Dying anemone?

[Dan K.]

Ive had this bta for about 3 weeks. From the looks of it, is it a goner? It does not smell. It looked like this a couple days ago but inflated afterwards. I am struggling with a low nutrient parameter tank which im getting back on par slowly. Just looking for opinions based on its appearance.

 

[fishguy242]

@Eagle_Steve ??

 

[Eagle_Steve]

@Eagle_Steve ??

That is not good. If you had cipro and a hospital tank, I would say give it a try. The fact that the filaments are now showing and it is just not a gapping mouth is not a good sign.

The bad thing is that when the melt, they do it quickly.

I am not saying it is dead, but it is on the verge of it.

@Dan K. how log has it been like that? Just like that, not inflating and then deflating, but looks like it is about much?

 

[laverda]

It would help a lot if you provided details on your tank, including size, age, lighting, including schedule and water parameters. All our animals require phosphates to survive.

 

[Dan K.]

That is not good. If you had cipro and a hospital tank, I would say give it a try. The fact that the filaments are now showing and it is just not a gapping mouth is not a good sign.

The bad thing is that when the melt, they do it quickly.

I am not saying it is dead, but it is on the verge of it.

@Dan K. how log has it been like that? Just like that, not inflating and then deflating, but looks like it is about much?

Was like this for about a 4 days. Yesterday he was inflated after looking like this. But today its back to this. I dont have a qt tank. What if i put him in a bag plastic bag and leave him in the tank overnight?

 

[Dan K.]

It would help a lot if you provided details on your tank, including size, age, lighting, including schedule and water parameters. All our animals require phosphates to survive.

Tank is a biocube 29
Nitrate are .1
Phosphates are .1
Alk 9dkh (needs to be retested)
Temp is 78.5
Salinity is at 1.025
Lights are radion xr15 using coral lab ab+ with 50 percent intesity

I must mention i have been struggling with an unstable parameter tank due to faulty refractometer readings. Just purchaded new today. Im sure its the main problem here as my magnesium was extremely low. In the 750 region..

 

[James M]

Was like this for about a 4 days. Yesterday he was inflated after looking like this. But today its back to this. I dont have a qt tank. What if i put him in a bag plastic bag and leave him in the tank overnight?

If you leave it in a plastic bag it will just die. Unfortunately it looks like a goner either way

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Tank is a biocube 29
Nitrate are .1
Phosphates are .1
Alk 9dkh (needs to be retested)
Temp is 78.5
Salinity is at 1.025
Lights are radion xr15 using coral lab ab+ with 50 percent intesity

I must mention i have been struggling with an unstable parameter tank due to faulty refractometer readings. Just purchaded new today. Im sure its the main problem here as my magnesium was extremely low. In the 750 region..

If the salinity swings were drastic to often, that can affect nems quickly. Your other parameters are not bad though. Seems like sufficient light, etc.

As for the nem, doing what it is doing is not good. Leaving in a bag is not good. Being as the tank is a 29, that’s a lot of nasty if it melts in there. On the way out, they do make last stand efforts to inflate, but it should do that and then shrink, but not expel its guts. That is if it adjusting or at least recovering.

Honestly, I cannot say what to do here, as I have never been without a spare tank.

@OrionN do you have any thoughts on this?

 

[Dan K.]

If the salinity swings were drastic to often, that can affect nems quickly. Your other parameters are not bad though. Seems like sufficient light, etc.

As for the nem, doing what it is doing is not good. Leaving in a bag is not good. Being as the tank is a 29, that’s a lot of nasty if it melts in there. On the way out, they do make last stand efforts to inflate, but it should do that and then shrink, but not expel its guts. That is if it adjusting or at least recovering.

Honestly, I cannot say what to do here, as I have never been without a spare tank.

@OrionN do you have any thoughts on this?

I appreciate the input. I have another bta which also has its own issues. Have had it for over 6 years with no problems. However he is bleached, and doesnt have tentacles yet still looks "healthy" regarding inflation and thickness of foot. Mouth never opens etc... this happened after he was sucked into my powerhead that had a protective cover so minimal damage. Been feeding it reefroids and it seems to be coming back. But literally no tentacles. Ever seen this before?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I appreciate the input. I have another bta which also has its own issues. Have had it for over 6 years with no problems. However he is bleached, and doesnt have tentacles yet still looks "healthy" regarding inflation and thickness of foot. Mouth never opens etc... this happened after he was sucked into my powerhead that had a protective cover so minimal damage. Been feeding it reefroids and it seems to be coming back. But literally no tentacles. Ever seen this before?

Yes I have. They grow back. No need to feed, light is plenty for them.

When I rescued it from a friend that had it go into a ph.

After about 4 months of love. Yes it decided to live under a stag lol.

 

[laverda]

Stability is crucial. Anemones are something like 98% water. You have several issues with your water. Fluctuations in salinity affect every other parameter! Lower salinity equals lower, Alk, CA and magnesium. Magnesium is extremely low affecting stability of PH. Salinity needs to be stable even if a little high or low. Change gradually! You should slowly raise your magnesium. Your nitrates are very low. Nitrates are a direct food source for BTAs.

Put the anemone back and do not handle it. Putting it in a bag will kill it for sure!

Another option might be to give to someone with a stable tank to care for until your is ready.

 

[fishguy242]

how about a 5 gal bucket w a hang on filter ,and treatment??

 

[Dan K.]

Stability is crucial. Anemones are something like 98% water. You have several issues with your water. Fluctuations in salinity affect every other parameter! Lower salinity equals lower, Alk, CA and magnesium. Magnesium is extremely low affecting stability of PH. Salinity needs to be stable even if a little high or low. Change gradually! You should slowly raise your magnesium. Your nitrates are very low. Nitrates are a direct food source for BTAs.

Put the anemone back and do not handle it. Putting it in a bag will kill it for sure!

Another option might be to give to someone with a stable tank to care for until your is ready.

Thanks for your input. Im planning on just letting it be and closely monitoring. Not ready to toss him yet. Got some hope.

 

[Dan K.]

how about a 5 gal bucket w a hang on filter ,and treatment??

I do have a bucket but no filtration. I may pick just up a small aio tank tomorrow for this.

 

[OrionN]

If you want to save it, you need to remove it to a hospital tank and treat it with antibiotic.
Other than that you need to leave it in the DT. Moving it to a stagnant container with out life support, you may as well just flush it down the toilet.
Isolate it in a basket in the DT is OK. It won’t nuke your tanks if it died in there.

 

[Rmckoy]

Place it on the sand and see if it will attach .
handling it will not help .
let it find its happy home and by that meaning it will travel through the tank searching for the best lighting and flow .

when it attaches it will eventually settle .
Stability is key , I wouldn’t adjust anything too much at once

 

[Dan K.]

If you want to save it, you need to remove it to a hospital tank and treat it with antibiotic.
Other than that you need to leave it in the DT. Moving it to a stagnant container with out life support, you may as well just flush it down the toilet.
Isolate it in a basket in the DT is OK. It won’t nuke your tanks if it died in there.

Ufortunately it died. I had a salinity issue which i think ontributed to its departure.. Weird thing is i have another bta which is totally fine. Not getting another until my parameters are perfect. Thanks for your input

 

[laverda]

From the photos you posted of your other anemone it is far from fine! It is bleached and has no tentacles! I will take a long time for it to recover. Get you parameters dialed in slowly (as I suggested above) and keep them stable.

 

[Dan K.]

From the photos you posted of your other anemone it is far from fine! It is bleached and has no tentacles! I will take a long time for it to recover. Get you parameters dialed in slowly (as I suggested above) and keep them stable.

Yes, i most certainly will. Its eating and isnt moving from where its currently at. Hasnt moved in over 2 months. I notice a slight tint of green around his mouth area that wasnt there before and i see tentacles starting to come back although clear. Feeling hopeful.