Sad Anemone

[MD84]

I'm waiting for my tank to mature before considering any nems. I was at Petco picking up some QT tank supplies and I saw a BTA. It had purple tips. It looked so sad, gaping mouth, pulled in. My wife asked the employee about it and said it didn't look very happy. He says it's fine and proceeds to poke at it with a net. It shriveled up and he said, see it's fine. I was so upset. The tanks there look pretty bad.

My question is, I was considering the possibility of setting up a hospital tank for saving this nem. Possibly using two tanks, one as a newly mixed saltwater storage tank, the other as the hospital tank. The hospital tank would have an overflow that went directly to drain. The new saltwater tank reservoir would drip into the hospital tank so that there is a constant water change.

Is this a reasonable idea?
Is it possible to set up a tank for a nem that is not cycled, yet is using tactics similar to a QT to keep water parameters in check?
Is there a better way to go about this?
I could use live rock and sand?
Proper lighting?
Feeding techniques?

I feel like the nem isn't going to survive there and could have a better chance if I try to save it.

Thoughts?

Thank you

 

[lapin]

You can try to save the nem.
It will need light, heat and flow.
Water changes can keep the water clean.
When I get a new nem it goes into a Qt tank and I treat it with cypro.
I change 95% of the water every 2 days for 2 weeks.
I use an air stone, heater and small powerhead placed behind an eggcreate devider. I place a small glass bowl upside down in the tank for the nem to climb up on.
No need to feed for a few weeks. A good light will be enough. Food will just make it harder for the nem to recover.

 

[PicassoClown04]

+1 to the above I saved a nem like that. I didn’t use Cipro and if you can’t see any filaments (wormlike structures coming out of the nem in weird places) then I don’t think it’s necessary. Personally, I chose to use live rock rubble instead of the bowl just because I thought it added beneficial bacteria to the tank and a more secure place for the nem to attach to. My nems love the AI Primes but they are about $100 used which is a little pricey for just a qt light. Light, flow, temperature are your big 3 (assuming your water quality is fine). I’d say take it home, give it maybe a month of intensive care and you should see pretty good results. Good luck with it, and make sure they give you a discount because that nem is SICK. Go on a different day at a different time so hopefully you get a different employee who realizes it is sick and gives you a discount.

 

[JohnnyBeagle]

Buying it from Petco just encourages them to restock with a new anemone that'll be tortured there

 

[PicassoClown04]

Buying it from Petco just encourages them to restock with a new anemone that'll be tortured there

That’s why you gotta push for a discount. If they start taking a loss because of sick animals they stop restocking them.

 

[MD84]

You can try to save the nem.
It will need light, heat and flow.
Water changes can keep the water clean.
When I get a new nem it goes into a Qt tank and I treat it with cypro.
I change 95% of the water every 2 days for 2 weeks.
I use an air stone, heater and small powerhead placed behind an eggcreate devider. I place a small glass bowl upside down in the tank for the nem to climb up on.
No need to feed for a few weeks. A good light will be enough. Food will just make it harder for the nem to recover.

Thank you. Could you elaborate on the 95% water change? Is that all at once? Do you just leave enough to keep the nem covered?

 

[MD84]

+1 to the above I saved a nem like that. I didn’t use Cipro and if you can’t see any filaments (wormlike structures coming out of the nem in weird places) then I don’t think it’s necessary. Personally, I chose to use live rock rubble instead of the bowl just because I thought it added beneficial bacteria to the tank and a more secure place for the nem to attach to. My nems love the AI Primes but they are about $100 used which is a little pricey for just a qt light. Light, flow, temperature are your big 3 (assuming your water quality is fine). I’d say take it home, give it maybe a month of intensive care and you should see pretty good results. Good luck with it, and make sure they give you a discount because that nem is SICK. Go on a different day at a different time so hopefully you get a different employee who realizes it is sick and gives you a discount.

Thank you. I was thinking of picking up the AI Prime 16 HD. I hadn't thought of going used, I'll check the forums here.

 

[MD84]

Buying it from Petco just encourages them to restock with a new anemone that'll be tortured there

I didn't think of that. Very good point. It's quite a difficult decision.

 

[PicassoClown04]

I didn't think of that. Very good point. It's quite a difficult decision.

All the petcos in my area actually stopped stocking saltwater animals because of the local reefers (there are a lot of us) we all pushed for huge discounts (like 50% or more) and the store realized it was losing money on the saltwater section so they discontinued it. They do still stock the equipment, test kits, salt, etc though.

 

[lapin]

Thank you. Could you elaborate on the 95% water change? Is that all at once? Do you just leave enough to keep the nem covered?

I siphon the water out and add the new pretty fast. This leaves the nem uncovered just for a few min. You could do 80% to keep the nem covered if you wish.

 

[MD84]

Thanks for the help. Very much appreciated.

 

[najer]

Start the hospital with water from your tank, I like your slow waterchange idea, as above I would add rubble bits.
I do things like this quite often, a few things have had a better end of life with me but the success stories make you feel great!

 

[MD84]

Start the hospital with water from your tank, I like your slow waterchange idea, as above I would add rubble bits.
I do things like this quite often, a few things have had a better end of life with me but the success stories make you feel great!

I thought about this. Perhaps I could:
Use a standard 10 gallon tank. Do a weekly 10 gallon water change out of my display tank. Use that for a 95% water change in the nem hospital tank.

I'm considering the benefits of virgin saltwater mix vs cycled display tank water.

Also, I keep my display tank at 78F. What would the recommended temp be for the nem hospital tank?

Edit: or are you saying, throw in some LR, established water, to start the hospital tank. Then do maybe a water change with fresh mixed saltwater?

 

[najer]

I thought about this. Perhaps I could:
Use a standard 10 gallon tank. Do a weekly 10 gallon water change out of my display tank. Use that for a 95% water change in the nem hospital tank.

I'm considering the benefits of virgin saltwater mix vs cycled display tank water.

Also, I keep my display tank at 78F. What would the recommended temp be for the nem hospital tank?

Edit: or are you saying, through in some LR, established water, to start the hospital tank. Then do maybe a water change with fresh mixed saltwater?

The last bit, give it tank water to start with which then gets slowly changed out, I am no nem expert but the last thing a nem needs is more stress and plopping it "clinical" water might not be a great idea?

 

[MD84]

I'll try to get a picture of the nem, I'll probably go back and check on it later today. They do have it listed as a BTA but I'm thinking it is a Condy. The price they have is $40. I don't know how much luck I would have re-homing it if I am successful in reviving it. It's just hard for me to leave it there in misery.

 

[PicassoClown04]

Lots of people will quickly take a BTA, purple tips does sound like a Condy though. When you use your DT water pour it through a felt filter sock so the detritus gets removed. 78 is my preferred temperature and make sure the nem has good flow. I would definitely recommend WET live rock rubble/ a piece with some texture so the nem can properly secure itself. See if you can get the nem for $30 or less because it is sick, if it’s a condy then those are like $20 or less anywhere so that’s just a rip off.

 

[MD84]

Thank you. I have some rock in my tank/sump ready to go. +1 on 78F. I read somewhere a procedure for QT nems that said like 82-84. I have a couple Hydor Koralia I was thinking for flow.

 

[lapin]

Check the tank temp and salinity at the store. If it needs to change to normal (who knows what they have there tanks at) do it over a few days

QT Nem set up
80F or near that
Jebao OW Wave Maker
Kessil A160 light

 

[MD84]

Thank you for sharing that. Very much appreciated.

 

[lapin]

Its now basket ball size and prob would not fit in that 10 gallon tank