LTA

[Rene42]

I have had a purple long tip anemone for about 3 weeks. It hasn’t really opened up much. These pics were taken today. Is it alright? I am going to move the crushed coral to one side and put straight sand where it has hung out for a few days. My silinity in my reef tank is hanging and stable in the red area of my hydrometer which is where it needs to be for coral and anemone.

 

[old salt reefer]

This is what I do with sand dwelling anemones-read about it here on the forum. Plastic food container(from deli at grocery store). Put anemone in it and let it attach, add gravel.

 

[Rene42]

Doesn’t that restrict their ability to move?

 

[chizerbunoi]

The method mentioned above works if you want to keep them in a specific location.

Otherwise for yours, you need a deep sand bed of oolite type of sand, not crush gravel. Go for 4” deep to keep them happy. Put the sand where you want the LTA to go. Ideally a corner or in a U shape alcove of your rock. The foot wants to be secure.

I see diatoms on the crush gravel. How old is the tank? What type of lights and water flow do you have? The anemone will not be happy and will wither away on its side like that. it wants to bury its foot but can’t right now.

 

[old salt reefer]

Doesn’t that restrict their ability to move?

No if not happy they will walk right out. I have a beaded anemone(same way in container of gravel) in a tank I just got a new light on(more powerful) and it walked right out and attached under a rock. It didn't like that spot so when it went to move again I tossed it back in the container and put it in a back corner with less light--happy again.
I agree with chizerbunoi your gravel is to big.

 

[LesPoissons]

Dump sand in a good spot in your tank and make it a nest. You can Use a PVC tube that fits it comfortably and clear the sand down to the glass. Put the nem in the tube. Wait a week or so and once it attaches you can remove the tube and/or build some rock work around it so the nem feels safe.

Having said all that- your tank seems really new- esp for adding a deep sand-bed loving nem... in a tank with crushed coral? What are your parameters? You should invest in a refractometer for checking salinity levels- hydrometers are not very accurate.

Ltas can be tricky and laying on their sides will typically fade out pretty fast if they don’t attach. Clear a big area, add sand etc. good luck!!!

 

[old salt reefer]

Look at it today, how's your's doing Rene42?

 

[resortez]

Sharing water parameters would be a good first step in helping to figure out the problem. Agree with chizer on the diatoms showing on the substrate & rock, anemones are inverts & are extremely sensitive to poor water quality. The type of anemones you have is a Condylactis, I suggest reading up on their care requirements. A supplement like iodine helps in maintaining good health with all inverts & coral. Although condy anemones are very hardy, this animals will continue traveling the aquarium in search for better water parameters, flow & lighting. If they can’t find good conditions, they will not anchor their foot & settle, instead they will wither away & disapear.

 

[old salt reefer]

Please, Rene42 has a LTA, not a Condylactis.

 

[resortez]

Please, Rene42 has a LTA, not a Condylactis.

Ok, looked like a condy to me, I stand corrected. Then definitely that anemones is extremely stressed & needs to be nurses back to health. I strongly suggest in running numbers & sharing with the rest of us.

 

[Rene42]

Look at it today, how's your's doing Rene42?

Mine passed about a week ago. Sorry been working long hours

 

[LesPoissons]

Looks awesome! I thought mine died- been missing about 3 weeks. It showed up under a rock outcropping today. I know its not getting enough light and its in a position that I cant feed it. We'll see what happens. :/

 

[old salt reefer]

Mine passed about a week ago. Sorry been working long hours

Learn from it, then buy another-2 most important rules when buying anemone-mouth closed foot attached at the store. I was at my local store this last weekend and they had 2 more LTAs both attached and mouth closed.