I guess I made a newbie mistake in regards to my first LTA. Above three weeks ago, my maroon clown finally took to it and I was very pleased. However, the maroon was very aggressive with the LTA and I beleive successfully killed it. He would try to bring it food, but then would wiggle around in it until it knocked the food out. I came home today to find the LTA face down on the sand and several of its tentacles are looking very withered. I beleive it is on its last leg. I have read that alot of people place a empty strawberry basket over the anemone during feeding to prevent the clown from doing what he has done, but I think I learned this lesson too late. I am going to try and nurse the guy back to health, but he is not responsive to direct feeding and just lets the food float away. Any suggestions?
Anemone dying
- Thread starter sbrooks
- Start date
WhiteLightsaber
New member
What are your water parameters? Anemone's like really low nitrates (I am extremely picky about nitrates and phosphates in my anemone tank at the work.) and they(anemone's) like high water flow, and about 3-5 watts per gallon(higher the better).
How large is the maroon? How large is the anemone when fully open? A large clown can kill a small anemone from buffeting.
An anemone face down or wandering usually means that it does not like the conditions it is in. When I feed my anemones, I usually keep my hand in the water and fight off hermit crabs, any cleaner shrimp, and any clown.
Lastly (I know this is getting long, sorry) what color is the anemone? A bleach white one usually isn't one long for this world, and near death. I would recommend feeding once per day.
Good luck and welcome to a very addictive hobby!
How large is the maroon? How large is the anemone when fully open? A large clown can kill a small anemone from buffeting.
An anemone face down or wandering usually means that it does not like the conditions it is in. When I feed my anemones, I usually keep my hand in the water and fight off hermit crabs, any cleaner shrimp, and any clown.
Lastly (I know this is getting long, sorry) what color is the anemone? A bleach white one usually isn't one long for this world, and near death. I would recommend feeding once per day.
Good luck and welcome to a very addictive hobby!
The anemone still has color, so it has not bleached out yet. My water parameters 0ppm on the ammonia and nitrite, but nitrate is about 40 to 50 ppm. I just did a water change. I have not tested for phosphate, but I know I have pretty high levels because the green hair algae is flourishing in big patches. The clown is about 3" and the anemone is about 5" wide fully open.
The Saltman
New member
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Toddrtrex
Premium Member
How was the LTA doing before it started to host the clown? If its foot was firmly attached in the sand bed, and eating prior to that, there is a good chance of being able to save it. IME, I have found LTAs pretty hardy, once they have been in the tank ( and healthy ) after 4 months.
Putting a basket over it will help, but I feel that removing the clown while it recovers is the best choice.
Putting a basket over it will help, but I feel that removing the clown while it recovers is the best choice.
WhiteLightsaber
New member
+1
smalls383
New member
A nem cant breath in a tank with nitrates around 40-50.....like if you were to leave your car running in your garage with the door shut you would eventually suffocate.....but also the right lighting and feeding it needs too...I think it would be the trates that are getting to it
