. My carpet anemone ate a large number of snails (and then spat out the shell), a dwarf wrasse (orange-backwrasse species), and all the cleaner shrimp, while the bubble anemone left none of them.

Movement of sea anemones

The movement of sea anemones around the aquarium may indicate a change in water quality or other conditions, which negatively affects their existence. If your sea anemone begins to move around without you changing the lighting or current, the problem may be due to changes in water parameters. Some sea anemones are more prone to movement than others. For example, I had a bubble anemone that split, and one of the separated parts began to move around until it found a suitable place away from the rest of the anemones. At the same time, my carpet anemones have remained in one place for several years.

Adding sea anemones to the aquarium

If, after studying all the requirements and recommendations, you decide to purchase an anemone and place it in your aquarium, I suggest following next steps:

A) First of all, as soon as you lower the sea anemone into the aquarium, turn off the flow for 24 hours. This will help him get used to his new home.

B) First, it is necessary to ensure the “maturity” of the aquarium environment and make sure that the water parameters correspond to the required level and remain stable.

C) Then you need to choose a suitable place in the aquarium. Some sea anemones prefer to attach themselves to rocks with their feet, while others like to stick to the bottom of the aquarium. Some sea anemones attach to a substrate that can be placed in the aquarium (3 to 6 inches). Therefore, you should first consider everything possible options and choose best place for your sea anemone. In addition, you need to think about lighting and water circulation.

D) Now you are ready to buy sea anemone. It is important to choose a healthy individual, so in the store pay attention to the color of the sea anemone (the color should not be pale) and the mouth (it should be closed).

E) After purchasing, you must carefully bring the sea anemone home and help it adapt to new living conditions.

E) In addition to acclimatizing the sea anemone to water parameters, you should pay attention to adaptation to aquarium lighting. One of the best ways is to use a translucent plastic screen for shading. Place three of these screens in top part aquarium and remove one approximately every 3 days. This will allow the sea anemone to gradually get used to the new lighting.

G) From several days to a week, the sea anemone will be in a stressful state until it gets used to the new living conditions. For a day or two, the sea anemone may hide in the rocks or keep its mouth wide open. A similar reaction can be repeated several times.

H) Until your sea anemone settles into its new home, it is better to turn off the flow at night. From my own experience, I can say that sea anemones begin to move after you turn off the lights. And when moving, they can easily penetrate the pump.

If you notice one or more of the following signs within a week of placing your sea anemone in your aquarium: stress state, or noticed them after a long stay of the sea anemone in the aquarium, this indicates difficulties with adaptation or the unfavorable state of your sea anemone.

A) Sea anemone secretes a lot of viscous liquid brown. This may indicate that the water conditions are not suitable for your sea anemone, causing it to lose zooxatenelles. This can be a serious problem.

B) The sea anemone shrinks or swells too much. This usually happens when the sea anemone cleans itself of waste by changing the water inside. However, if this happens constantly (say every day and more often), or the sea anemone remains compressed long time, this is a sure sign of a stressful state.

C) The sea anemone's mouth is open even when it is not eating or excreting waste.

D) The sea anemone moves in the stones and disappears from view (this is the norm for stone sea anemones).

D) The sea anemone has turned pale or almost colorless; this effect is also called “bleaching.” In general, this is another symptom of the loss of zooxatenelles or the result of insufficient preparation of the sea anemone for the new aquarium lighting.

E) The sea anemone's mouth remains open or widened even when the sea anemone is not eating. In extreme cases of stress, the mouth will appear everted.

G) The sea anemone does not become fixed in any place in your aquarium.

Sea anemone bleaching

If, during a long stay in the aquarium, your anemone suddenly becomes discolored (or has lost most of its color), this indicates problems with lighting or water quality. The following are the most common causes of sea anemone bleaching.

A) Too much lighting
B) Insufficient lighting
B) Nutrient levels in water are too high
D) Nutrient levels in water are too low

Below I have provided recommendations based on my own experience for keeping carpet and bladder anemones. Today there are many other species of sea anemones suitable for keeping in an aquarium, but personal experience I haven't encountered them.

Blister sea anemones

Currently, this species is one of the most common in the aquarium hobby. From my own experience I can say that bubble anemones are one of the most unpretentious and probably the hardiest species for aquarium keeping. Typically, bubble anemones choose cracks in rocks to anchor themselves and protect their legs. Most favorable conditions for them are moderate water flows and intermediate level illumination

Most widespread received red and green bubble anemones, but you can find blue and orange anemones. They are easy to distinguish due to their very long tentacles (1-2 inches long) with bubbles at the ends. The size and shape of the bubbles, depending on the type of sea anemone, can vary from very large to almost invisible. Bubble anemones can grow up to one meter in diameter, so I suggest using a tank that is at least 30 gallons in size.

Typically, bubble anemones penetrate with their legs into a rock crevice, where they later become attached. They prefer moderate water flows and average lighting levels. Bubble sea anemones are the most active in the aquarium. Any change, even a minor one that is difficult to detect, can set these sea anemones in motion.

Ideal conditions for keeping bubble anemones promote rapid reproduction, which occurs in two ways - sexual (spawning) and asexual (division). In just one year, living in my aquarium, the bubble anemone turned into five full-fledged anemones. This happens as follows: when the sea anemone reaches its maximum size, it divides and one part begins to move around the aquarium until it finds a suitable place.

If you are interested in adding clownfish to your aquarium, check out the list below for species that prefer to live in bubble anemones. I found this list in a marine aquarium magazine.

Amphiprion clarkii
Amphiprion ocellaris
Amphiprion akindynos(reef clown)
Amphiprion bicinctus(two striped clown)
(orange-finned clown)
Amphiprion ephippium(fire clown)
Amphiprion frenatus(tomato clown)
Amphiprion latezonatus(broad-swept clown)
Amphiprion mccullochi(McCulloch's clown)
Amphiprion melanopus(black clown)
Amphiprion rubrocinctus(Australian clown)
Amphiprion tricinctus(three striped clown)

The photo below is of my bubble anemone three weeks after dividing. After I took the photo, after one or two weeks, the left sea anemone began to move around the aquarium.

Carpet sea anemones

This type of sea anemone is one of the most difficult to keep in an aquarium. The most common carpet anemones are Stichodactyla gigantea And Stichodactyla haddoni. By appearance they are very similar, so it is quite difficult to distinguish them from each other. However, due to slight differences in the needs of these anemones, which may affect their further development, you should learn to distinguish them.

Carpet sea anemones Stichodactyla gigantea

These sea anemones are the most difficult to care for. I've spent a lot of time studying these sea anemones, so I can say with certainty what the difference is between gigantea And haddoni. In diameter gigantea (Stichodactyla gigantea) reaches more than 1.5 meters, and often weighs about 2 pounds when kept in ideal conditions. IN natural environment habitat, the diameter of these sea anemones can reach three meters. Their tentacles are the longest of the carpet anemones, but much shorter than those of the bladder anemones. The tentacles reach ¼ to ¾ inches in length. In appearance, these sea anemones look like a shaggy carpet from the 60s. As a rule, they are brown or sandy in color, with green, blue, yellow, purple and pink anemones being less common. The rarest colors are red and dark blue. There are no known cases of reproduction in the home aquarium.

For content S. gigantea Many people recommend using a species aquarium that is at least 40 gallons, but I would suggest an aquarium that is at least 75 gallons. In addition, it is necessary to ensure moderate (or slightly more than average) water circulation in the aquarium. I saw such an anemone located right in the flow of the return pump. Sea anemones S. gigantea are the most demanding in terms of lighting conditions, therefore, compared to others, they need more light. They like to bury their foot 3-6 inches into the substrate and attach themselves to the bottom of the tank. Thus, when they feel threatened, they are completely drawn into the substrate.

You can see sea anemones in this photo S. gigantea rare colors.

I took this photo at a local aquarium store.

Below is my blue carpet anemone.

Carpet sea anemones Stichodactyla haddoni

Sea anemones haddoni (Stichodactyla haddoni) can achieve the same large sizes, like giant sea anemones, about 2 meters in diameter. Although they are difficult to keep, these difficulties cannot be compared with the difficulties that arise when keeping giant sea anemones. S. haddoni have very short tentacles that look more like colored cones. They kind of remind me of commercial carpeting. Their tentacles are about half the length of those of giant sea anemones. They are typically brown or sandy in color, with less common colors being green, blue and purple, with red and pink being the most rare.

S. haddoni increase in size very quickly. My sea anemone went from 4 inches to 12 inches in 18 months. Many people recommend using at least a 40 gallon aquarium for your initial setup, but I recommend at least 75 gallons. They are usually placed in the sand with a foot buried 3-6 inches into the substrate and attached to the bottom of the aquarium. As soon as they sense danger, they are completely drawn into the substrate. Although haddoni and gigantea have the same lighting requirements, haddoni prefer less water circulation than gigantea (below average level).

Sea anemones S. haddoni They are quite aggressive with their victims: as soon as they get too close to their tentacles, haddoni immediately grabs and eats them. Their highly sticky tentacles make them quite difficult to deal with. My sea anemone ate a large number of snails (and then spat out the shells), shrimp and a few fish.

Clown fish generally prefer to settle in carpet anemones. [ Note ed.: Dubious statement] If you are interested in adding clownfish to your aquarium, check out the following list to help you determine which type of clownfish is most suitable for carpet anemones.

Amphiprion ocellaris(anemone clown (all types of colors))
Amphiprion akindynos(reef clown)
Amphiprion chrysogaster(Muritisn clown)
Amphiprion chrysopterus(orange-finned clown)
Amphiprion clarkii(Clark's clown)
Amphiprion polymnus(saddle clown)
Amphiprion sebae(Seba the clown)
Amphiprion chrysopterus Blueline(orange-finned clown)
Amphiprion ephippium(fire clown)
Amphiprion frenatus(tomato clown)

Below is my red carpet anemone haddoni. This photo was taken immediately after being placed in the aquarium, which was then about 4 inches in size. In the following photos you can see haddoni normal size- about 14 inches.

Flowers can be found not only in fields and meadows, but also on the bottom of the sea. White, blue, yellow - all the colors of the rainbow... The current, like the wind, sways the petals...

Actually it's anemones or sea anemones, and with plants, except external resemblance, they have nothing in common. Sea anemones are relatives of coral polyps and jellyfish. The body consists of an elastic cylindrical leg and a corolla of tentacles. The basis of the body is the leg, which is formed by circular and longitudinal muscles, which allows the body to bend, stretch and contract. Some sea anemones have a thickening at the bottom of the leg - the sole; With its help, sea anemones stick to the soil or stones.

At the upper end of the body there is an oral disc surrounded by several rows of tentacles. In one row, all tentacles are the same in color, structure and length, but in different rows they differ. Often at the tips of the tentacles there is a cluster of stinging cells that shoot thin poisonous threads. Poisonous tentacles serve sea anemones as a weapon of attack and a means of defense. The poison of the sea anemone leaves burns on the victim’s body, the wounds take a long time to heal, and ulcers form.

Sea anemones can be divided into peaceful and more aggressive predators. Calm individuals feed on everything that floats in the water. They guide with tentacles sea water to the oral cavity and filter it. Maybe you'll find something tasty! Some sea anemones eat everything they can find - paper, pebbles, and shells, while others can distinguish between edible and inedible prey. Predators catch crustaceans, shrimp, small fish and other small things, paralyzing them with poisonous threads. The digestive process proceeds quickly - after 16 hours, only the shell remains of the crustacean. When hungry, the sea anemone shoots its tentacles forward in search of new prey.

In case of danger, sea anemones hide in their cavity, retracting their tentacles. This is how a small bud is formed from a large living “flower”. When the danger has passed, they again bloom their living “petals”.

When habitat is depleted and sea anemones lack food or light, they may move from place to place. "Walking" can be done in several ways. Some amonia cling to the soil with their oral disc, tear off the leg and move it to a new place. Others lift their soles off the ground in parts and thus move slowly. Still others fall on their side and, like a caterpillar, contracting various muscles of their body, crawl. There are sea anemones that can swim. They actively wave their tentacles, similar to the movements of a jellyfish dome, and swim wherever the current takes them.

Sea anemones- solitary organisms and cannot tolerate proximity. They sting unwanted neighbors with stinging cells. Only in rare cases do colonies of polyps form. But sea anemones are “friends” with others marine life, for example, with clown fish. The fish takes care of and cleans the tentacles of debris and food debris. In return, the sea anemone hides the fish under its tentacles in case of danger. Clown fish are one of the few representatives of marine fauna that have developed immunity to the poison of stinging cells.

But the strongest alliance is with hermit crabs. The simplest alliance with cancer of the species Eupagurus excavatus. He finds an empty shell on which an anemone is already sitting and colonizes it.

A more complex relationship develops with a hermit crab Pagurus arrosor. This crayfish does not look for an empty shell; it can plant an anemone on its house. The cancer attracts the sea anemone with light stroking and tapping. It doesn’t sting him at all, but on the contrary, it seems to “bloom”, straightening its tentacles. Pagurus arrosor exposes its claw to the sea anemone; it carefully lifts the sole off the ground and crawls onto the shell of its new neighbor. If there is still space left on the shell, the crayfish can plant another sea anemone there. There have been cases when there was a whole “garden” of eight sea anemones on the back of a hermit crab.

But the most striking symbiosis is observed in hermit crab Eupagurus pride-axi with sea animony Adamsia palliata. Cancer places a very small sea anemone on its back and never leaves it. When the crustacean grows up and needs to change its shell to a more spacious one, Adamsia comes to the rescue. Over time, its sole grows and expands, hanging over the shell. The base of the leg becomes wider and wider, over time it hardens and becomes elastic, forming a comfortable home for Eupagurus pride-axi.

There are sea anemones that do not wait for their partner, but look for him themselves. Autholoba reticulata, with its tentacles, and not its sole, clings to a stone or polyp, and in such a suspended state waits for the cancer to crawl under it. When the crustacean appears, it grabs its claw with its sole, and then completely moves onto its back.

Such cooperation is beneficial to both parties. The cancer receives protection and picks up food that has fallen, the sea anemone expands its habitat and hunting zone.

Sea anemone can be found in all seas and oceans, even in the Northern basin Arctic Ocean, but most species are found in warm tropical and subtropical waters.