Anem abuse!

[macperry]

I introduced this Sebae about two weeks ago. The percs began hosting it about a week ago. The only problem is....they seem to be "loving" the poor anem to death! The Sebae started out in the front corner of the tank dug pretty well intot the sand, and braced against the glass. The percs were having none of that, and moved it to its current location up against some live rock and sand. Will the anem get "used" to this treatment? Any shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.

 

[macperry]

Anyone....any info???

 

[chris79]

i dont think that is a sebae nem. I think its a BTA.

 

[macperry]

It was sold as a Sebae Crispa....and looks quite a bit like others I have seen on this site....when its not getting beat up of course. Any more input out there?

 

[illcssd]

almost positive that is a bta. even though it was sold as a Sebae the column looks just like a bta and the fact it moved to the rocks is a very high sign that it is. It probably moved itself there. Sebae's, either h. crispa, or h. malu, the two anemones commonly referred to as Sebae's do not live in the rocks, they are sand dwellers.
Not that that answered your original question.
That anemone is quite small for those clowns and it is possible that the anemone could get beaten to death, its possible the anemone will get used to it, but its also highly possible it wont.

 

[homebrewdude]

I am having the same problem with my clown and new BTA.

I am thinking of putting the clown in the sump until the BTA is established.

I tried to feed mine today, and the clown removed the silversides from the BTA.

 

[Coralgrabber]

yea it looks like the nem is too small for those clowns. A nem should be at least 3 times the size of the clown.

 

[macperry]

What type BTA do you think it might be? The LFS where it was purchased has always been very knowledgeable about their stock, and they are positive its a Sebae crispa. Anyone else have some pics of my anem after it matures a bit?

 

[mwood]

I have a RBTA that is being loved to death by a couple of tomatoes. I'm trying to find a larger nem, like a carpet or larger rose, to distract the clowns so the nem can recover.

 

[macperry]

If I have to take this anem out of the tank i'm going to have a mutiny on my hands!

 

[raoul]

Some people use strawberry baskets, or something like that to cover the nem until it gets established. This may help with the feeding as well, since the fish can't get to it to move the food. Sometimes a swish of the tail is all it takes for the food to move from the nem.
Good luck!

 

[raoul]

Oh yeah, for better ID, you might want to try larger pictures, making sure to get a good shot of the underside (the last pic may work for that). It's hard to see the identifying features on that size pic.

 

[sarahkucera]

All right, here's my two cents.

Looks like an H Crispa to me, due to the leathery tan column and what appears to be white spots on the column.

Additionally, it has placed itself with its foot sunk into the sand at the rock line edge, which is exactly where my crispa is the happiest. Your clowns wouldn't have moved it, it would have moved itself there. They can move all over the place and surprise the heck out of you in the morning. My RBTA climbed the glass and took up residence by the overflows for a while.

It looks pretty badly beat up.

Also, your sig line says that you've got a 12 gallon nano. There could be any number of things bothering your H Crispa, including water fluctuations, water quality, etc, in addition to your clowns loving it a little too much.

Your tank is far too small for an h crispa. My H Crispa is approx 14 inches across today and that is without maximum tentacle entension.

I wish you and your nem luck, but don't think it's going to make it.

 

[macperry]

Good eye sarahkucera...it is on the rock AND dug into the sand. My water params have been salinity:1.026 Calc:440 Alk: 9.8dKh Ph:8.1 for over a year now. If I keep up these params, and the anem gets comfy in its new location....with a little luck I think it will make it. I do have a question about food...I feed mysis, marine one pellet, and marine one flake. One very small serving of each per day. What can I feed to fatten and strenghten the anem up as quickly as possible?

 

[mwood]

IMHO, no matter what you feed, you will need to separate the clowns from the nem till it looks better. My Rose looked better for a while, but went down hill once the clowns took to it.

 

[raoul]

I think in general, most nems appreciate some meaty food. You can try shrimp, clam, mussel, silversides, etc...just be sure to use smaller pieces, especially in the begining so you don't overwhelm it. This may help it to get big enough to handle the clowns, that's only if you can get it to eat, sometimes clowns get in the way of that. I would definately try to protect the nem some how.

Another thing I just noticed that might be throwing your nem off, is the age of your tank. It looks like your nano is 2 months old, that's kind of new. Most people recommend letting tanks mature for a minimum of 6 months before adding a nem. This allows you to work out all the kinks and get the parameters stable, as well as get all the good stuff balanced out and thriving.

Good luck

 

[macperry]

I have to update my info....the tank is 8 months old, and all water params are kept quite stable. I am going to think positive, keep working on water stability, and try some small biits of meaty food target fed to the anem. Wish me luck, and please keep the info coming.

 

[raoul]

Really happy to hear the tank is older than 2 months!

Thanks for updating your info!

 

[macperry]

Just tried to feed my anem some fresh scallops.....but the perc came over and took the food right out of the anems mouth! Is this "normal" behavior? Also...I got a better pic that may hepl someone ID this anem for me. Any help out there?

 

[RedSonja]

You may have to "stand guard" over the food to keep the clowns from stealing it before the 'nem can take it in. You could also try a feeding-cone type apparatus over it, cut the top off a 1liter soda bottle, put it over the 'nem and feed through the top. It kinda looks like your 'nem is up against the rock so that might not work. I used to keep tongs in the tank near the feeding going on and shoo fish and shrimp away til the food was eaten.

How big was the piece of scallop? Best of feed 1/4" or smaller pieces so they can fit it inside and be able to digest it, if it's smaller they can eat it faster as well.

-Sonja