Anemone question

Richrod73 · Feb 11, 2020

So i bought a bubble tip anemone from a fellow hobbiest and the anemone did great for a week or so but now the crazy thing is laying upside down in the sand ( mouth down). All my water parameters are very good. I run trueLumen LeD blue and white and a LED blue atenic . The crazy thing i have notices turns back over (mouth up) when only the blue attenic lights are on but not extending her bubble tips. Has anyone one else having this issue or similar behavior? Is there something I am doing wrong?

SudzFD · Feb 11, 2020

I haven’t seen this in mine, but it doesn’t sound good. That said, if it’s tank raised from a fellow hobbiest, I would hope it is just finding its way. I had a tank raised anemone, a few years ago in my old tank and it made it through a lot. Even went through the power head once when I was out of town leaving literally one tentacle that found a rock and grew into a full anemone and split dozens of times.

So that story is said to encourage you to maybe just let it be. Don’t move it around and try and place it and start messing with everything. He can find his own way. They are amazing creatures.

If he does die, because they are also sensitive at times, you will know.

I think most of the ones that get a bad wrap as impossible to keep are wild caught and stressed and bleached out or dyed enroute to our tanks.

I have had pretty good luck with tank raised like you have.

Hope it works out. Pics may help diagnose more.

Richrod73 · Feb 11, 2020

Richrod73 · Feb 11, 2020

SudzFD said:
I haven’t seen this in mine, but it doesn’t sound good. That said, if it’s tank raised from a fellow hobbiest, I would hope it is just finding its way. I had a tank raised anemone, a few years ago in my old tank and it made it through a lot. Even went through the power head once when I was out of town leaving literally one tentacle that found a rock and grew into a full anemone and split dozens of times.

So that story is said to encourage you to maybe just let it be. Don’t move it around and try and place it and start messing with everything. He can find his own way. They are amazing creatures.

If he does die, because they are also sensitive at times, you will know.

I think most of the ones that get a bad wrap as impossible to keep are wild caught and stressed and bleached out or dyed enroute to our tanks.

I have had pretty good luck with tank raised like you have.

Hope it works out. Pics may help diagnose more.

Thanks! I posted a pic - im trying to be optimistic

SudzFD · Feb 11, 2020

Hmmm. Based on the pic. I think I’m looking at the foot and it’s head is up against a shell.

If so, my observations.

1) the color seems ok.
2) it has tone,

Those are good.

The bad is, it shouldn’t be doing that.

Can you tell if the mouth is open or closed?

Also, did you notice it expelling anything like a black ball in the last few days?

I had a long tentacle fo something like that when I was new to the hobby. It seemed he walked around the tank on his tentacles (looked like that at least). I lost that anemone.

SudzFD · Feb 11, 2020

I’m also curious if he tried to move and perhaps is caught in the flow against the shell. I’d like to think that wouldn’t stop him, but with his foot detached I’m not sure. Report back about the mouth but if his mouth is closed, I might try gently moving him into a low flow area on the rocks where his foot can grab hold.

Richrod73 · Feb 11, 2020

The mouth is closed and it does move around the tank on its tentacles. And the foot is currently against a shell but it only “comes alive” when only the blue lights are on .... so weird

Cell · Feb 11, 2020

I would definitely move it to a rock and see if it will attach, preferably a high rock to counter what I think may be an underpowered light, not really familiar with it though. A floating nem is not a happy nem. I won't immediately blame the newish tank because you can indeed successfully keep anemone's in new tanks, but your tank looks pretty new. This is the part where we ask for your parameters.

Richrod73 · Feb 11, 2020

Cell · Feb 11, 2020

Super bleached. This guy is going to take some time and some TLC to recover.

Richrod73 · Feb 11, 2020

Ammonia- 0
pH 8.3
Nitrite- 0
Nitrate < 5

this tank has been up and running past the cycle 2 months - started this new tank in November

Arthacker87 · Feb 11, 2020

Yea the trulemin light powerful enough yall? I don't know much on them. I'd say try to put him in a clear container and set him higher in rockwork and see if he will start to open up

Arthacker87 · Feb 11, 2020

That's pretty new tank for a nem imo. Not that it can't be done but pretty fresh

Richrod73 · Feb 11, 2020

Too strong of lights? You think im running my whites/ blue LED too long 8 hrs a day and just the blues @2 hours at night before complete darkness...

SudzFD · Feb 11, 2020

Yes this second pic looks very bleached to me. Try and secure him to a high rock like was mentioned above. Find a spot where he won’t float off but also won’t be damaged. I have to say I’m concerned, so keep a good eye on him but don’t harass him. Better location, light and time in good water may help.

more blue and less white could be an option, but what kind of light are you using? Do you have specs on it?

can you give us your water parameters?

Cell · Feb 11, 2020

Definitely not too strong of lights.

Arthacker87 · Feb 11, 2020

It's the true lemin led strip blue and white mix I don't know if it puts enough out for a anemone

ca1ore · Feb 11, 2020

Those blue/white trulumen strips are not good lights for maintaining photosynthetic animals. They were my first led lights back in 2013 and I quickly dumped them.