Seabae Anemone - Good or Bad?

Does anyone have anything good to say about Seabae Anemones? I have been reading alot and most of it is not encouraging. My LFS has a beautiful small violet tipped one, only $30, but am I throwing money away?
Has anyone had any success with these?

 

They are best left for the biggest and most established tanks. They are very hard to keep alive for some reason.

 

I have no personal experience with them but I know a friend who has had one in his 45 gallon for over 6 months now without any problems.

Hopefully someone with experience can help you out!

 

I have had one since 1990 and its still doing great but that is probably not the norm.

 

They are very hard to get acclimated to your tank. The problem is suppliers purposely bleach out the photosynthetic cells within them to make them look better and sell more. This means when you first get one it cannot make food via light for itself. If you do get one try to look for one as tan as possible and if you can't find one be sure you are ready to give it some feedings a couple times a week. I've had mine for about a year now, but I got lucky. They are very hit and miss, because some are just weaker than others from bleaching when you get them. It's hard to tell which ones are doomed from the start and which ones aren't.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone!! I think I might hold out for a bubble tip. I have read they are much hardier and easier to keep.:

 

definately easier to keep than seabaes. i have only had 1 sebae and that was a mistake,never again!!! your making the right choice fellow reefer!!1;D

 

I have had both a BTA and a sebae. The BTA did not do very well and the sebae I have had for over a year now and is doing very well. It is the home to both of my false percs.

 

I have both, the Seabae being about 20 years old and the RBTA's and all its many offspring starting about 6 years ago. Both can be tempermental at times but the BTA's are easier to keep in my experience. Neither is good for beginners and both require a mature system with a place they can call home and be happy without wandering around stinging corals and ending up in powerheads and such. I have been very fortunate in that even with high flows in excess of 35x tank volume they have found one particular rock to attach to and have been in the same spot for years and years, that does not happen often.