Anemone not looking so hot…

[Sharkbait19]

how old is ur tank?

Tank itself is a bit over a month, but it is the upgrade of a 1.5 year old system. All other coral (including my torch) is doing great (though I understand Nems are more sensitive).

 

[JoJosReef]

I know there's a lot of hope going your way about splitting, but I can't help but see a very similar timecourse with my first RBTA. Looked exactly the same after ~3-4 weeks, the first few of which I thought it was looking great.

If it's indeed gone, I'm very sorry. Losing your first nem is a horrible feeling. Don't give up! I waited a few months, upgraded lights, added some live rock--still working on keeping parameters in check--and finally took the leap to getting another BTA ($30 on sale), and watching closely to see how it turns out.

 

[rhostam]

I looked around and found nothing. Hopefully it pops up, and if not, been there, done that, probably will hold off on anemones for a while…

I’ve had a mini carpet nem hide for months under an arch in rock formation with very little light. I thought he died and was lost until I was inspecting tank one week and doing a head count of Shrimp and crabs. I have also had a RBTA hide for a few weeks with very little light while it was first acclimating. Both eventually came out and found their roost. Once they did, the carpet split into three and the RBTA started to color up nicely. I have two rock nems (out of ten) that are under rocks right now with almost no light. Weirdos! But I won’t move them. Gotta let them find their place on their time table. No need to stress them. This doesn’t seem too uncommon.

If you haven’t found flesh globs floating around, that’s probably a good thing.

Wishing you the best.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Guess who finally showed up!

Found it upside down on the sandbed, tucked underneath a leather coral. I checked there earlier but didn’t find anything, so it was either hidden amongst the corals or got stolen by the pistol shrimp, who then decided it didn’t like the new furniture and returned it lol.

I stuck the anemone onto another rock and and out of flow, so that it can establish a hold again. Once it’s firmly attached, I’ll redirect the flow towards that location.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Not too sure what to make of this. Does it look good, bad, in between? I think I see mesenterial filaments in the center, but I’m not sure if that’s only a coral thing. This is all kinda new so I have no idea what to look for as far as sicknesses go.

 

[Sharkbait19]

So today I found it all shriveled and slimy. I figured it was the end so I decided I should remove it and isolate it before it fouls up the tank. The only problem is that it established a strong footing, despite being mostly ooze and no tentacles. In trying to remove the nem, I think I only mutilated it more. So it remains there. Should I try harder to remove it or just let it do it’s thing, and if it dies, be prepared to do a water change?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

So today I found it all shriveled and slimy. I figured it was the end so I decided I should remove it and isolate it before it fouls up the tank. The only problem is that it established a strong footing, despite being mostly ooze and no tentacles. In trying to remove the nem, I think I only mutilated it more. So it remains there. Should I try harder to remove it or just let it do it’s thing, and if it dies, be prepared to do a water change?

A cold spoon pressed against the foot should help it remove enough for you to get your fingernail under there.

If it was mine, it would have gone into a separate holding container, not back into the display.

I asked above, but do you have the ability or intention of treating the nem for a bacterial infection?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Leave it. If it detaches again, make a little dish for it with rubble and out of direct flow and leave it a while. See if it heals.

 

[Sharkbait19]

A cold spoon pressed against the foot should help it remove enough for you to get your fingernail under there.

If it was mine, it would have gone into a separate holding container, not back into the display.

I asked above, but do you have the ability or intention of treating the nem for a bacterial infection?

I do have an iodine solution that I can dip the nem into, but I’m too sure if there is a bacterial infection present, or if it’s just reacting poorly to the water…

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I do have an iodine solution that I can dip the nem into, but I’m too sure if there is a bacterial infection present, or if it’s just reacting poorly to the water…

You still haven't listed your parameters. Even with API, Something should be better than nothing.

Essentially all we have to go on is the pics, and a few pictures of a nem spitting guts.

Given a matured system of a year and a half, your nem is obviously reacting to Something poorly. I'd put money it is not mid split as others have assessed. I've never heard of a nem releasing to split. That's a Really upset with something, or Really Sick response.

At the very Least, I would be removing it from the DT into a batch of NSW. If it melts away, it won't foul the tank. If it's reacting to Something in your tank, it MAY show improvement.

If this was me, I'd have Cipro ordered already. Nems can hang in limbo for a while without deterioration if the situation isn't made worse.

 

[Sharkbait19]

There is one important factor I forgot to mention. Ever since I bought the anemone, I created a makeshift nem guard with an old breeder net. The unfortunate side effect is that it blocks a lot of the flow and circulation, causing much stagnancy. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a major issue. Should I remove the net surrounding the powerhead?

 

[DeniseAndy]

Only if you also put the nem in a secure basket so it cannot float into it. With its condition, it just may do that.

 

[JoJosReef]

There is one important factor I forgot to mention. Ever since I bought the anemone, I created a makeshift nem guard with an old breeder net. The unfortunate side effect is that it blocks a lot of the flow and circulation, causing much stagnancy. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a major issue. Should I remove the net surrounding the powerhead?

I had the same problem with a DIY nem guard, and I don't think my deceased RBTA liked it. Moved all around (but I also attribute a lot of it's misery to underpowered lighting). For the new one, I'm going nem guard off, upped the power a bit on the new lights and watching for movement.

Mine did just what you are saying yours did. I waited till it dropped from the rock again to remove it (was coincidentally working from home). Cipro in a container could be a good last resort--I got a cipro pill quickly off of my neighborhood facebook page from someone to treat BJD on my euphyllia. Just an idea. Fingers crossed!

 

[Duncan62]

There is one important factor I forgot to mention. Ever since I bought the anemone, I created a makeshift nem guard with an old breeder net. The unfortunate side effect is that it blocks a lot of the flow and circulation, causing much stagnancy. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a major issue. Should I remove the net surrounding the powerhead?

YES

 

[Sharkbait19]

I put it into its own bowl with lighting and aeration, where it finally melted away…

Hopefully I can trouble shoot some more, and figure out what went wrong, and hopefully I’ll be more successful next time.

 

[sergifed91]

my bta looked like that yesterday. got u today and it looks completely healthy and no split. I have a second BTA that just had a failed split. so it looks a little weird but not to bad. I have no plans on splitting it myself. just going to let nature take its course.

 

[lisajulia]

oh man i was hoping for a happy ending as i was reading the thread. I think i would have found a way to break up the rock it attached to and not try to separate it before moving it into a separate tank. I *personally* would not put a BTA in a display tank for a solid month so i could observe its habits, and i would put it in a bare bottom nano with one good rock that's got lots of crevices. I'm sorry this happened to you!