Can this end well? See pic....

[trigger0214]

So...it appears that my carpet has a new hostee. I am assuming that the urchin was just passing by and/or is eating the waste from the anenome.

If not...I will be postng another pic shortly.

 

[trigger0214]

Holy cr*p. The answer is no!!!!

That baby was about to be anenome food!!!! 8O

I managed to push out the urchin with a stick....hopefully without too much damage to the anenome. But his stomach was partially extended on that puppy......can they really digest that shell?????????

 

[Omni2226]

I was doing some more reading on anemones about feeding and what not and the "experts" like Calfo and others say anemones are blind and will sting and try to eat anything that comes in contact with it.

Lots of horror storys of anemones dying due to being fed large items and causing tearing of the insides. So if it tried to eat the urchin...the spines may have caused some seriuos damage before the nem figured out "hey this aint pizza! whos feeding me broken chicken bones?"
Well meant to add "and spit it out"

Probally a good thing you saw it and rescued the urchin for both animals sake.

 

[Anonymous]

>...can they really digest that shell?????????

Not matter what, the urchin would be dead even if it is completely undigestible.

 

[FragMaster]

They can digest large shrimp and thier exoskeletons. Sooo ???? :?:

 

[trigger0214]

They can digest large shrimp and thier exoskeletons. Sooo ????

I dunno...I've never seen large shrimps dried out and sold as decor or food served in them on Iron Chef.

Are anenomes known to eat crabs?

 

[jdeets]

The Goat Anemone will eat anything in sight, even tin cans... :wink:

 

[FragMaster]

So you think a live shrimp like a pistol shrimp would never happen by one in the wild then huh? Or a bait shrimp, or even a cleaner shrimp.
LOL!
They do eat them and they do eat them in the wild. Carpet anemones are SUPER sticky. They will sting and try to eat anything that is effected by thier sting. Those that arent effected by thier sting are seen as food as well if they sre not strong enough to escape the viscous mucus that forms all over thier oral disc.

 

[trigger0214]

I did read a list of anemone diets that included UNATTACHED MUSCLES....so, apparently, anything is possible.

 

[FragMaster]

Yup they disolve the innards and spew out the shells I think.

 

[trigger0214]

OK...so I accorss the pic entitled, "anenome eating urchin....."