Troubled Anemone

KellyB · Feb 19, 2014

My husband and I bought two clown fish and a purple tipped anemone 5 days ago. The anemone seemed quite happy at the lfs hosting with a different clown fish, but since we have gotten it home I've seen it "face plant" itself into a rock over night and right now it is laying on the bottom upside down. I'm wondering if this is usual while it looks for where it wants to be, last night it kept spinning in the same spot about two inches off the bottom for a couple of hours. The clown fish are currently staying away from it though there is a peppermint shrimp that likes to check it out once ever now and then. I've checked all the water parameters they are within normal limits, did a five percent water change. These are the only things in the tank besides some snails and crabs. And last question is this a wound on the bottom of its foot?

shred5 · Feb 19, 2014

Yea he is in trouble. First off its bleached which they can recover from with really good care (not easy for the average) but a torn foot they almost never recover from.

First thing I look at when buying a anemone is color then the foot, then if it is sticky. Torn foot always a reject, about the only hosting anemone that can recover from that is a BTA....

KellyB · Feb 19, 2014

Is there anything that I can do to try and treat it?

ohio reefer · Feb 19, 2014

It's a bleached sebae (H.crispa)
If I were you id return it. What lights? Tank size? And these guys prefer sand.

wuuzzzuuppp · Feb 19, 2014

I'm with Ohio reefer's advice. If you can take it back, I would too. If your going for your first anemone, I'd start out with a Bubble tip Anemone. Probably one of the easiest. Just make surre you have good lights =)

shred5 · Feb 20, 2014

KellyB said:
Is there anything that I can do to try and treat it?

I have never seen a seen a sebae anemone (either crispa or malu hard to tell which you have) recover from a torn foot. It is also bleached which means it has little energy to spare for repair. Matter of fact it does not seem to have neough energy to even attach.

You could quarantine it and treat with cipero and if it is sticky it may eat but I doubt it has any chance to survive. Wish I had better news, I have saved many anemones before.

Trex · Feb 20, 2014

It is an H. crispa. Like what has been mentioned, it is very difficult for anemones that do not naturaly split to recover from damage to the foot. It being bleached doesn't help either (( in the future, avoid any white hosting anemones )), but I wouldn't give up hope yet. However, I would be ready to act when/if things go South.

OneLove · Feb 20, 2014

I had thiz happen to my Condy from a puffer mistaking it for food. I moved it to QT and put a net full of mysis over him. He's eating and has since moved out of the net and on to a rock. I will continue feeding like this until he is 100%. Let me know how things go. Good luck

KellyB · Feb 20, 2014

OneLove said:
I had thiz happen to my Condy from a puffer mistaking it for food. I moved it to QT and put a net full of mysis over him. He's eating and has since moved out of the net and on to a rock. I will continue feeding like this until he is 100%. Let me know how things go. Good luck

What kind of net would I use? And should I turn him right side up onto his foot?

OneLove · Feb 20, 2014

I just used regular large aquarium net.. turned him right side up and put net with mysis over him but leaning against glass so he can easily get out. He's moved out of the net and attached. Took over a week to see any improvement. I fed every other day for that week and since Monday he's been eating raw shrimp chuncks again.

OneLove · Feb 20, 2014

If he won't stay upright don't force him. Just help drift some mysis to him and see if he eats. He may be on his side in the net for a couple days. That's how mine was. He's now at 80% but heading in the right direction. I've even cut back feeding a little.

KellyB · Feb 21, 2014

On the plus side he finally flipped himself over this morning and has attached himself to a rock. Hopefully this is a sign he is feeling better and will be allright. Thank you everyone for your help.