Anemone communication (chemical)

[entranced]

So i made an interesting observation today. I have 3 BTAs, they all come from the same specimen but are spread out around the tank.

I took one rock that had an anemone out and broke it off into a small piece with just the BTA. Obviously the BTA got really stressed and looked completely deflated immediatly after putting it back into the tank (normal). BUT as soon as i did that, the other two anemones that are on opposite sides of the tank CLOSED UP instantly and hid into the rock.

Is that documented behavior? i mean, it's not like the anemone melted and there is tons of nematocysts everywhere (because everything else looks fine, and they shouldnt attack the same species anyways). But more like it released a chemical that told the other two that there is some kind of danger present.

 

[blaxsun]

I assume the anemones are back to normal?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

You say that you broke the rock into smaller pieces. I assume this created some debris in the water when you put the nem+ rock back into the tank?

If the water got dirtied, that could be a reason the others closed up.

 

[LegalReefer]

I've noticed this with my RBTA's. I've ended up with 6 from a single one, and I've seen, if I poke or stress one of them out, the others will all react shortly thereafter. It's an absolutely fascinating response