Anemones hurting each other?

[Newbie1]

So I have three Clowns. I bought a rainbow anemone awhile ago (last year). They got huge, and would split every so often.

then a few months back they started to look hurt shrivel up often and two have died. (This was not normal at all). They also are looking very small.

I never really thought about it, but I believe they started feeling like this after I got another type of anemone. Attached are the two different kinds I have.
Today I saw a clown go into the green one and then went over to the pink one. When he switched and touched the pink one, the pink one flinched and brought it’s tentacles in almost as if it was (stung?). Please let me know.
if the green one is causing the problem I’ll return him. Another option is if it is the green one I can move him to another tank, however they are connected by using the same sump. Does that matter??

thank you for your time!!

david

 

[PicassoClown04]

I just asked a question about this!! I have a black widow and RBTA in the same tank. The first month they ran from each other but now they sit right next to each other, it’s the strangest thing. I’m thinking that they do hurt each other and it’s cross-contamination between the nems through your clownfish

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I have 4 species (rbta, mertens, haddoni, ritteri) in one tank and the clowns run between all of the nems. From my experience, the nems will react to the clowns and whatever they carry from other nems for a bit, but adjust just fine. Not much of a reaction, but it’s like they taste something odd and react to it.

Nems can also be shocked if a clown slams into it hard when jumping in. Just a thought, as I have seen that overlooked a few times.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I have 4 species (rbta, mertens, haddoni, ritteri) in one tank and the clowns run between all of the nems. From my experience, the nems will react to the clowns and whatever they carry from other nems for a bit, but adjust just fine. Not much of a reaction, but it’s like they taste something odd and react to it.

Nems can also be shocked if a clown slams into it hard when jumping in. Just a thought, as I have seen that overlooked a few times.

Also, I just noticed that one of the nems looks like an elegance coral and not a nem. Can you confirm it is actually a nem? No hard cone shell that the flesh comes out of?

Sorry, on my phone and very hard to tell.

 

[Newbie1]

Eagle Steve with the eagle eye. You are correct, I forgot the name and one is a coral and the other is the anemone.

 

[homer1475]

Your green nem is most definitely an elegance coral, and not an anemone at all.

 

[homer1475]

Your other nem looks like it maybe majano too. A nem for sure, but considered a pest.

 

[Labora]

And the anemone will probably win

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Eagle Steve with the eagle eye. You are correct, I forgot the name and one is a coral and the other is the anemone.

If the clowns are popping between the nem and the elegance it will annoy the crap out of the elegance. The elegance may get used to it, but if the clowns are hard on it when they rub against it, they can damage it and kill it.

 

[Newbie1]

The elegance is doing well, but my men’s went down hill fast.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Did the nems go down hill before the elegance? I don’t think the elegance is the issue. I have a few with my nems and the elegances haven’t affected them in any way, even when my clowns decide to visit the elegance’s and make them mad.

let start with the basics
Tank age, parameters, lighting, do you feed the nems, etc.

 

[Newbie1]

This picture was taken in June. Since then as you can see they have died and are small. Prior to June they were the size of my hand were really big.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

This picture was taken in June. Since then as you can see they have died and are small. Prior to June they were the size of my hand were really big.

Any changes to tank or lighting? Or did this begin with the elegance being introduced and the clowns swapping between the 2. Also as mentioned above, parameters would be helpful as well.

 

[Labora]

That tank is massive. How could a little elegance coral kill them? I agree with Steve.

 

[Newbie1]

Tank age approx 2 years+. Lighting Kessill AP700, myses shrimp to fish and nems. And nems get additional reef roids. I have been feeding the same almost entire time of tank life.

Parameters
Dkh - 7.0
Calcium - 390
Salinity - 1.026
Phosphate - .20
Magnesium - 1320
Reading taking 09/02/20 1715hrs
I have a doser that I need to set up. My dkh and calcium are usually alil higher, just have been real busy with life and kiddo in hospital and change of work.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

That tank is massive. How could a little elegance coral kill them? I agree with Steve.

If it is an indo elegance, they have a strong sting in themselves. If the clowns are bouncing back and forth and doing it by slamming into the bubbles, I could see chemical warfare coming into play, as a possibility. Hard slamming clowns along with slime from the elegance could be a lot of stress. Again, not sure as my elegance got mad at my nems and not the other way around, so to speak.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Tank age approx 2 years+. Lighting Kessill AP700, myses shrimp to fish and nems. And nems get additional reef roids. I have been feeding the same almost entire time of tank life.

Parameters
Dkh - 7.0
Calcium - 390
Salinity - 1.026
Phosphate - .20
Magnesium - 1320
Reading taking 09/02/20 1715hrs
I have a doser that I need to set up. My dkh and calcium are usually alil higher, just have been real busy with life and kiddo in hospital and change of work.

As long as dkh did not swing to much at once, 7 is fine for nems. PO4 is a bit high? But I have btas in my softie tank and they do fine at about like where you are for PO4. What is nitrate at? And any changes at all to tank?

 

[Labora]

Good to know. I hope you can save those nems. If you want to get rid of a struggling one I might be interested in buying and attempting a rehab.

 

[Newbie1]

I have added reactor with gfo & carbon which is the newest / change around the same time. Nitrate is 0 I believe. I run a algae scrubber and my other smaller tank I’m starting to run it as almost a refugium.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I have added reactor with gfo & carbon which is the newest / change around the same time. Nitrate is 0 I believe. I run a algae scrubber and my other smaller tank I’m starting to run it as almost a refugium.

All this at the same time nems started to react poorly? Just trying to see if we can figure a root cause.