Anemone Question

[fishingfishout]

So, I just added a long tenticle Blue Anemone to my tank on Wednesday. He keeps shrinking himself into a white blob on a daily basis and then seems to come right back a few hours later. Is this normal behavior? Is there something wrong with it? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tank Specs: 65 Gallon, PH 8.1, Amonia 0, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, Temp 77

[nikon187]

certainly not normal.. Usually when an anemone is constantly moving around something is usually off water wise. It is still new to the tank so it could still be adjusting, how did acclimate the anemone?

[fishingfishout]

I used the method where you add a half cup of water every 10 minutes, then dump out half the water and repeat. It took me about an hour. My drip method acclimation set up has not arrived yet. Do you think that could be it?

[fishingfishout]

Also, I should also clarify that it is not moving around the tank. It is actually staying in the exact same spot as I had placed it orgininally. It just keeps transforming itself from a regular anemone into the white blob and back again. Also, the SG is 1.023. Thanks for any advice you can give! I'm still quite a noob...

[nikon187]

what you are describing is inflating and deflating which is also not good. i would bump your salenity to 1.026 , what kind of lighting ? usually i acclimate anemones for 1.5-2 hours

[Felixc395]

I think some pics would help us out here. Would be interested to see on an hourly basis how the anemone changes. I hope everything turns out with your anemone and good luck!

[Aquafred]

if it does that after some time under lights on maybe it had enough of light? could be that it 's still adjust ing to lights. One other possibility is that they do that to expell the water in them and change it when they inflate again...
other than deflating how is it doing: is it sticky to touch? well attached? did you try feeding it?

[fishingfishout]

Pics is a great idea. After I posted yesterday he went back to normal and is still normal at this point. If he starts to shrink again today I will post a pic.

I have not tried to feed him directly yet. I think I will go to get some frozen fish this afternoon.

He seems very well attached to the sand. When he is "out" he looks very vibrant and healthy.

Hopefully he won't do it again but if he does I will attach some pics. Thanks for all your help!

[fishingfishout]

For lighting I am using six 39 watt T-5's.

[Sohal Tang Tim]

So roughly 240 watts you are using on what size tank???>


Tim

[Sohal Tang Tim]

is there current spraying directly on the animal??? They like current but
they do not like current aimed right at them....they like indirect current etc....
immitating waves for example.....

when you elevate the salinity do it slowly...they do not like salt level changes....what was the salt level that he came out of and now into?

do you have pristine water? Phosphates? Nitrates? they like clean water.

240 watts does not sound like alot of light depending on size of tank
which is what ?

Thanks
Tim

[fishingfishout]

Definately no direct current. Water is testing all 0's again today. Ph 8.1, SG 1.022, temp between 76-77. I am using a chiller. I also have a UV clarifier, carbon, and a protein skimmer. The tank is a approximately 65 gallons. It is a RedSea Max 250.
He is looking normal right now. I tried to feed him a silverside but he didn't take it. He did respond to touch, which I think is a good sign. From everything I've read the parameters are ideal. Is it possible that he just needs some time? I'm going to raise the SG to about 1.24 over the next few days.

[Sohal Tang Tim]

I agree with previous suggestion on here to raise salinity level....
Do it slowly yes and go to 1.025 or 1.026
I think the salinity is at the wrong level for that animal especially...
I could be wrong..not expert.

They do nottttttttt like changes in salinity...so you probably bought
him out of 1.025 and put him in 1.022...quite a drop especially for
that animal....

I could be wrong.

Glad to hear he is looking better...

I dont think I would attempt a big meal right now...

If you have mysis perhaps spray a bit of it into him lightly....not with
the cold frozen water either....make sure now at tank temperature water.

Also...I find that frozen cyclopeeze is good for everythinggggg in the tank....
I swear my tangs swim with their mouths open sifting it......
I believe the anenome likes it too.....

Those smaller meals will sustain him and give him his strength back till you can get a silverside into him...for me..silversides I sort of shy away from

I prefer to feed them frozen shrimp and squid and stuff...
I dont know why I am leary about silversides but I know that other people are too....

Best of luck,

Tim

[MILPIL]

Inverts really prefer a SG of 1.025 to 1.026. The constant inflation/deflation is it's response to conditions not to it's liking. If your PH is at 8.1, what is your alkalinity? At the levels that you are showing, inverts should be in SG 1.025-1.026, Alk. 11-14, and PH of 8.2-8.3. Temperature wise your slightly low, as they like between 77-80 but the water chemistry is the big indicator. JN