Long tentacle anemone

[Wolf89]

I got a 8" long tentcale anemone yesterday. Today he is open and looks good, but the foot is just kinda lying there. I read that they like deep sand beds and will attatch to the bottom glass. I have a 4 inch sand bed, should I dig a hole for it or should I just leave him with the flow off for a couple more days?

 

[Dragon52]

When I put mine in I made a small area with some smaller rocks I had & put it in the middle with the sand lower & it has only moved about an inch or 2 from that spot. The rocks were to keep it from being blown around by the powerheads.

 

[Arricefe]

 

[Wolf89]

Yeah, that has absolutely nothing to do with my problem. Thanks though

 

[reef lover]

Dig a hole under a flatish rock and set him there.

 

[Righteous]

I basically did what @Dragon52 did. I got lucky and mine never moved from that spot. I think they like to be partly in the sand, but next to some rocks as well. If the foot never attaches, though, it may not be healthy.

 

[Carter's Reef]

If it does not attach to the bottom I’d move it to some structure like rocks or a surface. If it doesn’t attach that’s not very healthy.

 

[miamijaaz]

In my experience these are some of the most difficult anemones to get to attach. Definitely dig a hole for it, preferably next to some rock structure, but don’t cover its base completely with sand as in my experience they don’t like it when attaching and will inflate themselves to rise above the sand. Putting some rock rubble around the area that’s exposed to the sand is also a good idea. Keep your flow on the low side, but not completely off, for a couple of hours to allow it to attach. If it’s healthy, it will attach in a couple of hours. The hard part is keeping it attached. Any change in flow or lighting, and I mean ANY, and it is likely to detach in a few days or a week to try and find a new home. If it’s happy, it will stay there hopefully for a long time. Good luck!

 

[Wolf89]

Well I dug the hole hasn't moved, seems happy enough

 

[flagg37]

Mine stayed put for several months but then out of no where started walking.

 

[miamijaaz]

Mine stayed put for several months but then out of no where started walking.

Same. You think they are happy, all looks good for weeks and one day you wake up to find it’s detached and headed to greener pastures (I guess). Mine has always done it overnight for whatever reason, when the flow is at its lowest. I’ve learned to just deal with it and put it back where it was happy for the longest time. It usually attaches immediately there, almost as if it remembers the location.