White Anemone Help

[NXNote5130]

Hey everyone,

I’m new to the hobby. I was at my LFS and hoping to get a long tentacle anemone and found one that I liked. It was a translucent white/yellow and the bottom was pinkish. I had done research on long tentacle anemone care but not really color variations. After getting home I looked up a white long tentacle anemone and saw a ton of posts saying those don’t exist and mean the anemone is bleached and not healthy. I called my LFS and they said that they do exist and that it is healthy.

I would hope that they wouldn’t lie to me but I don’t know and would like to get the opinion of someone with experience on this forum.

Note** I’ve had the anemone in my tank for 1 day now and it seems fine, has moved around and seemed to find a spot it likes.

Thanks!

 

[Webslinger]

Anemones need a stable tank which usually takes about 6 months to year. I would bring it back to the LFS till your tank is stable enough to keep one.

The anemone is fine now but usually takes a few weeks to adjust and will color up if conditions are kept stable. The best thing is to just leave it alone and it will find a it's happy place (not Yours).

 

[NXNote5130]

Anemones need a stable tank which usually takes about 6 months to year. I would bring it back to the LFS till your tank is stable enough to keep one.

The anemone is fine now but usually takes a few weeks to adjust and will color up if conditions are kept stable. The best thing is to just leave it alone and it will find a it's happy place (not Yours).

Thanks for the response! Would you mind expanding on what you mean by stable? How would someone know that their tank is considered stable or not? Are there measurable ways to do so?

Thanks!

 

[Mark Bradley]

A tank that has been matured well - Measurements are consistent without Too many fluctuations to the water chemistry. Did you start with some hardier corals?

 

[NXNote5130]

A tank that has been matured well - Measurements are consistent without Too many fluctuations to the water chemistry. Did you start with some hardier corals?

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification. Ya, I have been trying to dial that in as much as possible. As of recent, I haven’t seen much fluctuation in the water chemistry.

The coral I currently have in the tank and have had for the past 3 months are:

1.) Duncan
2.) Galaxea
3.) Zoa

 

[ForTheLoveOfCoral21]

How long has your tank been set up and what type of lights and flow are you running.

 

[Mark Bradley]

zooxanthellae algae provides the colour for the anemone. If the anemone bleaches it is getting rid of its zooxanthellae algae leaving only the white flesh. Is the mouth closed, not gaping? Are the tentacles still sticky?
I would suggest you provide a lot more detail about your tank if you want guidance on how to remedy any problems.

 

[old salt reefer]

You never know until you try, and just because it didn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for the other guy. I've been into saltwater for over 5 decades and I'm not going to tell you a anemone needs a more mature/stable tank. That just increases your odds of success. I've put SPS coral into a day old tank and still have the coral and the RBTA I put in a week latter(years now).
You've already won a major battle with your LTA-it's found a spot it likes and has moved in(dug in). Since it's white(lost it's zooxanthellae) I would start feeding it everyday some good meaty food(shrimp,scallop,etc). It needs good light right now too(not to much though). Other than that just leave it be.

 

[Mark Bradley]

You never know until you try, and just because it didn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for the other guy. I've been into saltwater for over 5 decades and I'm not going to tell you a anemone needs a more mature/stable tank. That just increases your odds of success. I've put SPS coral into a day old tank and still have the coral and the RBTA I put in a week latter(years now).
You've already won a major battle with your LTA-it's found a spot it likes and has moved in(dug in). Since it's white(lost it's zooxanthellae) I would start feeding it everyday some good meaty food(shrimp,scallop,etc). It needs good light right now too(not to much though). Other than that just leave it be.

There are always exceptions to the rule but you said it yourself - “increases your odds of success”

 

[old salt reefer]

There are always exceptions to the rule but you said it yourself - “increases your odds of success”

Which is why I said it.