Anemone help!!?

Clapping crabs · Nov 14, 2018

We purchased our first anemone last weekend. I don't think it is doing well. I know it takes time for them to acclimate to a new tank. But this one does not seem to be doing well at all.
First picture is the night we got it. It opened up some and spit out some red looking stuff.
Second picture is a few days later and it was starting to look better.
Thirdd picture is just a moment ago. I'm unsure if it is trying to receed back into the rock work or if it is dying.
All the other corals I have are doing great but that anemone.
The picture of my parameters is the most current one I have. I don't have a test kit so I must go to my lfs to get it tested. I plan on doing that tonight after I get off work.

What should I do to either help this guy with adjusting or move him to another spot?

PDR · Nov 14, 2018

Yeah that doesnt look good, some help @Amoo and #reefsquad

Oscaror · Nov 14, 2018

Clapping crabs said:
We purchased our first anemone last weekend. I don't think it is doing well. I know it takes time for them to acclimate to a new tank. But this one does not seem to be doing well at all.
First picture is the night we got it. It opened up some and spit out some red looking stuff.
Second picture is a few days later and it was starting to look better.
Thirdd picture is just a moment ago. I'm unsure if it is trying to receed back into the rock work or if it is dying.
All the other corals I have are doing great but that anemone.
The picture of my parameters is the most current one I have. I don't have a test kit so I must go to my lfs to get it tested. I plan on doing that tonight after I get off work.

What should I do to either help this guy with adjusting or move him to another spot?

Honestly I doubt it's you aquariums fault if that first picture is what it looked like when you got it. Sadly that nem looks like it was doomed from the start

scott4077 · Nov 14, 2018

have you tried to feed it yet? if its not taking food i would be a little more concerned. if its unhappy with its spot it will eventually move on its own, so id rather not try to move it at this point as you will just stress it out more. i know my first one shriveled up into a little ball for a good few days at first and then was happy. some however just don't adjust well, i have had to take one back because it never opened up and as soon as the LFS placed it back in their tank it was immediately happy again while i had 3 others in my tank that had grown huge. they are just so finicky

Clapping crabs · Nov 14, 2018

scott4077 said:
have you tried to feed it yet? if its not taking food i would be a little more concerned. if its unhappy with its spot it will eventually move on its own, so id rather not try to move it at this point as you will just stress it out more. i know my first one shriveled up into a little ball for a good few days at first and then was happy. some however just don't adjust well, i have had to take one back because it never opened up and as soon as the LFS placed it back in their tank it was immediately happy again while i had 3 others in my tank that had grown huge. they are just so finicky

No I haven't tried to feed it yet. But most of the time it's mouth is pretty much wide open and has been off and on since I got it. I had read I should wait at least a week before I feed it so that was the plan on that.

I'm concerned about it's placement as with each passing day it pulls itself farther and farther into the rock work.

Clapping crabs · Nov 14, 2018

Oscaror said:
Honestly I doubt it's you aquariums fault if that first picture is what it looked like when you got it. Sadly that nem looks like it was doomed from the start

When purchased it was the size of a small dinner plate. Foot was clean and not torn. I'm mostly concerned for the rest of my tank, if this turd decides to die and crash mmy tank or die and find a power head while I'm at work or in the night.

benha · Nov 14, 2018

Mine was shriveled up and stressed for a long time. I had a cleaner shrimp who would dig into its mouth every time I fed it so its mouth was gaping periodically for months. I stressed it further by trying to manually move it with my finger as well as directly blowing a powerhead at it since it was always shaded under a rock. Eventually I decided to just leave my nem alone and not touch it or feed it since my shrimp would always make it worse and it's gotten a lot healthier since then. Hope this helps in some way.

Florida Sunshine · Nov 14, 2018

I agree with the others that it doesn't looks so hot even in the first picture, but some other important information is needed.
How long has your tank been set up and cycled? What other inhabitants do you have? What kind of lighting do you have? What kind of flow?

To answer your question about moving it, my thought process is that anemones are able to move themselves so if they want to move, I just let them move on their own. The only time I would try to move one is if I was moving it to another tank (Possibly a QT or Hospital tank for treatment) or if it settled down on a much loved coral I might try.
If you do decide to try to move it, try to persuade it to move by pointing a power head at the base of the foot. I have also heard of people using an ice cube to try to get them to release.

reef lover · Nov 14, 2018

If the foots still sticking i would leave it alone and watch it closely. If it detatches and starts floating id try a qt or acclimation box. Most likely needs a cipro treatment....