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Condy Anemone ~ Giant Golden AnemoneCondylactis Anemone - Atlantic Anemone - Haitian Anemone Condylactis giganteaPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David BroughBe the first to add a comment! The Condy Anemone, also called the Giant Golden Anemone, is the 'big boy' of the Condylactis genus!Condy Anemone Contents The Condylactis Anemone known as the Giant Golden Anemone Condylactis gigantea is from the Western Atlantic Ocean. It is very similar to Its close cousin, the Florida Pink-Tipped Anemone C. passiflora, though it is generally not quite as pink. Also the Florida Pink-Tipped Anemone is said to be primarily collected from Florida, while the Giant Golden Anemone is usually collected from areas outside of Florida. A familiar and commonly available anemone species they are often simply called the Condy Anemone or Condylactis Anemone. But the Condylactis are some of those sea anemones with a ton of 'common' names. The various common names describe them by where they are found, their size, or their appearance. With their range extending from Brazil to Bermuda and into the Caribbean in the Western Atlantic Ocean, the Condylactis Anemones are known as the Atlantic Anemone, the Haitian Reef Anemone, and the Caribbean Anemone. Because this Condylactis Anemone can get very large, needing plenty of space to grow to its full 20", it is also called the Giant Anemone or Giant Caribbean Sea Anemone. Some names derived from its coloration include the Pink-Tipped Anemone, Purple-Tipped Sea Anemone, Purple Passion Flower, Hybrid Passionflower, and Passion Flower. The Condylactis Anemones are inexpensive and hardy aquarium anemones, but this sea anemone species still needs good light to do well in the aquarium. Like all sea anemones they are photosynthetic and need light to keep the zooxanthelle that lives within their body tissue alive. Condylactis Anemones have been known to deflate at times. This is normal if it happens once every few weeks, but no more than that. This behavior, the sea anemone purging, may indicate a water change is needed. The Condylactis Anemones use their venomous cells, the nematocyst found in their tentacles, to sting their prey and to deflect any attacks. In general, this anemone is more like a predatory anemone and will move all over the tank. As this anemone does it fish, it is risky to allow it to host a Clown Fish, especially since Clownfish are not found in the Western Atlantic Ocean. However this anemone does have a really interesting symbiotic relationship with Cardinalfish, Cleaner Shrimp (the Atlantic specimens), Arrow Crabs and Emerald Crabs. Just give these tank mates a little time to acclimate and you've got best friends for life.
Family: Actiniidae Species: Condylactis gigantea Sea Anemone Facts: The Condy Anemone or Giant Golden Anemone Condylactis gigantea was described by Weinland in 1861. General common names this anemone is known by are Condy Anemone, Condylactis Anemone, Giant Golden Anemone, Atlantic Anemone, Haitian Reef Anemone, and Caribbean Anemone. Some of the other common names include the Giant Anemone, Giant Caribbean Sea Anemone, Florida Condy, Florida Condi Anemone, Florida Pink-Tipped Anemone, Pink-Tipped Anemone, Purple-Tipped Sea Anemone, Purple Passion Flower, Hybrid Passionflower, and Passion Flower. Where are Sea Anemones Found: The Condylactis gigantea is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean from Brazil to Bermuda and in the Caribbean. Sea Anemone Habitat: They are found at depths of 0-90 feet (30m) in rocky crevices in shallow waters such as in inner reefs and lagoons. They are found alone or in small loose groupings. The Condylactis gigantea is not on the IUCN Red List for endangered species Appearance of a Sea Anemone: The Condy Anemone or Giant Golden Anemone can be several colors including pink, purple, gold, white, green and peach. They mostly have white or cream tentacles that are either tipped in one of these colors, or just a small dot on the end of each tentacle. Their tentacles are spaced and considerably thicker at the bottom, then tapering near the tip. Their 'foot' or pedal column, is a sticky foot that they use to adhere to various surfaces. They also use this "foot" to move around. The foot can be shades of yellow, brick-red, or bluish gray. The mouth should be closed and tight, and will open when hungry, having an oval look, yet a gaping mouth is a warning signal. The Condylactis gigantea take food in, and expel waste through this same opening. To defend themselves or if water quality is not to their liking, they will fold up into a ball. Like most sea anemone species, they have an algae called zooxanthellae living in their tissue. They are photosynthetic and need light to keep the zooxanthelle alive in their body. Sea Anemones Life Cycles: Condylactis gigantea lifespan, thought they can grow up to 20", it is unknown how long they live. Some anemones can be hundreds of years old in the wild, and in captivity have been known to last 80 years or more. The Condy Anemone has also been known to split in captivity, thus reproducing. Sea Anemone Care: The Condylactis Anemone can be moderately hard to care for since they do have lighting needs and must be in a large enough aquarium to satisfy their ultimate size. Unlike some other sea anemone species, they do not tolerate higher temperatures that are in the 80°s. Putting an anemone in a new tank will result in failure. The tank should be at least 4 months old and stable before adding your new C. Gigantea anemone. When choosing your Condy Anemone, make sure the color is good, their mouth is not gaping open, and their foot and tentacles are sticky to the touch. Also, they should be attached to something and make sure there is no damage to the foot area, often a result of pulling the anemone off its surface. To take a C. Gigantea anemone from another aquarium, use a very thin blunt item like a credit card to get under the foot. Slowly nudging it away will get the anemone off the glass. If its attached to a rock, ideally you can simply purchase the rock as well. if you cannot purchase the rock then directing water at it or wiggling the rock gently upside down under water while tickling the foot can work. What Do Sea Anemones Eat: The Condy Anemone or Giant Golden Anemone is a carnivore.Feed your Condy Anemone chopped silversides, shrimp, krill, and mussels, fresh chopped fish (from your grocery store), as well as frozen carnivore preparations. Feed once a week, unless the mouth is open, then feed as often as it is hungry. Younger ones seem to need smaller daily feedings with food that is finely clopped. The old adage that anemones should be fed once a month is false and has lead to many deaths. Water changes of 10% bi-monthly or 20% a month are typical. Monitor your water quality for your particular situation and adjust your water changes accordingly. One average sized Condy Anemone is equal to 4 or more fish as far as waste production is concerned. Purigen and Poly-fiber are great products to help in maintaining water quality. Purigen is a synthetic polymer that removes soluble and insoluble impurities from water at an exceptionally high rate and capacity, helping to control ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Additions of Iodine and and trace elements are suggested. The Condylactis Anemone has been known to deflate at times. This is normal if it happens once every few weeks, but no more than that. The anemone is actually purging and taking in what it thinks will be "fresh" water. So when this happens, a water change may be in order. The typical reef environment is what is needed for your Condylactis Anemone. Live rock and a sand/reef environment is typical of the Western Atlantic.They need live rock or some other solid material they can attach to. Be sure to have all of your pumps covered, most good quality pumps have guards on them and are worth the investment. Because this anemone will move about, you will want to provide foam filters over any power head intakes.
Compatibility and Social Behaviors The Condy Anemone is an aggressive anemone because it will move around the tank and sting all fish and corals in it's way. After splitting, anemones will tolerate their own "clones" and sometimes their own species. Like all animals, they will compete for space, so this needs to be taken into consideration. In the wild they are often a host to a variety of commensal shrimp. Allowing a C. Gigantea anemone to play host to a Clownfish is a big gamble, especially since Clown Fish are not found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, and Condy Anemones do eat fish. What is cool is that they have symbiotic relationships with the Arrow Crab Stenorhynchus seticornis, Atlantic Cleaner Shrimp Periclimenes anthophilus, and juvenile Cardinalfish Apogon spp. Some have even noticed Arrow Crabs and Emerald Crabs buddying up with the C. Gigantea. Try natural symbionts and watch that interesting relationship for yourself! No sexual difference in appearance is known. Anemones in general can multiply by sexual and asexual means. One way is using fission, which is when they actually split in half from the foot or mouth to form a clone, although the clone is its own animal, similar to twins. They will also reproduce using male and female sex glands or find another anemone of the opposite sex. This results in the production of ciliated planula larvae. This planula will eventually fall to the sea floor, develop a pedal disk, then begin to grow into a new anemone. The C. Gigantea anemone is known to reproduce in captivity, but there is not much information on breeding these anemones. Propagating is fairly easy, yet risky. Based on success with the Bubble Tip Anemone, the procedure may be similar and is as follows:
If your tank is very large, over 100 gallons, then a 30-40% water change before the cut will help in recovery. Place them back on their favorite rock if they detached, since this will encourage reattachment. It would be prudent to wash your hands if you didn't use gloves. Within a few days your anemone should have started to wrap around and heal itself. Do not feed or bother it during this time and keep Clown fish away, if you have any in your tank. Problems for the Condy Anemone or Giant Golden Anemone are pretty minimal unless your lighting, water movement, feeding and water quality are low. Then your anemone will detach to look for "better conditions." This usually results in an unpleasant experience with a water pump. Buy Sea Anemone: The Condy Anemone, Condylactis Anemone, or Giant Golden Anemone C. Gigantea is easy to find in stores and online and is fairly inexpensive. The cost online starts at about $8 USD, and goes up depending on size and color.
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