Anemone Inflate/Deflate. Getting concerned

[beehive124]

Hey all!
My new nem (been in tank for a week, 2 inch bubble tip). It has been mediocre at best. only a few tentacles will inflate to full at a time. It’ll stay like that for most of the day, then completely deflate (mouth turns inside out), then return to normal. Is it possible this is a bacterial infection or is it just the BTA being weird?

 

[beehive124]

To clarify, he stays “normal” for most of the day, then looks crappy when the lights go down, then inflates during the night, then is crappy in the morning.

 

[Jekyl]

Been down this road in other posts. You have all the info we can give.

 

[beehive124]

Been down this road in other posts. You have all the info we can give.

I’m just hoping it’s not an infection. I keep reading all these posts and scaring myself into things lol

 

[Jekyl]

If that concerned start figuring out how to get your hands on some cipro. Worst case scenario you need it and already have it. Will also require a hospital tank.

 

[beehive124]

If that concerned start figuring out how to get your hands on some cipro. Worst case scenario you need it and already have it. Will also require a hospital tank.

Yep, I read that reef central article on how to treat

 

[beehive124]

Hey @Jekyl! Sorry for bothering you, I believe my anemone has an infection. I ordered aqua-cipro on Chewy.com. I’m guessing it’ll arrive Monday. Will the anemone be okay until then?

 

[Jekyl]

@Eagle_Steve mind stepping in here? You know more about nems than most.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Follow this sticky by Orion to a T. It works if an infection os present and the cipro can treat it. It is not 100% guaranteed, but is the best chance the nem has.

Also, a simple 60w light bulb and a clip on fixture is perfectly fine during treatment. You do not need a reeflight for this. Almost all 60w house bulbs contain all spectrums of light.

Also, a cheap tote from walmart or even a bucket can work for a hospital tank. You just need to make sure you have some form of aeration/sponge filter or a cheap hang on back/internal power filter. Also remember to make sure and not use carbon during treatment.

If you cannot follow the 10g procedure, just adjust the dose accordingly for how much water you can use. And make sure to do the treatment for the entire time.

Protocol for using antibiotics to treat infected anemones

This is a re-post of what I wrote in ReefCentral on 3/09/2013 Many anemone keepers know, the collection and shipping process from ocean to local fish store (LFS) is a stressful event. Most host anemones do not survive this process without help, especially H. magnifica and S. gigantea. Other...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[beehive124]

Thanks guys!

 

[beehive124]

@Eagle_Steve I have an old 20g high tank with a Koval LED freshwater fixture (65W) I believe. Would that work?

 

[beehive124]

I also have a powerhead, heater, and airstone

 

[Eagle_Steve]

@EagleSteve I have an old 20g high tank with a Koval LED freshwater fixture (65W) I believe. Would that work?

That will work. Just use 10 gallons of water. Orions guide mentions doing it in a 20H.

You will still need some form of filter to catch any crap then spits out. Even some filter floss wrapped around the powerhead and held there with a rubber band will work. This will also prevent the nem from being sucked into it.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Also, be sure to dose when lights out, as cipro degrades in light. I would suggest with that light to run it no more than 6-8 hours a day if it is that powerful. 60w equivalent bulb is only really about 15 watts or so if LED. If it is 65w and all led, it may be a tad bright. Also, try to set it about 8-10" above the tank. This will help to reduce par some.

Trick to this is provide enough light for photosynthesis to occur, but not like you would if it was healthy. We want the zoo to get just enough light to stay alive.

 

[beehive124]

Also, be sure to dose when lights out, as cipro degrades in light. I would suggest with that light to run it no more than 6-8 hours a day if it is that powerful. 60w equivalent bulb is only really about 15 watts or so if LED. If it is 65w and all led, it may be a tad bright. Also, try to set it about 8-10" above the tank. This will help to reduce par some.

Trick to this is provide enough light for photosynthesis to occur, but not like you would if it was healthy. We want the zoo to get just enough light to stay alive.

Got it! How about water changes?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Got it! How about water changes?

Just as the guide lists. 100% every day.

I do it like this.

- Dose cipro at lights out on first day.
- Change 100% of water about 1/2 to 1/4 an hour before lights out on second day.
- Dose cipro at lights out on second day.

Rinse and repeat each day. I prefer to do it this way, to allow for the cipro to degrade before I dump the water. I may be over cautious about this and the cipro, but figure may as well try to not dump it down the drain and it still be active. It also ensures that the nem is in the cipro for as long as possible with the lights out.

 

[beehive124]

Ok thanks!

 

[beehive124]

@Eagle_Steve Sorry to bother you, I have one more essential question. I don’t have everything I need to be able to do 100% water changes daily. Would I get by with only 50%?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

@Eagle_Steve Sorry to bother you, I have one more essential question. I don’t have everything I need to be able to do 100% water changes daily. Would I get by with only 50%?

You can try it, but it is better to do a 100%. Biggest issue will be nutrients and build up of degraded medicine.

Never did any less, so sorry I cannot provide a better answer for ya.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Just thought about this.

with it being such a small nem, just do 5 gallons for treatment. This would allow you to do 100% water changes every day. Just dose 125mg. Half of a half for a 500mg pill or half of a 250 mg pill.