Bleached carpet anemone

1979fishgeek · Apr 1, 2019

So I got these bleached carpet anemone I a month ago I believe they are Haddon’s.

I’ve been nursing them back by feeding regularly and they are now very sticky and eat well, reactive to being bothered by shrinking fast, mouths shut tight. Both seem to prefer the shade during the day and moved to be over shadowed but they come out huge at night, not sure if this a acclimation issue or a reaction to being bleached? Lighting is twin 150w MH and 2x T5 40w one actinic and one marine white.

What do you think, normal behaviour? Colour look better? Are they Haddon’s?

This is taken just a moment ago with just light from the room, half hour after feeding.

This is during the day, first one moved into a crevice. Second one flattens itself to the rock.

This is the colour they were when I got them.

Big G · Apr 2, 2019

dylana407 · Apr 2, 2019

Continue to feed it a small piece of shrimp (1/4") every 3, or 4 days. For me, anemone get the utmost care. I would adjust the the light until they look happy. I think your light is too strong. I would lower it and find the sweet spot. Over time, you can crank it up 1% - 2% at a time. They will want more light when they regain the color.

OrionN · Apr 2, 2019

Take a picture of the column of the smaller one with longer tentacles, he maybe a Gigantea. Gigantea have colorful verrucae on the column near the oral plate.

1979fishgeek · Apr 4, 2019

OrionN said:
Take a picture of the column of the smaller one with longer tentacles, he maybe a Gigantea. Gigantea have colorful verrucae on the column near the oral plate.

I’ll tryn and get a photo, it’s got pronounced verrucae compared to the other, but they are white. Maybe from the bleaching or would they remain red? It’s mouth is red lined where the other is orange mouthe.

1979fishgeek · Apr 4, 2019

dylana407 said:
Continue to feed it a small piece of shrimp (1/4") every 3, or 4 days. For me, anemone get the utmost care. I would adjust the the light until they look happy. I think your light is too strong. I would lower it and find the sweet spot. Over time, you can crank it up 1% - 2% at a time. They will want more light when they regain the color.

I can’t adjust the light as it’s a metal Halide, but I can put some Perspex over the tank to reduce the intensity.

OrionN · Apr 4, 2019

Just use a stick to lift the oral plate up to take a picture of the column. That is what needed to tell A stressed Gigantea from a stressed Haddoni. Clearly and in focus

D-Nak · Apr 5, 2019

If one starts showing signs of infection, it's best to separate them. I've had sick haddoni kill gigantea before.

1979fishgeek · May 16, 2019

So just a update.....

Both recovered and looking lovely, both feeding and hosting Saddleback Clowns, one is a Haddon’s and the other a Adhesive/Pizza Carpet which literally suction cups to the rockwork, the Adhesive still has some colouring up to do, it’s taken twice as long as the Haddon’s. Remember I’ve had them since February so it’s taken nearly four months for them to recover!

Haddon’s Anemone....

Before