Anemone dead or no?

[K.Bodno]

I ordered a bubble tip anenome a few days ago and got it on new years eve, its been going good for about a week, until, well today.... all the sudden it just like got all shriveled up and looks like it has no energy and theres this red gook on top of it, it looks like how i got it right when i took it out of the shipping bag

oh, this is my first anenome, and its got a 14 day guarantee so i just need a heads up whether or not i need to contact the website to get credit and get somethin else

[Shane Hoffman]

Nems can shrink up to like 1/8th there size. They usually do this when they are expelling waste and at times when they are not. I wouldnt be worried unless its like that for more than a day or so. A pic would help to be sure though.

[mstng67]

It should be fine and is just going through natural processes, don't mess with it!

[bertoni]

To Reef Central

A dead anemone will stink, and fall apart. Yours likely is sulking, but I'd keep an eye on it.

[K.Bodno]

Yea i think it was just expelling waste, because it got big again , but i think i need to upgrade my lights cuz i dont have any t-5's, im not sure what i have actually

but ill put up some pictures of the thing to see whats goin on, i took a few when it was doing it

[K.Bodno]

well here are some of when it was doing good, well decent i guess, my lights arent great, but im waiting for the upload of the ones of when its like, dieing

[badwrasse]

lights are important for keeping anem's I would find out what you have,or get some GOOD lighting if you dont have any yet can you discibe your lighting.

[Playa-1]

I think it's makin a poo It should reinflate in a couple hours. They will deflate on a regular basis and also if the water parameters change for some reason they will deflate and reinflate. Ooops, i didn't read all the way before posting.

You will definitely need to make sure the lighting is adequate. When Anemones get unhappy they tend to move around the tank and cause problems.

[K.Bodno]

Originally Posted by Playa-1

I think it's makin a poo It should reinflate in a couple hours. They will deflate on a regular basis and also if the water parameters change for some reason they will deflate and reinflate. Ooops, i didn't read all the way before posting.

You will definitely need to make sure the lighting is adequate. When Anemones get unhappy they tend to move around the tank and cause problems.

yea as soon as i put it in it moved, and i think its sittin in the sand now.... but yea, its reinflated, we'll see how it goes for the next day or two

[K.Bodno]

Originally Posted by badwrasse

lights are important for keeping anem's I would find out what you have,or get some GOOD lighting if you dont have any yet can you discibe your lighting.

well i dont really know..... everything is built into the tank, like connected, it came together, its only one bulb though, even though theres room for two, but theres only one spot with electrodes or w/e

[w16227]

Originally Posted by K.Bodno

well i dont really know..... everything is built into the tank, like connected, it came together, its only one bulb though, even though theres room for two, but theres only one spot with electrodes or w/e

post your exact equipment list for the best answers - and any other specifics you may have like tank life, water tests etc.

It seems like you have a newer tank. Long term health for a nem requires good lighting. The crew here needs to know exactly the type and wattage of lighting to see if it is adequate for the animal in your care.


anemones are not simple to keep - are you feeding? supplemental feeding can help if the lighting is sub-par until you can upgrade to proper lighting - and cal also be beneficial long term.

The other end of the game - if the nem is not well cared for - it can die and take out a whole tank- especially a small one.

[Arkayology]

Trust me, you would know if it was dead lol. I think your nem just took it's first dump.

Make sure you get those new lights for it also.

[K.Bodno]

Originally Posted by w16227

post your exact equipment list for the best answers - and any other specifics you may have like tank life, water tests etc.

It seems like you have a newer tank. Long term health for a nem requires good lighting. The crew here needs to know exactly the type and wattage of lighting to see if it is adequate for the animal in your care.


anemones are not simple to keep - are you feeding? supplemental feeding can help if the lighting is sub-par until you can upgrade to proper lighting - and cal also be beneficial long term.

The other end of the game - if the nem is not well cared for - it can die and take out a whole tank- especially a small one.

well i put some frozen brine shrimp in a turkey baster thing, and added some water form the tank and fed it that.... ill take some pictures of the lighting and stuff because i have no clue what it is, but i only have an about 15 gallon tank, and its only about a foot deep, and the guy at the store said i might be good on lighting since its so shallow

[Toddrtrex]

Originally Posted by K.Bodno

well i put some frozen brine shrimp in a turkey baster thing, and added some water form the tank and fed it that.... ill take some pictures of the lighting and stuff because i have no clue what it is, but i only have an about 15 gallon tank, and its only about a foot deep, and the guy at the store said i might be good on lighting since its so shallow

How would the guy at the LFS know that your lighting would be good enough just because your tank is shallow? There is no way to determine that without know that lights you have.

Also, IMO, a 15 gallon is going to be too small for any hosting anemone. Besides the issues of keeping the water quality in check in that small of a tank, any hosting anemone will outgrow that tank.

[w16227]

Originally Posted by K.Bodno

well i put some frozen brine shrimp in a turkey baster thing, and added some water form the tank and fed it that.... ill take some pictures of the lighting and stuff because i have no clue what it is, but i only have an about 15 gallon tank, and its only about a foot deep, and the guy at the store said i might be good on lighting since its so shallow

Hey K,


How long has the tank been set up?

What else is in the tank?

What kind of tank (was is a "biocube" kit? or some other package deal?)

The reason I am asking - anemones generally do not do well in a new tank. The tank needs to be established and stable for some time, like six months or more.


The store where the gent said your light was OK - was this a chain like PetCo - or a specialty store for saltwater.

The reason I am asking - while there may be some exceptions, big box stores are NOT good sources of advice. They are more about selling you as much as possible AS FAST AS POSSIBLE rather than proper setup and care. Many people here have witnessed the "Nemo Effect" - where we are in a store observing a salesperson sell a tank, salt and fish to a customer whose kids "had" to have clownfish after seeing the movie. This is a wonderful way to kill a fish out of the gate.

A trusted store that has specific knowledge of saltwater tanks is an invaluable resource. This site is awesome - but there are times when a live Q&A is what is needed.


Advice time--

It appears that you are very new to the hobby. Not a problem - that is what this forum is for. At the top of this forum is a link to first time answers

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1031074

Camp there for a while and read read read. Some of it will be over your head - but will give you a good base for asking questions. After going through some of the lighting articles - you may not understand the differences in all of the variations - but you will probably get an idea of why the lighting is important and what could be required for your specific need.

There are some good books out there too -

The Conscientious Marine Aquarist

http://www.amazon.com/Conscientious-...2716257&sr=8-1

One of the top references around.


The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide

http://www.amazon.com/New-Marine-Aqu...2716257&sr=8-2


Another good reference.



FIND SOME LOCAL SALTWATER ENTHUSIASTS

At the bottom of the forums page is an area for local reef clubs to have their own forums. Fin the one that is local to yours. You may be able to get someone to visit and give you hands on advice. Some pizza and beer work wonders.




Now - on to some harsher realities.

As another poster pointed out, a 15g aquarium is probably not going to work for this nem. Even if you only have the nem in the tank - it will probably outgrow it. Honestly - I would try and return it or find someone local and trade it (or have them house it for you temporarily). At a minimum - you need better lighting for this animal and we have not even started talking about filtration or source water. Unless you are planning a larger undertaking (like 40+ g) in the near future as an upgrade - then this animal is not suited for a long term stay in your tank.

A couple more quick notes----

One of the "slogans" of saltwater is that nothing good happens quickly. This is especially true in a smaller tank as you have little "dilution". Be careful and watch things closely. This also applies to "fixes" to any issues. Be patient and careful.

Finally - one of the best pieces of advice that I received early - as you continue to post here, you will receive many answers to your questions. Many times, these answers will be different - especially when troubleshooting a problem. Do not go with a knee jerk solution - or try and apply everyone's answer all at once. Make sure you understand "why" you are making a change - and give any changes time to stabilize before you try more corrections. This is an extremely rewarding hobby - but can also be frustrating at times.

[K.Bodno]

Originally Posted by w16227

Hey K,


How long has the tank been set up?

What else is in the tank?

What kind of tank (was is a "biocube" kit? or some other package deal?)

The reason I am asking - anemones generally do not do well in a new tank. The tank needs to be established and stable for some time, like six months or more.


The store where the gent said your light was OK - was this a chain like PetCo - or a specialty store for saltwater.

The reason I am asking - while there may be some exceptions, big box stores are NOT good sources of advice. They are more about selling you as much as possible AS FAST AS POSSIBLE rather than proper setup and care. Many people here have witnessed the "Nemo Effect" - where we are in a store observing a salesperson sell a tank, salt and fish to a customer whose kids "had" to have clownfish after seeing the movie. This is a wonderful way to kill a fish out of the gate.

A trusted store that has specific knowledge of saltwater tanks is an invaluable resource. This site is awesome - but there are times when a live Q&A is what is needed.


Advice time--

It appears that you are very new to the hobby. Not a problem - that is what this forum is for. At the top of this forum is a link to first time answers

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1031074

Camp there for a while and read read read. Some of it will be over your head - but will give you a good base for asking questions. After going through some of the lighting articles - you may not understand the differences in all of the variations - but you will probably get an idea of why the lighting is important and what could be required for your specific need.

There are some good books out there too -

The Conscientious Marine Aquarist

http://www.amazon.com/Conscientious-...2716257&sr=8-1

One of the top references around.


The New Marine Aquarium: Step-By-Step Setup & Stocking Guide

http://www.amazon.com/New-Marine-Aqu...2716257&sr=8-2


Another good reference.



FIND SOME LOCAL SALTWATER ENTHUSIASTS

At the bottom of the forums page is an area for local reef clubs to have their own forums. Fin the one that is local to yours. You may be able to get someone to visit and give you hands on advice. Some pizza and beer work wonders.




Now - on to some harsher realities.

As another poster pointed out, a 15g aquarium is probably not going to work for this nem. Even if you only have the nem in the tank - it will probably outgrow it. Honestly - I would try and return it or find someone local and trade it (or have them house it for you temporarily). At a minimum - you need better lighting for this animal and we have not even started talking about filtration or source water. Unless you are planning a larger undertaking (like 40+ g) in the near future as an upgrade - then this animal is not suited for a long term stay in your tank.

A couple more quick notes----

One of the "slogans" of saltwater is that nothing good happens quickly. This is especially true in a smaller tank as you have little "dilution". Be careful and watch things closely. This also applies to "fixes" to any issues. Be patient and careful.

Finally - one of the best pieces of advice that I received early - as you continue to post here, you will receive many answers to your questions. Many times, these answers will be different - especially when troubleshooting a problem. Do not go with a knee jerk solution - or try and apply everyone's answer all at once. Make sure you understand "why" you are making a change - and give any changes time to stabilize before you try more corrections. This is an extremely rewarding hobby - but can also be frustrating at times.

Hah yea i understand....

In the tank ive got 3 damsels and a cleaning shrimp, about 15 lbs of live rock, live sand, etc, and i was going to get some clownfish from a friend who breeds them, hah so yea, i know someone, and he could help me out, but i havent talked much with him yet, ill look into it

ive had it set up for about a month, i guess thats not a good thing

its not a biocube, but its a tank by PEARL, i dont know if that matters, but the everything is built into the top and you just fold it up if you want, or theres a little opening for putting food in and etc

well it was a specialty store for saltwater, and thats where i bought my tank rock and sand, but i went to a different store and they said they would have to know wht lighting i had, and i dont really know what lighting i had and i dont know how to tell, i could take it out i guess, but once ive done that, how can i tell?

yeaa, thanks for the advice and everything, its really helping ahha, even though most of its bad for me, cuz im doing alot wrong, but umm, yea i wanted to go at a 15g tank for a few months and maybe upgrade in the future, but well see when we get there

and for the first time my shrimp shed its shell today, and i can only see the head, and its attached to a rock, kinda scared me a bit, cuz i thought it was decapitated

ps: this is the anemone i ordered

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http...090ad1c7265bf1

andd finally, i was thinking about getting a deresa clam when i got new lights, to help filter the water, would that be alright, or is that a longshot for right now?

like the one here: http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...ot_parent_id=4

i have a TL-D 15W/54 phillips luminescent light, i believe its a t-8, and i know its not good enough

[badwrasse]

sounds like you are moving a little to fast, you should really do more research before buying rather than just taking the LFS's word for anything. Adding a clam to a 15gallon take with only 15watts of light that close an anemone is unwise and a wast of money, if it(or the anemone for that matter) doesn not perish from lack of light it could very likely get stung to death buy the anemone being that its only inches away. I would suggest you do you research online or on forums before buying , because it sounds to me like even your specialty saltwater store is just trying to make a sale.

[K.Bodno]

Originally Posted by badwrasse

sounds like you are moving a little to fast, you should really do more research before buying rather than just taking the LFS's word for anything. Adding a clam to a 15gallon take with only 15watts of light that close an anemone is unwise and a wast of money, if it(or the anemone for that matter) doesn not perish from lack of light it could very likely get stung to death buy the anemone being that its only inches away. I would suggest you do you research online or on forums before buying , because it sounds to me like even your specialty saltwater store is just trying to make a sale.

well i plan on upgrading my lights, i just need to know what size and what not, and if they can go in my current fixture...

and i moved my rock today, dumb move, but yes i did, because i was planning on getting some clownfish, but ill prolly get them tomorow, but my nem went along for the move seeing it wasnt attached to any rock, and it was in shrinkage mode, so i placed it on a high rock close to the light, and it moved to the sand again.... i dont know why, but its at the very bottom of the tank, and i dont see a strong waterflow so why does it like that spot?

[badwrasse]

man you are asking for trouble if you add two more fish in a 15gal tank, your tank is maxed out already IMO, as far as light goes a basic rule of thumb is 4-5 watts per gallon but nomal florurescent lights with not do the trick, at least get some good power compacts or t-5's. can you post a pic of your set up at all?

[K.Bodno]

Originally Posted by badwrasse

man you are asking for trouble if you add two more fish in a 15gal tank, your tank is maxed out already IMO, as far as light goes a basic rule of thumb is 4-5 watts per gallon but nomal florurescent lights with not do the trick, at least get some good power compacts or t-5's. can you post a pic of your set up at all?

yea ill get a pic.... hahah no worries mate, im going to take the damsels out, i simply put them in to see if they would survive, they were only 4$, 4 stripe damsels, haha so no worries, i know

but would i be able to find a t-5 bulb rather than a whole new fixture that would fit my current one? theres two spots for bulbs, but only one is used seeing there are only electrodes for one, so i could get a new adapter though probably

oh and any clue why the nem likes the bottom so much? theres a mild water flow, nothing big, and definately not alot of light comapred to near the top, so i dont get it lol

and sorry, so a clam wouldnt be a good idea? even if the nem moves and i upgrade to very good lights? it would reaaallly help with the water quality , cuz im all for putting everything in that makes the tank basically take care of itself

oh and i just tested the water.... the PH dropped to 7.8 ish, what is a possible cause of that? and i need to get it up soon because i dont want stuff to die

[w16227]

Originally Posted by K.Bodno

yea ill get a pic.... hahah no worries mate, im going to take the damsels out, i simply put them in to see if they would survive, they were only 4$, 4 stripe damsels, haha so no worries, i know

but would i be able to find a t-5 bulb rather than a whole new fixture that would fit my current one? theres two spots for bulbs, but only one is used seeing there are only electrodes for one, so i could get a new adapter though probably

oh and any clue why the nem likes the bottom so much? theres a mild water flow, nothing big, and definately not alot of light comapred to near the top, so i dont get it lol

and sorry, so a clam wouldnt be a good idea? even if the nem moves and i upgrade to very good lights? it would reaaallly help with the water quality , cuz im all for putting everything in that makes the tank basically take care of itself

oh and i just tested the water.... the PH dropped to 7.8 ish, what is a possible cause of that? and i need to get it up soon because i dont want stuff to die

A clam is a bad idea. Even though this is one of the hardier ones - they are not good in a new tank and need strong lighting to survive. Plus- this and a nem in close proximity is a bad thing.

[K.Bodno]

Originally Posted by w16227

A clam is a bad idea. Even though this is one of the hardier ones - they are not good in a new tank and need strong lighting to survive. Plus- this and a nem in close proximity is a bad thing.

how strong is "strong" so before i get a new one i can plan ahead.... im probably going ot go get a new light today though

haha i want my tank to look like one of these

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1425722

[bertoni]

Most people recommend good T5 or MH setups for a clam. There's definitely a lot of quality difference in the reflectors. Ballasts and bulbs also have varying efficiency.

[K.Bodno]

I talked to my fiend, and he wasnt able to find a light that goes with my tank.... i was thinking about getting some t5 kits then getting bulbs to go with it, but he said it will be a problem because it might not fit without getting wet.

I found my tank, Its and Aquael Pearl 60l Black rectangle. I sent some pictures to my friend, so ill post a few when i get home today

[spw4949]

In my experience I have only been able to keep an anemone alive long term(1+ years) keeping it under metal halides.....they have enen died under 6x39watt T5's....my current anemone a rose bubble tip has been under 2x250w metal halides and thriving, I feed it bi-weekly, & to be honest I hqave not once seen it shrivel up to expel waste, it decreases in size at night when just my moonlights are on but never "shrivel's" & I have seen them shrivel whenever I have kept them under other lighting, not saying these are the "rules" just my experiences with anemones.........