HELP!? time sensitive....

Zimmer · 05/14/2013, 02:28 PM

So I just got an online order of some livestock. The bta arrived in this condition, mouth gaping wide and looks like its spewing guts everywhere. I'm not even sure what to do with it. Look DEAD.

Is it truly dead? Or should I continue to acclimate and place it and see what happens? How long should I give it in my tank before its pronounced DOA?

HUNTER1 · 05/14/2013, 02:34 PM

You can't really know the condition until you put it in your tank and it may open up right away or it may take a day or so. Corals shrivel when taken out of the water.

Lorenz725 · 05/14/2013, 02:44 PM

That BTA does not look good to me. I dont think I would risk putting it in my tank I would call wherever you got that BTA from and ask them what they think you should do. Good luck.

Sk8r · 05/14/2013, 02:51 PM

Does it smell? open the bag just very, very briefly to take a whiff, then seal it back ASAP. If it smells vile, it's dying.

Zimmer · 05/14/2013, 03:07 PM

no smell, im doing a drip acclimation per the instructions they sent. no change so far. it looks real rough still

ska d · 05/14/2013, 03:32 PM

Acclimate it to your lights as well. Don't want to shock more than it already is. If there's no smell I'd get it in there (after acclimating) and let it relax. Don't try feeding for a least 24 hrs

Zimmer · 05/14/2013, 03:51 PM

I was gonna leave the powerheads and lights off and just leave it alone until tomorrow... I should know for sure by tomorrow morning i suppose. It could just be wishful thinking but it seems to be tightening up the mouth a little bit while im acclimating so i'm hoping thats a good sign! Wish me luck lol

Zimmer · 05/14/2013, 04:15 PM

Well I put in a little rock with it while I was acclimating, and it has latched onto the rock with it's foot. Good sign? Just put it in the tank... fingers crossed!!!!!!!!

justthewife · 05/14/2013, 05:45 PM

Wow, I hope he makes it. He looks pretty bad in those pictures. Sometimes they recover but they usually go down hill fast. I don't know if I would have put it in my tank.

twistedfinn967 · 05/14/2013, 05:53 PM

Wow, that looks awful. If it revives you'll have to post another pic! Good luck...

Zimmer · 05/14/2013, 06:26 PM

I was going to toss him as I was also nervous to put it in the tank, but he had a hold of the rock when I tried to grab him so I figured I might as well give him a chance! So far so good I think, it kinda looks like he's sucking his guts back in and I can see more tentacles moving.... if he lives thru the night I'll post pictures for sure lol

petenick · 05/14/2013, 06:43 PM

In my experience, it isn't dead if it doesn't smell like death. I hope it pulls through for you!

Sk8r · 05/14/2013, 07:30 PM

Very good sign if it's taken hold. Keep the water gently aerated and clean and run carbon, maybe, do some gentle water changing to keep it supplied with clean water, and above all encourage it to keep that foot in place.

Zimmer · 05/14/2013, 10:38 PM

OK so thanks for all the advice!! It's still alive!!!

LOL! It expanded and contracted a bunch of times, and most of the guts are back inside now. The mouth is still gaping wide open, but it's still attached to the rock and i can see tentacles moving around here and there! Now to see if it makes it through the night... It's my frankenstein

lol

PaulTB · 05/14/2013, 11:52 PM

if I remember reading correctly about anem's in general they do sometimes deflate and look like they can be dying but are actually just using the bathroom XD

STsONpERs · 05/15/2013, 01:38 AM

IME You know when your anem is dead, the smell they let off can only be described as death.

justthewife · 05/15/2013, 02:04 AM

Glad to hear your nem is doing better. If he didn't die by now, he will recover. He was probably so stressed out by the shipping. Poor guy. Now hopefully he will destress in the tank.

Cymonous · 05/15/2013, 07:04 AM

Show us a pic of it in the tank when you get a chance. I'm really interested to see it has recovered.

Zimmer · 05/15/2013, 09:35 AM

It's aliiiiiive!!!!! Last night I was just sure I was going to wake up to a disaster but here he is! Still not out of the woods yet I'm thinkin but what a survivor!!!! He is my Frankenstein

So now what can I do to get him looking healthier?

Cymonous · 05/15/2013, 09:51 AM

Give em time. Make sure all of your water params are on track. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, Mg, Alk, Ca.

Did you turn your pump(s) back on yet?

Zimmer · 05/15/2013, 10:20 AM

I turned the farthest PH away on alternating, so he could start getting used to some indirect current at least. He's kinda right under the other one so I figured I'd leave that off for the time being. Water is perfecto, so far so good

He's moving around, I'm assuming trying to find a good spot... Gotta leave the house for a bit so we'll see where he ends up.... I've never worried so much about a sea creature before!!!!!! LOL

justthewife · 05/15/2013, 11:36 AM

He needs a crevice rock cave where he can wedge himself into to hide/protect his foot and extend in and out of when he needs and doesn't need light. If you make one near the rock he is on now he may move there. Don't try to move him anywhere yourself. He needs a weeks worth of destressing time.

Zimmer · 05/15/2013, 01:31 PM

He's settled in a little lower on the original rock that I placed him on. It's quite porous and lots of holes and crevices, I think he's actually already trying to get his foot burrowed in there somewhere. The tentacles are getting puffy and even though he's bleached out so bad I can see the faintest green tinge.... I'm so stoked that he's recovering so well!!

Trying really hard not to get my hopes up I know we're not out of the woods yet!!!

Silvergryphon · 05/16/2013, 01:45 AM

Good to hear!

asylumdown · 05/16/2013, 02:07 AM

That is one Bleeeeeeeached bubble tip. I've never seen one that white before. that's almost as bad as some of the Sebaes that come in to the stores here in Calgary.

Attaching is a very, very good sign, but an anemone that bleached is going to need some extra special love from you for a while. If I were you I'd feed it as much as it would take without giving it more than it could process - as in feed a healthy chunk of scallop or krill, wait for it to expel the waste (can't miss it, they shrivel to the point where they look dead and open their mouths for a while) then feed it again the same day when it puffs back up. Should be about 24-48 hours between eating and pooping. If it's pooping two or three hours after feeding you're giving it too much and it's expelling it because it can't process it.

It should slowly regain it's colour over a month or two. Kind of exciting as you'll get to see it blossom

05/14/2013, 02:28 PM	#1
Zimmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 263	HELP!? time sensitive.... So I just got an online order of some livestock. The bta arrived in this condition, mouth gaping wide and looks like its spewing guts everywhere. I'm not even sure what to do with it. Look DEAD. Is it truly dead? Or should I continue to acclimate and place it and see what happens? How long should I give it in my tank before its pronounced DOA? __________________ Newb for life. Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ two 16" Reefbreeders LED fixtures - wp25 & 1500gph ATB return pump - ATB 840 v2.0 skimmer

05/14/2013, 02:44 PM	#3
Lorenz725 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 942	That BTA does not look good to me. I dont think I would risk putting it in my tank I would call wherever you got that BTA from and ask them what they think you should do. Good luck. __________________ Current tank info: 150 gallon RR 6 foot mixed reef, 3 250 W radium, 100 gallon Rubbermaid basement sump. Octopus 300 pro skimmer, 29 gallon fuge with dragons breath, cheato, and mangroves. 5.5 gallon AIO mixed reef, 2 18 w T5HO, built in fuge with cheato and dragons breath.

05/14/2013, 02:51 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Does it smell? open the bag just very, very briefly to take a whiff, then seal it back ASAP. If it smells vile, it's dying. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/14/2013, 03:07 PM	#5
Zimmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 263	no smell, im doing a drip acclimation per the instructions they sent. no change so far. it looks real rough still __________________ Newb for life. Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ two 16" Reefbreeders LED fixtures - wp25 & 1500gph ATB return pump - ATB 840 v2.0 skimmer

05/14/2013, 03:51 PM	#7
Zimmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 263	I was gonna leave the powerheads and lights off and just leave it alone until tomorrow... I should know for sure by tomorrow morning i suppose. It could just be wishful thinking but it seems to be tightening up the mouth a little bit while im acclimating so i'm hoping thats a good sign! Wish me luck lol __________________ Newb for life. Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ two 16" Reefbreeders LED fixtures - wp25 & 1500gph ATB return pump - ATB 840 v2.0 skimmer

05/14/2013, 02:34 PM	#2
HUNTER1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 1,044	You can't really know the condition until you put it in your tank and it may open up right away or it may take a day or so. Corals shrivel when taken out of the water.

05/14/2013, 03:32 PM	#6
ska d Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: toronto Posts: 508	Acclimate it to your lights as well. Don't want to shock more than it already is. If there's no smell I'd get it in there (after acclimating) and let it relax. Don't try feeding for a least 24 hrs

05/14/2013, 04:15 PM	#8
Zimmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 263	Well I put in a little rock with it while I was acclimating, and it has latched onto the rock with it's foot. Good sign? Just put it in the tank... fingers crossed!!!!!!!! __________________ Newb for life. Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ two 16" Reefbreeders LED fixtures - wp25 & 1500gph ATB return pump - ATB 840 v2.0 skimmer

05/14/2013, 05:45 PM	#9
justthewife Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Endicott, NY Posts: 909	Wow, I hope he makes it. He looks pretty bad in those pictures. Sometimes they recover but they usually go down hill fast. I don't know if I would have put it in my tank.

05/14/2013, 05:53 PM	#10
twistedfinn967 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: N.E. Ohio Posts: 279	Wow, that looks awful. If it revives you'll have to post another pic! Good luck...

05/14/2013, 06:26 PM	#11
Zimmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 263	I was going to toss him as I was also nervous to put it in the tank, but he had a hold of the rock when I tried to grab him so I figured I might as well give him a chance! So far so good I think, it kinda looks like he's sucking his guts back in and I can see more tentacles moving.... if he lives thru the night I'll post pictures for sure lol __________________ Newb for life. Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ two 16" Reefbreeders LED fixtures - wp25 & 1500gph ATB return pump - ATB 840 v2.0 skimmer

05/14/2013, 06:43 PM	#12
petenick Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 50	In my experience, it isn't dead if it doesn't smell like death. I hope it pulls through for you!

05/14/2013, 07:30 PM	#13
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Very good sign if it's taken hold. Keep the water gently aerated and clean and run carbon, maybe, do some gentle water changing to keep it supplied with clean water, and above all encourage it to keep that foot in place. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/14/2013, 10:38 PM	#14
Zimmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 263	OK so thanks for all the advice!! It's still alive!!! LOL! It expanded and contracted a bunch of times, and most of the guts are back inside now. The mouth is still gaping wide open, but it's still attached to the rock and i can see tentacles moving around here and there! Now to see if it makes it through the night... It's my frankenstein lol __________________ Newb for life. Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ two 16" Reefbreeders LED fixtures - wp25 & 1500gph ATB return pump - ATB 840 v2.0 skimmer

05/14/2013, 11:52 PM	#15
PaulTB Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 81	if I remember reading correctly about anem's in general they do sometimes deflate and look like they can be dying but are actually just using the bathroom XD

05/15/2013, 01:38 AM	#16
STsONpERs Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MN Posts: 395	IME You know when your anem is dead, the smell they let off can only be described as death.

05/15/2013, 02:04 AM	#17
justthewife Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Endicott, NY Posts: 909	Glad to hear your nem is doing better. If he didn't die by now, he will recover. He was probably so stressed out by the shipping. Poor guy. Now hopefully he will destress in the tank.

05/15/2013, 07:04 AM	#18
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	Show us a pic of it in the tank when you get a chance. I'm really interested to see it has recovered. __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

05/15/2013, 09:35 AM	#19
Zimmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 263	It's aliiiiiive!!!!! Last night I was just sure I was going to wake up to a disaster but here he is! Still not out of the woods yet I'm thinkin but what a survivor!!!! He is my Frankenstein So now what can I do to get him looking healthier? __________________ Newb for life. Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ two 16" Reefbreeders LED fixtures - wp25 & 1500gph ATB return pump - ATB 840 v2.0 skimmer

05/15/2013, 09:51 AM	#20
Cymonous My Clown Attacks Me Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,105	Give em time. Make sure all of your water params are on track. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, Mg, Alk, Ca. Did you turn your pump(s) back on yet? __________________ 100 Gallon Long with 20L sump 10 Gallon Office Tank Current Tank Info: 2 False Percula Clowns, One Spot Foxface, Diamond Watchman Goby, Yellow Tail Damsel, Engineer Goby

05/15/2013, 10:20 AM	#21
Zimmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 263	I turned the farthest PH away on alternating, so he could start getting used to some indirect current at least. He's kinda right under the other one so I figured I'd leave that off for the time being. Water is perfecto, so far so good He's moving around, I'm assuming trying to find a good spot... Gotta leave the house for a bit so we'll see where he ends up.... I've never worried so much about a sea creature before!!!!!! LOL __________________ Newb for life. Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ two 16" Reefbreeders LED fixtures - wp25 & 1500gph ATB return pump - ATB 840 v2.0 skimmer

05/15/2013, 11:36 AM	#22
justthewife Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Endicott, NY Posts: 909	He needs a crevice rock cave where he can wedge himself into to hide/protect his foot and extend in and out of when he needs and doesn't need light. If you make one near the rock he is on now he may move there. Don't try to move him anywhere yourself. He needs a weeks worth of destressing time.

05/15/2013, 01:31 PM	#23
Zimmer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Chehalis, WA Posts: 263	He's settled in a little lower on the original rock that I placed him on. It's quite porous and lots of holes and crevices, I think he's actually already trying to get his foot burrowed in there somewhere. The tentacles are getting puffy and even though he's bleached out so bad I can see the faintest green tinge.... I'm so stoked that he's recovering so well!! Trying really hard not to get my hopes up I know we're not out of the woods yet!!! __________________ Newb for life. Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef w/ two 16" Reefbreeders LED fixtures - wp25 & 1500gph ATB return pump - ATB 840 v2.0 skimmer

05/16/2013, 01:45 AM	#24
Silvergryphon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 540	Good to hear!

05/16/2013, 02:07 AM	#25
asylumdown Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 437 Blog Entries: 5	That is one Bleeeeeeeached bubble tip. I've never seen one that white before. that's almost as bad as some of the Sebaes that come in to the stores here in Calgary. Attaching is a very, very good sign, but an anemone that bleached is going to need some extra special love from you for a while. If I were you I'd feed it as much as it would take without giving it more than it could process - as in feed a healthy chunk of scallop or krill, wait for it to expel the waste (can't miss it, they shrivel to the point where they look dead and open their mouths for a while) then feed it again the same day when it puffs back up. Should be about 24-48 hours between eating and pooping. If it's pooping two or three hours after feeding you're giving it too much and it's expelling it because it can't process it. It should slowly regain it's colour over a month or two. Kind of exciting as you'll get to see it blossom