Carpet (S.Haddoni)

[ingtar_shinowa]

My 13 year old clown loved a BTA to death, euphilia-a-plenty, and a long tentacle plate.

 

[Liquid360]

I have no issue with you. I took issue with one sentence u wrote. I don't know you well enough to have any feelings or opinion way or the other. I do appreciate your assistance though.
You are correct. More has changed than I thought! Salt switch occurred about a month ago and is still ongoing at a rate of around 10% every couple weeks. I do water changes only with aged water. I've got a "backup" tank with which I use water from.
Zero dosing.
The alpha female is the solo clown now and I've seen no further ventures into the mouth.
The only visible expulsions appear to small very round spheres of what looks like waste... blackish white. Nothing stringy.
Switched to the LEDs month or month and a half ago from 250w Halide.
The anemone was shipped and appeared near death when I got him. I was given him to rescue. Didn't buy him.
He eates up to a couple times a week sometimes more. Small shrimp pieces or fish... pieces around the size of a fingernail. No other anemones. He hasn't moved from his original spot ever.
I agree he's appearing more pale less green than he was but that seems to ve slowly improving. Also I agree the tentacles are shorter and more sparse.

Thanks again for any assistance!

Even though you seem to have some issue with me, I care more about the S. haddoni than your feelings towards me.

Your Mag is low, would prefer it to be around 1500.

You stated that nothing changed, but you stated that you just changed salts -- how long ago was that? Change of salts can sometimes cause issues.
Are you dosing anything, anything at all -- including sugar or any carbon type dosing.
Are the clowns still picking at the mouth?
Is there any brownish stringy "snot" comming out of the mouth?
How long have you had your current lights? What lights was it under prior to them?
Was this anemone from a local reefer, or was it shipped?
What are you feeding it, how often, and how large of pieces?
Any other anemones in the tank?
What do you have for flow?

It is always hard to tell with pictures, but it appears to be slightly bleached, and the tentacles are a tiny bit shorter than I would like to see.

 

[Liquid360]

Ah forgot flow! Have two powerheads of around 2000gph I believe. His corner receives a good amount of indirect flow..... I'd say 6 on a point scale.

 

[Liquid360]

You can see a ball of the "waste?" right under the clown in this image

 

[Liquid360]

Also here are a couple images to provide context...

I use water from this backup tank only

 

[Trex]

What is in the tank that you use for your water changes? Might want to consider using newly made up water -- aged for 24 hours. (( want to make sure nothing is being transferred that could be causing issues --- newly { several months counts as new } shipped S. haddoni are very sensitive to excess bacteria, even "good" bacteria ))
Are you using RO/DI water? If so, what is the TDS?

You shouldn't see any waste balls, either the pieces are too big, or the anemone isn't fully digesting them --- which could lead to issues. Would hold off feeding for a couple of weeks (( that won't cause any issues, my current S. haddoni hasn't been directly fed in about a year now )).

What type of "fish" are you feeding it? Myself, and other experienced anemone keepers, have had major issues (( death )) from using silversides.

Do you have any pictures from when the anemone first came in? Want to see how close to death it was. While I wouldn't go this route at this time, you may want to do some reading on Ciprofloxacin anti-biotic treatment for anemones.

Did you acclimate it to your lights?

 

[Liquid360]

There is nothing in that tank but sand and water. the tank gets changed about 20%/2weeks. I keep it in case i need to isolate but there's nothing it. if i use it upon being vacated its then emptied, scrubbed, and sterilized with boiling water. I use nothing but RO/DI water.
I wish I'd taken photos but I didn't. He was in very little water which was the darkest nastiest filth you can imagine. I imagine another day in that bag would've finished him off,but he rebounded after a couple weeks and was stunning. He remained that way for months till now.
I acclimated the lights based on Maxspects recommendations.
It's not not regurgitated or partially digested food that's being expelled.
When it's fish it's always tuna. Never anything I don't eat myself.
I'll read up on that treatment! That was what I've been seeking, possible solutions. I'm not so deluded as to believe ill figure out exactly what's wrong therefore I'm left with seeking treatments as a diagnosis is extraordinarily unlikely. I've got no TDS meter or conductivity meter but I use a high end RO/DI unit and I trust the water quality.

What is in the tank that you use for your water changes? Might want to consider using newly made up water -- aged for 24 hours. (( want to make sure nothing is being transferred that could be causing issues --- newly { several months counts as new } shipped S. haddoni are very sensitive to excess bacteria, even "good" bacteria ))
Are you using RO/DI water? If so, what is the TDS?

You shouldn't see any waste balls, either the pieces are too big, or the anemone isn't fully digesting them --- which could lead to issues. Would hold off feeding for a couple of weeks (( that won't cause any issues, my current S. haddoni hasn't been directly fed in about a year now )).

What type of "fish" are you feeding it? Myself, and other experienced anemone keepers, have had major issues (( death )) from using silversides.

Do you have any pictures from when the anemone first came in? Want to see how close to death it was. While I wouldn't go this route at this time, you may want to do some reading on Ciprofloxacin anti-biotic treatment for anemones.

Did you acclimate it to your lights?

 

[Trex]

Trying to get rid of as many variables as possible...
Is the RO/DI unit yours? When is the last time you changed the pre-filter and carbon block? As TDS meter is the best way to tell if your RO/DI unit is still functioning properly. Again, trying to remove another variable.

What is the acclimation process that Maxspect recommends?

I would pass on the tuna, I prefer frozen (( thawed krill )) or PE mysis. From that picture, it looks like a common waste ball from anemone (( specially S. haddoni )), I believe it is stressed and not able to fully digest the tuna -- really think that holding off on feedings for a couple of weeks will help -- or at least remove a variable.

 

[Liquid360]

I've approached this the same way you are... the same with any issue, process of illumination, variable by variable. Once water quality and lighting are checked off I start looking for answers here or elsewhere. When I say "water quality" I mean everything that goes into water... total and complete water chemistry, any variable I can measure. I also look closely at what was happening when I noticed the downturn. At this point I still haven't found any options at all except to look into that medication as a last resort. There is nothing I'm currently doing that needs to be changed which is the source of my frustration. Just stop feeding.
Will do on the tuna and I'll stop feeding at all for now.
The RO/DI unit is new...er, about two months old so no filter change yet. In addition to being around reefs my whole life i spent 10+ years in the high end coffee business. I know something about water quality and filtration. No DTS meter and no access to one.
The led transition went pretty much first day at 20% Max.. second day to 5th day 30% 5th day to 10th day 40%.. then slowly up from there monitoring reactions. Everything else is doing awesomely, but yes I'm aware of the high sensitivity of carpets/anemones to all factors.
Again thanks!

Trying to get rid of as many variables as possible...
Is the RO/DI unit yours? When is the last time you changed the pre-filter and carbon block? As TDS meter is the best way to tell if your RO/DI unit is still functioning properly. Again, trying to remove another variable.

What is the acclimation process that Maxspect recommends?

I would pass on the tuna, I prefer frozen (( thawed krill )) or PE mysis. From that picture, it looks like a common waste ball from anemone (( specially S. haddoni )), I believe it is stressed and not able to fully digest the tuna -- really think that holding off on feedings for a couple of weeks will help -- or at least remove a variable.

 

[Liquid360]

Alright I've come to a point where I'm ready to diagnose my carpet as well as a path to recovery. I believe my carpet has been possessed by satan. Does holy water require a certain specific gravity? I'll be cycling in holy water as well as the required exorcism. The water will be cycled slowly so as not to shock anything. Also can water be too holy and if so what scale/meter is used to measure this? Also I'm unsure if the water should be blessed prior to being filtered or will the RO/DI unit filter out the holiness?

 

[Liquid360]

Not outta the blue but his mouth finally closed and he's coloring back up and looking LOTS better!! That's for all the support!!

 

[bairdimusprime]

looks good! keep us updated

 

[Liquid360]

Mother fracker!! Ok went to be last night and he looked perfect... color... mouth... posture... and now this scary looking growth/rupture... or something that just looks painful. If i didn't know better id say he's splitting... It appears as though he's growing a second foot. Help!!?!

 

[Trex]

Hard to tell from those pictures what the foot is doing, but it sure isn't happy.

How deep is your sandbed?
Wondering if your flow sort of "pushed" it in that spot. All of mine (( have had 6+ years the years )) have always had their foot buried in the sand, right as the rock/sand interface.

Without look back, any shrimp in your tank ?

 

[Liquid360]

He's got a good 5in or so. The rest of his foot is planted as it had been. He's occupied that corner since he moved in. I've got a coral banded shrimp but he goes nowhere near that side of the tank.
I've read everything I can find online including a great cover article in Reef Hobbiest Magazine from 2010, CARPET ANEMONES:
BIG, BEAUTIFUL AND DEADLY.
I believe at this point the bottom line is that there is nothing to be done except let whatever is going on run its course. All my parameters are fine and according to every single article I've read, without exception, there's nothing to change. Thanks for your effort! I'll let you know if any other symptoms occur. I've got a feeling he'll be fine. If he was in dire straights I'd be seeing major color issues, texture issues, and I'd see it in his posture. I'm gonna just stay positive and wait this out. So far as I can tell this is really my only option.

Hard to tell from those pictures what the foot is doing, but it sure isn't happy.

How deep is your sandbed?
Wondering if your flow sort of "pushed" it in that spot. All of mine (( have had 6+ years the years )) have always had their foot buried in the sand, right as the rock/sand interface.

Without look back, any shrimp in your tank ?

N8/Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Liquid360]

Here's an update... no changes. Here's a photo taken just now.

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[TheClownGuy]

You should have to worry to much... Carpet will have a small gaping mouth from time to time... My has down this and I'm not quite sure yet why they do this... Your carpet looks to be healthy ... If the folds starts to droop and look sloppy then ill worry. Keep us posted

 

[Liquid360]

I appreciate you saying so! At the back of my mind during this entire ordeal I kept saying to myself that he appeared too healthy to be truly sick. Anyways thank you!

You should have to worry to much... Carpet will have a small gaping mouth from time to time... My has down this and I'm not quite sure yet why they do this... Your carpet looks to be healthy ... If the folds starts to droop and look sloppy then ill worry. Keep us posted

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[Liquid360]

One final update for posterity... all is well! Carpet is quite healthy going forward. I've yet to see any further signs of stress... Just happy clowns and their carpet!

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[Trex]

I would make sure to cover that powerhead -- it doesn't appear that the anemone's "foot" is fully in the sandbed. Would hate for it to start to float and get shredded by that powerhead.