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Anemone question. (1 Viewer)

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incysor

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Can an anemones sting get stronger?

I ask because I handled my RBTA several times when I bought it, and then during and right after the move. I never got stung, even though I brushed up against it many times. Lately the female clown that used to host in it hasn't touched it at all, in favor of the green BTA, or the green carpet. I hadn't really noticed that she wasn't hosting it anymore until I brushed up against it twice in the last three weeks while trying to retrieve frags that had fallen into the sandbed. The first time was nearly three weeks ago. I instantly felt like I had a minor sunburn, and when I got done I noticed a slight rash. I rubbed bendadryl gel on it and it was gone in a couple hours. Three nights ago I managed to rub up against it again and it was a much more intense and fast sting, the area, (anterior forearm) immediately broke out in a rash, and was much more irritated than the first time which was on the more tender inner forearm area. I used the benadryl gel again, but three days later I still have a rash in the area. I immediately wondered if I was simply developing more of a reaction to the stings, but then realized that the clown wasn't hosting it anymore either, so maybe it wasn't just me. :wink:

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I can tell you that the sting of an anemone on the forearm will sting or tingle depending on how sensitive you are. I used to be able to pick up my carpet with my hands or fondle (I was trying to get them on my good side :) ) various other anemones with no problems, but the moment the touched a more sensitive area of skin or open wound, it made my skin itch for a bit. But I am also not allergic to anything, so what happened to me might be 10-100 times worse for someone who is allergic to stings and such.

As for your clown not hosting anymore, it could have been the nematocyts, but I believe it is more likely her preference. I am not sure what species clown you have, but I wouldn't surprised that her type prefers the others over RBTAs.

I am not sure if nematocyts can get stronger, but I am sure that wild versus captive specimens might have different stings. Normally, a clown will develop an immunity to the anemone because of their slime coats (if I remember corectly), so that shouldn't really matter. I am sure there is someone out there who can correct me on this though.
 
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incysor

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Isis said:
I can tell you that the sting of an anemone on the forearm will sting or tingle depending on how sensitive you are. I used to be able to pick up my carpet with my hands or fondle (I was trying to get them on my good side :) ) various other anemones with no problems, but the moment the touched a more sensitive area of skin or open wound, it made my skin itch for a bit. But I am also not allergic to anything, so what happened to me might be 10-100 times worse for someone who is allergic to stings and such.

As for your clown not hosting anymore, it could have been the nematocyts, but I believe it is more likely her preference. I am not sure what species clown you have, but I wouldn't surprised that her type prefers the others over RBTAs.

I am not sure if nematocyts can get stronger, but I am sure that wild versus captive specimens might have different stings. Normally, a clown will develop an immunity to the anemone because of their slime coats (if I remember corectly), so that shouldn't really matter. I am sure there is someone out there who can correct me on this though.
Click to expand...

It may just be natural preference, although the clown, (true perc), until recently seemed to prefer the rose to the green BTA. Maybe my perc is just a size queen. When the green BTA was smaller than the RBTA she ignored it. In the past month or so it's gotten quite a bit bigger while the RBTA has remained about the same size. The carpet is of course larger than either BTA. As for myself being stung, I was comparing brushing my forearm in the past, to the two recent stings. I know that comparing touching them with the hands vs. forearms really isn't helpful since the skin on your hands is thicker.

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