anenome keeps getting blown under rocks

ilovetrains · 05/09/2007, 04:35 PM

We picked up another anemone, small long tentacled, on Saturday. I spent most of the weekend finding him a place to live. There is a large blue carpet anemone in the tank already, so wanted them separate. Tried placing him on rock, but he would not plant foot. Then tried sand, and same thing. Dug hole in sand and basically buried him, no help. He keeps drifting along in current until he is blown into a cave, and then stays there.

Any suggestions?

jer77 · 05/09/2007, 04:54 PM

How much flow do you have in your tank? I'm assuming your carpet is S. Haddoni which need minimal flow, but a LTA needs more. Also your lighting could have something to do with it. What kind of lighting do you have? It usually lives in the sand or mud with its pedal disc buried deeply and attached to something underneath. It can also attach itself to rocks with no sand.

ilovetrains · 05/09/2007, 05:05 PM

The tank is 155 gallon bow front, so 6 ft long. There are two aqua clear 70 power heads, one in each corner blowing a clockwise pattern.

3x250 MH lights with PC supplements.

reefshadow · 05/09/2007, 07:36 PM

Get a piece of PVC sized to the anemone, bury it partially in the sand with enough PVC sticking out so the 'nem isn't blown away again, drop the 'nem into the PVC so it has time to bury its foot. Size the PVC so the nem has enough room within to expand some, but not so wide that it blows right out. Redirect flow a bit so it isn't just blowing around in the PVC but leave enough to where it is getting circulation. When it is buried and attached, gently pull the PVC out. It usually takes a couple days.

LTA's (M. Doreensis) only live in the sand. You need to choose a spot with plenty of light and random good flow. If healthy they will get VERY large, I had one that was about 2 1/2 feet across, so locate it well away form the carpet. It is also not a good idea to have more than one nem species, though it has been done successfully.

If your LTA has been stressed too much for too long it may not bury at all and will eventually die. If it looks at all unhealthy (lacerated body, gaping mouth, wilted all the time, infected areas, bleached) take it back to the LFS and wait to buy a healthy one.

GL!

ilovetrains · 05/09/2007, 07:40 PM

I am trying to decide if it has died. I reached in and pulled it out of the rocks whenI got home tonight. It did not react, does not contract or move at all when touched. The foot is drawn up into a ball but the mouth is still closed. The tentacles are somewhat drawn up, to the body, but around the base giving it a flat appearance. It still has good color and the body does not show any abrasions or lacerations. I am leaving town tomorow, and will not be back until Satuday.

Should I pull it out now?

reefshadow · 05/09/2007, 07:52 PM

It is probably still alive at this point, they collapse and decay very rapidly when dead.

Possible you can take it back to the LFS now?

It would be a shame to scrap it if it is still alive.

ilovetrains · 05/09/2007, 07:59 PM

Can't get it back to LFS until Saturday afternoon. Bad week for travel, and my wife is home with a newborn, so she is not running out.

I noticed his foot was open and moving around. Necesity being the mother of invention, I got a big SOLO disposable blue cub (think College keg party here), cut the bottom out, made sure the anenome could pass through unharmed and put it in the sand. The anenome is sitting inside.

Keep your fingers crossed.

reefshadow · 05/09/2007, 09:51 PM

I will

They are beautiful anemones when settled in.

Since your wife will be home while you travel, maybe just ask her to look in there once a day. If the cup gets full of a jelly-like mass of snotty tissue she will know it is dead. If it does die it needs to be removed all at once if possible, ease a container around the mass and lift the whole thing out, trying not to spill any water back into the tank.

IME though, it is actually kind of rare to have a large anemone crash and die in one shot. They usually fail to attach, then shrink smaller and smaller until they finally just disappear.

They CAN die all at once though, so just keep an eye on it.

GL!

ilovetrains · 05/11/2007, 11:35 AM

I called in this morning, and the anemone is still in the cup. Wife reported he looked about the same as when I left. Hopefully he gets the idea soon!

shaunj · 05/11/2007, 12:22 PM

One thing you can do to get it to attach, is to turn of your flow for a short bit, until he can attach... That is what i did, when i had the same problem, and he attached and have had no issues since...

ilovetrains · 05/13/2007, 06:25 PM

Well, got home yesterday, and he is still alive, and actually looked to be doing very well, had spread out nicely to sook up the MH light.

However, he still has not set his foot in anything.

I moved the cup to different location and dug the sand out a little bit, but am starting to hink he may just be going back to the LFS soon.

05/09/2007, 04:35 PM	#1
ilovetrains Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 127	anenome keeps getting blown under rocks We picked up another anemone, small long tentacled, on Saturday. I spent most of the weekend finding him a place to live. There is a large blue carpet anemone in the tank already, so wanted them separate. Tried placing him on rock, but he would not plant foot. Then tried sand, and same thing. Dug hole in sand and basically buried him, no help. He keeps drifting along in current until he is blown into a cave, and then stays there. Any suggestions? __________________ Your help to a newbie is much appreciated!! Current Tank Info: 155 gal bow front

05/09/2007, 04:54 PM	#2
jer77 Phish Lover Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,642	How much flow do you have in your tank? I'm assuming your carpet is S. Haddoni which need minimal flow, but a LTA needs more. Also your lighting could have something to do with it. What kind of lighting do you have? It usually lives in the sand or mud with its pedal disc buried deeply and attached to something underneath. It can also attach itself to rocks with no sand. __________________ - Jonny -, 120g 5 Year Old Reef w/ SPS, BTA, Zoos & some Softies. 40g Frag Tank. 40g Sump. Super Reef Octopus XP 3000 External Cone Skimmer. 250W Radiums. TaoTronics LED. PanWorld 200PS w/SQWD

05/09/2007, 05:05 PM	#3
ilovetrains Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 127	The tank is 155 gallon bow front, so 6 ft long. There are two aqua clear 70 power heads, one in each corner blowing a clockwise pattern. 3x250 MH lights with PC supplements. __________________ Your help to a newbie is much appreciated!! Current Tank Info: 155 gal bow front

05/09/2007, 07:36 PM	#4
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	Get a piece of PVC sized to the anemone, bury it partially in the sand with enough PVC sticking out so the 'nem isn't blown away again, drop the 'nem into the PVC so it has time to bury its foot. Size the PVC so the nem has enough room within to expand some, but not so wide that it blows right out. Redirect flow a bit so it isn't just blowing around in the PVC but leave enough to where it is getting circulation. When it is buried and attached, gently pull the PVC out. It usually takes a couple days. LTA's (M. Doreensis) only live in the sand. You need to choose a spot with plenty of light and random good flow. If healthy they will get VERY large, I had one that was about 2 1/2 feet across, so locate it well away form the carpet. It is also not a good idea to have more than one nem species, though it has been done successfully. If your LTA has been stressed too much for too long it may not bury at all and will eventually die. If it looks at all unhealthy (lacerated body, gaping mouth, wilted all the time, infected areas, bleached) take it back to the LFS and wait to buy a healthy one. GL! __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

05/09/2007, 07:40 PM	#5
ilovetrains Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 127	I am trying to decide if it has died. I reached in and pulled it out of the rocks whenI got home tonight. It did not react, does not contract or move at all when touched. The foot is drawn up into a ball but the mouth is still closed. The tentacles are somewhat drawn up, to the body, but around the base giving it a flat appearance. It still has good color and the body does not show any abrasions or lacerations. I am leaving town tomorow, and will not be back until Satuday. Should I pull it out now? __________________ Your help to a newbie is much appreciated!! Current Tank Info: 155 gal bow front

05/09/2007, 07:52 PM	#6
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	It is probably still alive at this point, they collapse and decay very rapidly when dead. Possible you can take it back to the LFS now? It would be a shame to scrap it if it is still alive. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

05/09/2007, 07:59 PM	#7
ilovetrains Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 127	Can't get it back to LFS until Saturday afternoon. Bad week for travel, and my wife is home with a newborn, so she is not running out. I noticed his foot was open and moving around. Necesity being the mother of invention, I got a big SOLO disposable blue cub (think College keg party here), cut the bottom out, made sure the anenome could pass through unharmed and put it in the sand. The anenome is sitting inside. Keep your fingers crossed. __________________ Your help to a newbie is much appreciated!! Current Tank Info: 155 gal bow front

05/09/2007, 09:51 PM	#8
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	I will They are beautiful anemones when settled in. Since your wife will be home while you travel, maybe just ask her to look in there once a day. If the cup gets full of a jelly-like mass of snotty tissue she will know it is dead. If it does die it needs to be removed all at once if possible, ease a container around the mass and lift the whole thing out, trying not to spill any water back into the tank. IME though, it is actually kind of rare to have a large anemone crash and die in one shot. They usually fail to attach, then shrink smaller and smaller until they finally just disappear. They CAN die all at once though, so just keep an eye on it. GL! __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

05/11/2007, 11:35 AM	#9
ilovetrains Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 127	I called in this morning, and the anemone is still in the cup. Wife reported he looked about the same as when I left. Hopefully he gets the idea soon! __________________ Your help to a newbie is much appreciated!! Current Tank Info: 155 gal bow front

05/11/2007, 12:22 PM	#10
shaunj Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 196	One thing you can do to get it to attach, is to turn of your flow for a short bit, until he can attach... That is what i did, when i had the same problem, and he attached and have had no issues since...

05/13/2007, 06:25 PM	#11
ilovetrains Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 127	Well, got home yesterday, and he is still alive, and actually looked to be doing very well, had spread out nicely to sook up the MH light. However, he still has not set his foot in anything. I moved the cup to different location and dug the sand out a little bit, but am starting to hink he may just be going back to the LFS soon. __________________ Your help to a newbie is much appreciated!! Current Tank Info: 155 gal bow front