New Bubble Tip Anemone Not Attaching To Rock

[a;lksdjf]

As a birthday present to myself, I bought a small rainbow BTA yesterday. Overnight it almost doubled in size, but now it won’t stay attached to the rock. Is this a problem of it trying to move and the flow is too strong or is something else causing it to detach? Aside from not attaching to the rock it looks perfectly healthy with all of its tentacles inflated and mouth closed up. Sorry if this is a dumb question this is my first experience with anemones

 

[Scotty Buttons]

No dumb questions here. How old is your tank? and what are your parameters? Anemones usually do this at first while they look for a spot they like. Is it's foot sticky? Some pictures would also help.

 

[James M]

Not a dumb question !!

Since you got yesterday it’s going to be moving around to try to find a good spot. Kill the flow and let it attach to something and then turn it back on

 

[a;lksdjf]

No dumb questions here. How old is your tank? and what are your parameters? Anemones usually do this at first while they look for a spot they like. Is it's foot sticky? Some pictures would also help.

Tank has been up and running for about 3 months, parameters are perfect except for calcium, which could be a little higher, but I don’t plan on keeping any sps so I don’t think that should be an issue

 

[a;lksdjf]

No dumb questions here. How old is your tank? and what are your parameters? Anemones usually do this at first while they look for a spot they like. Is it's foot sticky? Some pictures would also help.

Here’s the anem after killing the flow. It seems to be doing fine rn.

 

[reef lover]

Tank is a bit young for a nem...they really like a mature stable tank. That being said it doesnt look too bad ...are your powerheads covered so it can wander without getting chewed up? Might take it awhile to find a happy spot.

 

[a;lksdjf]

Tank is a bit young for a nem...they really like a mature stable tank. That being said it doesnt look too bad ...are your powerheads covered so it can wander without getting chewed up? Might take it awhile to find a happy spot.

I’ve nem-proofed the flow. Right now it looks like it’s settled on the top of the rock pile

 

[ShaunRobinson]

The problem with turning off the flow when introducing a new nem is that the flow is no longer typical for your tank. The nem will settle and when you turn the flow back on it may well decide it doesn’t like it there after all and decide to wander again. I always keep my flow on and let it settle where it wants to but it’s important to keep a close eye on the nem for a couple of days to make sure it stays clear of powerheads.

Shaun.

 

[a;lksdjf]

The problem with turning off the flow when introducing a new nem is that the flow is no longer typical for your tank. The nem will settle and when you turn the flow back on it may well decide it doesn’t like it there after all and decide to wander again. I always keep my flow on and let it settle where it wants to but it’s important to keep a close eye on the nem for a couple of days to make sure it stays clear of powerheads.

Shaun.

After turning the flow back on it appears to have settled behind the main rock structure out of sight. I know better than to try to force it to move into a more visible place but lucky me I get to see 1/4 of the nem that I spent $50 on LOL

 

[ShaunRobinson]

This is the problem with introducing them with no flow. They will settle the first place they can plant the foot. Give it a little time though, once it has got used to your lights it may well climb to the top or extend further up towards the lights.

 

[a;lksdjf]

I just noticed this morning that on the rock the LFS owner gave me, there was not only another smaller rainbow BTA, but there was also a green fluorescent mushroom, so I got a roughly $120 value for $40

 

[Lukas75]

I just noticed this morning that on the rock the LFS owner gave me, there was not only another smaller rainbow BTA, but there was also a green fluorescent mushroom, so I got a roughly $120 value for $40

Very nice. +1 on the turn the flow off and, +1 on the problems with turning the flow off, +1 on the tank being a little young, but not undoable. I know I contradicted myself, but turning off the flow gives it a chance to attach its base to the rockwork, after that its going to wander unless you made it a home factoring light and flow in already (and then it still might not stay there). If it finds a place you like, test it with a little food. If the food sticks and it eats it, keep feeding it. Hopefully that will convince it to stay there. As long as the calcium is within acceptable range a little bit low shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Scotty Buttons]

I wouldn't recommend feeding it at all for a while. Until you know it's established and happy, even then nems don't need food. If your lighting is sufficient it will be fine.

 

[Lukas75]

I wouldn't recommend feeding it at all for a while. Until you know it's established and happy, even then nems don't need food. If your lighting is sufficient it will be fine.

I've had a lot of success doing this, but I always buy captive propagated nems. In this instance you might be right...

 

[Brian Saxby]

My nem wondered for about 2 weeks before settling and I’m not sure it’s even done that yet. It has stayed in the same foot radius for the last week or so.