Help with Bubble tip Anemone

Charles Belisle · Nov 30, 2018

Hello,

I am new to saltwater reefing. I recently added a "Bubble tip Anemone" to my 40 gallon breeder tank. So far my "Clowns" have completely ignored this anemone; and I am not sure how it is doing. Can anyone comment on the attached pictures; on its condition? First pic is with lights off. I have been feeding it small pieces of frozen shrimp; about the size of a pencil lead. It comes cubed already frozen.

Thanks
Chuck

nautical_nathaniel · Nov 30, 2018

It's fairly bleached and probably won't do well for too much longer as such. Was it this color when you got it at the LFS?

How old is your tank?

Charles Belisle · Nov 30, 2018

Yes, it is the same color as when I purchased it last week from the LFS. My tank is currently 4 months old. I got it before I read the forums / threads that state do not get one less than 6 months in. Should I pull and discard it now? Is it past the point of recovery?

Arcticfirefighter · Nov 30, 2018

Charles Belisle said:
Yes, it is the same color as when I purchased it last week from the LFS. My tank is currently 4 months old. I got it before I read the forums / threads that state do not get one less than 6 months in. Should I pull and discard it now? Is it past the point of recovery?

I also had a Sebea Anemone and it went south pretty quick. They should naturally have a light brownish/tan color to them when healthy. When they are really white like that they are not well. I tried to keep mine for two weeks and would not attach to anything or eat. For some reason it just didn't like my tank. Thankfully I have a really good LFS, and they took it back for store credit. Sebeas are one of the hardest anemone to keep, I learned the hard way to do research on everything I buy before the purchase now. No more impulse buying for me as far as livestock goes. Good luck.

davocean · Nov 30, 2018

I would not pull it yet, I'd squirt mysis towards it a couple times a week, this should help regain health and color.
Many people have brought them back to health from being bleached like that.
Given proper conditions it should recover, though you did push a little soon it may still work out.

If your clowns are percula or ocellaris they may take a long time to recognize it as a host as BTA is not really natural or what they are found in the wild being hosted by, but usually they will find it eventually, it just does not happen as fast as natural mixes of clown species to nem species.

Charles Belisle · Nov 30, 2018

Mine is very similar- it will not attach to anything - nor will it open up. Wasn’t aware of the coloring - just figured it was a white anemone.

Neo Jeo · Nov 30, 2018

They come like that from petco and such. They can be hard to keep. Just feed it meaty foods daily and hope it eats it. Let it move on its own and dont try to move it. My clowns still dont like my nem and its been months.. All you can do is wait it out. Best of luck

Next try a bubble tip nem

Neo Jeo · Nov 30, 2018

Neo Jeo said:
They come like that from petco and such. They can be hard to keep. Just feed it meaty foods daily and hope it eats it. Let it move on its own and dont try to move it. My clowns still dont like my nem and its been months.. All you can do is wait it out. Best of luck

Next try a bubble tip nem

and what you got is a sebea nem not a bubble tip

Charles Belisle · Nov 30, 2018

Is it heathy ?

davocean · Nov 30, 2018

Neo Jeo said:
and what you got is a sebea nem not a bubble tip

I was looking at it thinking same thing, though it's not easy to ID when bleached, and really foot and base are better ID indicators.

I would not feed it daily, takes energy to digest, actually that is a trick used by many to get their BTA's to split, a couple times a week, smaller foods are best

Captain Quint · Nov 30, 2018

Charles Belisle said:
Is it heathy ?

Welcome to R2R

Your Sebae Anemone is not a goner by any means Charles Belisle.

May I ask about your lighting?

davocean · Nov 30, 2018

Charles Belisle said:
Is it heathy ?

No "healthy" host anemone is white, but that does not mean it can't be brought back to health.

Some anemone's are hard to find, I've taken a number of bleached nems knowing they need to be nursed back to health w/out concerns.

Captain Quint · Nov 30, 2018

davocean said:
No "healthy" host anemone is white, but that does not mean it can't be brought back to health.

Some anemone's are hard to find, I've taken a number of bleached nems knowing they need to be nursed back to health w/out concerns.

+1 with you davocean

davocean · Nov 30, 2018

BTW, there are 2 types of sebae, both very different, crispa or malu, malu much smaller, but both are sand dwellars, and will probably make their way down to sand.
Hard to say from pic but it does look like it might be a malu, maybe.

Charles Belisle · Nov 30, 2018

davocean said:
I would not pull it yet, I'd squirt mysis towards it a couple times a week, this should help regain health and color.
Many people have brought them back to health from being bleached like that.
Given proper conditions it should recover, though you did push a little soon it may still work out.

If your clowns are percula or ocellaris they may take a long time to recognize it as a host as BTA is not really natural or what they are found in the wild being hosted by, but usually they will find it eventually, it just does not happen as fast as natural mixes of clown species to nem species.

I have two Ocellaris Clownfish.. Just got them; at the same time as anemone. - On "black Friday" - so its been a week for both.

Charles Belisle · Nov 30, 2018

davocean said:
BTW, there are 2 types of sebae, both very different, crispa or malu, malu much smaller, but both are sand dwellars, and will probably make their way down to sand.
Hard to say from pic but it does look like it might be a malu, maybe.

Should I move it to the sand? Currently, I have it in a cradled in a spot in the rock.

Charles Belisle · Nov 30, 2018

Captain Quint said:
Welcome to R2R

Your Sebae Anemone is not a goner by any means Charles Belisle.

May I ask about your lighting?

Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light - 36"

Charles Belisle · Nov 30, 2018

nautical_nathaniel said:
It's fairly bleached and probably won't do well for too much longer as such. Was it this color when you got it at the LFS?

How old is your tank?

4 - Months - However, - toxic levels are all zero

davocean · Nov 30, 2018

I normally don't advise pulling and moving a nem that is firmly attached, so use your own judgement there, be very careful to not tear foot if you do.
A sebae of either type would be happier in sand for sure.

That light is not really strong, it may be ok for BTA which are really forgiving there, a Malu might be ok, a crispa would probably crave stronger light

Charles Belisle · Nov 30, 2018

davocean said:
I normally don't advise pulling and moving a nem that is firmly attached, so use your own judgement there, be very careful to not tear foot if you do.
A sebae of either type would be happier in sand for sure.

That light is not really strong, it may be ok for BTA which are really forgiving there, a Malu might be ok, a crispa would probably crave stronger light

Would it move up the rocks if it needs more lighting? I moved it from another spot; and all I had to do was make the water move around it with a net. Once it was above the rocks; I caught it in a net and gentle placed it on the other side. I am not sure I have seen it attached to anything. The base of the anemone is like a pair of socks tucked inward. Haven't really seen anything that would indicate the foot was damaged.