Anemone Dying Less then 24 hours

cbrack83 · Jan 1, 2017

I had the anemone in my tank for only 24 hours and he looks like the picture below. He started showing sign around 12 hours after adding to tank. All my numbers are good I even had my LFS check my numbers before I bought him..

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5-10
Ph 8.2
Silinity 1.025
Kh 7.6
CA 500
Temp 78

AcroNem · Jan 1, 2017

This looks like a wild anemone, do you know how long they had it before selling it? You can try to dip it to disinfect it, a lot of nems come in with a lot of parasites in them, I always quarantine and treat prophylactically.

cbrack83 · Jan 1, 2017

I'm not sure on the wild or not... They had him 3 weeks and they dipped him before selling him...

AcroNem · Jan 1, 2017

Considering it's Macrodactyla/long tentacle anemone, I'd bet it's wild. Not being attached is one thing that's normal for a new nem, but the mouth is a really bad sign. If you can't dip it soon it'll be a goner, and honestly it might be already, but I've seen them pull through worse. The why could be several things.

domination2580 · Jan 1, 2017

What do you guys dip them in?

cbrack83 · Jan 1, 2017

So I have been trading some emails with my LFS they suggested burning him in the sand to give him the ability to attach... Would you think this is to buried?

cbrack83 · Jan 1, 2017

I am not sure what the dip with... I will find out in the morning.. is he two buried?

AcroNem · Jan 1, 2017

It looks buried enough, would it not attach to any of the rock? I've treated them with prazi and cipro, dipped with iodine dips, coral RX, and haven't really liked others.

cbrack83 · Jan 1, 2017

CORAL RX sounds fimiliar that might be what the use..

AcroNem · Jan 1, 2017

Maybe try an iodine dip, coral RX is good but I don't like it as much, doesn't seem as strong.

Russelm · Jan 1, 2017

If you have rubble rock I would corral it in a corner turn off the power heads and lights and just let it chill. I'm sure it's getting thrown around the tank and handled thinking you are helping it. I have done that and it's worked for me

elishapep · Jan 1, 2017

I agree with Acronem ... Did you acclimate him ? There is something that is upsetting it ... Or it was on the verge of gong bad and the tank transfer brought it out.. Did you see it eat at the store?

Frosty Latte · Jan 2, 2017

I wouldn't dip the nem. That would probably kill it at this point. To me it looks like it has a bacterial infection and possible two small rips on its foot from the first photo.

Grab some cipro and do the 10 days in a 10 gallon tank with daily 100% water changes and mild flow. Add something for the nem to stick to like 1 rock or pvc or coffee mug.

I believe orion was the guy who started cipro treatment for nems and this is what I did for mine when it went down like this after I had it for over a month even in my tank. You can see what I did in the need help fast! Thread I made if you need more specific quick references.

gig 'em · Jan 3, 2017

I agree with Fuel Doodle, dipping it in Coral RX will do nothing but kill it. There's no parasite that's killing the anemone that would be cured by a dip. Fuel Doodle is right in that it appears to be sick from an infection. If you can get your hands on ciprofloxacin, then put the anemone in a hospital tank with a heater and air stone and dissolve 250 mg in the tank. Perform water changes everyday with new water and dose medicine at night. I've saved several difficult to keep anemones with this strategy. If the anemone isn't looking better in the sand tomorrow, better remove it to a hospital tank and try and treat it. Good luck!

ahiggins · Jan 3, 2017

Sorry if its already known but how old is your tank. Ive never attempted one in less than a 6 month old tank before.

Postal · Jan 7, 2017

As mentioned above, it looks loke there are a couple of small tears in the foot. Unfortunately, a tear in the foot of a long tentacle is usually a death sentence. They just don't seem to overcome it like other species sometimes can.
And ignore all the suggestions to dip the anemone. "Wild" anemones (which are virtually all of them other than BTA's) don't come in with parasites killing them. If anything, they pick up bacterial infections along the way, whjch can often be treated with cipro or other antibiotics if you know what you are doing.