My New (Bleached) Ritteri Anemone

[TonysReef]

I met someone from here today to pick up some zoanthids at a LFS and of course you do the walk around. Found this guy attached to the glass in the invert section:

Asked how much for the Ritteri, he said it just came in four or five days ago as a long tentacle, they were waiting to see what happens with it. Inquired if that meant it wasn't for sale, he kind of said yes, but if I wanted it I could have it for $60. I was pretty confident from the base it was a Ritteri (and that price was a steal), but I've been out of the hobby for a while. Hoping for confirmation (or correction). Also any tips on getting it to color back up, or just cross fingers and hope for the best?

Anyway, got it home and temp acclimated it in the sump, then dripped it in the sump for like 90 minutes. Turned the pumps off and placed it in the tank where I wanted it to be. Tank is a harem by the way, 22 baby designers: 10 orange storms, 8 black storms, 4 Da Vincis.

It took the clowns about thirty seconds to get over their fear and be curious. Then about another minute to start test diving inside. Within about 5 minutes they decided it was home.

 

[WMR]

Nice Ritteri, good acquisition. Carpet & Ritteris are my favorites, good luck with it. How big is your tank because one of my old customers had one & it grew to almost 3 foot diameter, HUGE!!!

 

[D-Nak]

Other than it being bleached, it looks like a healthy magnifica. Just feed it and it should be fine. It may take a couple of months to color up.

 

[TonysReef]

So I can definitely smell my water now, which I'm not taking as a great sign, but otherwise the anemone seems healthy and happy. It's not dead anemone smell, i've been in the hobby long enough to know that stench, it's still inflated and even took some mysis this morning (unless the ****** clowns stole it all in the end). But there is a distinct smell to the water and room that wasn't there before. I'm going to go pick up some carbon tomorrow, any advice or experiences otherwise?

 

[D-Nak]

If the nem looks okay, I don't think it's causing the smell. Even dead nems don't smell unless they are removed from the water. How is your skimmer? Maybe it foamed up due to the mysis? I try to rinse mysis very thoroughly prior to adding to my tank because the oil in the mysis sometimes makes the skimmer go nuts.

 

[TonysReef]

If the nem looks okay, I don't think it's causing the smell. Even dead nems don't smell unless they are removed from the water. How is your skimmer? Maybe it foamed up due to the mysis? I try to rinse mysis very thoroughly prior to adding to my tank because the oil in the mysis sometimes makes the skimmer go nuts.

Interesting. It was only a little mysis and I did drain the water I used to thaw them before putting in the tank. Also the smell was there before that. Only other new additions were some zoanthids. Skimmer is acting normally. Maybe it's just a dead snail somewhere in the rocks..

 

[D-Nak]

Maybe a fish jumped out? Again, typically the water within the tank contains any smell. It's only when something comes out of the water is when it smells.

 

[TonysReef]

Fish are all accounted for and it's definitely the water. Added some carbon, we'll see what happens. I did find a snail that kicked it when I got home today, so I'm hoping that was it.

Finally got in the filter for my cell phone and can take easy pics. It moved to a back corner, but seems to be doing well.

 

[shred5]

Yea looks nice and healthy but I agree is is somewhat bleached.
It is eating so that is a good thing and should help it recover.

 

[tripdad]

Let's see if we can get an opinion... @OrionN

 

[OrionN]

I agree that he seem healthy other than bleached. May not be completely bleached. I think he will be fine in a few weeks

 

[OrionN]

double post

 

[TonysReef]

I agree that he seem healthy other than bleached. May not be completely bleached.

This was my assessment. Until the last photo the fact that the tentacle tips are still yellowed hadn't come through, so I'm hopefully that there remain some zooxanthellae. Otherwise I was doing some reading on trying to feed them bits of other corals or anemones as a transplant. I don't think I would have the heart to chop up an anemone, but I saw a kenya tree coral at the shop yesterday that I liked and wouldn't be averse to chopping off a branch of.

I think he will be fine in a few weeks

That would be amazing, will definitely keep the thread updated.

I just need to keep making sure my clowns are nice and distracted before I attempt to feed. They're all little jerks who want to steal the anemone's mysis. I used to have a bicinctus that would love to bring my haddoni bits of silverside. I miss her. These designer clowns are the opposite.

 

[Breadman03]

I've used slurries of food for my nems-Reef Roids, mysis, and LRS- and gotten good results. I'm under the impression that smaller particles are easier for the nem to digest.

 

[TonysReef]

It came out from the corner today and is out on the pinnacle which is nice.

 

[shred5]

Magnificas will usually move to one of the highest spots.

 

[tripdad]

It's a beauty! Good luck, they are very nice to have.

 

[TonysReef]

Quick update. Moved to the glass, which I don't mind. Hasn't colored up but is still eating well. When I feed Rod's Foods I give it whatever the largest piece is and it happily takes it.

 

[Purpletang92]

What lighting are you using ? It’s not getting enough light.....

 

[TonysReef]

What lighting are you using ? It’s not getting enough light.....

I'm sure someone more experienced can better chime in and maybe correct me, but I would expect it to be constantly hunting for "more light" as it doesn't have zooxanthellae at the moment, so no matter how much light it's getting the anemone will think it's lacking in the photosynthetic food department.

But, fwiw, it's under a hydra 26 at about 40% at the moment.