Anemone Question

[Crimthann]

So I recently purchased a blue LTA (about 3 days ago). It seems very healthy, mouth closed, nice color in the tentacles, it is opened up nicely. I tried to feed it twice over the last few days and it kinda grabbed onto the silverside and didn't move it to it's mouth. After it sat there for a min or so either one of my cleaner shrimp or peppermint shrimp always hops in and snags the fish and dips off into the rocks. I tried a couple of things like dropping some mysis shrimp in the tank to distract them and put a few small silverside chunks in there to get them to try and eat that, but they always seem to get the fish before my anemone. I even tried defending off the anemone for a little bit with the other side of my fish net and it isn't taking it.

Alriiiight now for my questions. How long does it usually take for them to generally eat their meal? Is it just not hungry right now? Still kinda in shock from the tank move? Or is it because it still has been wandering around the tank at night trying to find its home?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Here's a pic of it just for fun. This is when it first settled into the sand on sunday. It's has moved a couple of times since then.

 

[TekCat]

Beautiful nem! I'd say let it settle for now. They get 90% of their energy from lights, so it wont starve in such short time.

Here is what I'd try. In a few days attempt to feed it again with something "easier" like chunk of uncooked cocktail shrimp (thawed of course). To ensure that the food wont be stolen, I'd use plastic container turned upside down ( or soft drink plastic bottle made into a cup shape) with small holes to allow water to move though. So, turn improvised cup or plastic container upside down and cover the anemone so noone could get in. Leave it for half an hour or so.

hope this helps

 

[a4twenty]

i use the method your trying. i feed the shrimp first, then feed the anemone. i still have to stand guard for a few minuets but he gets his meal. i would say it takes about 3 - 10 minuets before the food is gone and the nem has opened back up. i only feed a piece about 1/4" - 1/2" long at a time so they have no problems getting it in their mouths. i feed mine a variety of foods like mysis shrimp, krill and silversides.

to distract my shrimp, i'll give them a piece of the tail from one of the silversides. i usually don't see them again till the nem's are done.

 

[Nykademus]

I would agree wit Tekcat, give it some time to adjust to the new environment and find a place that it likes.. what this will do is allow it to fully acclimate, become comfortable and to build up a decent hunger... a week or two will not hurt a healthy anemone.

Edit-
That is a beautiful anemone btw!

 

[Crimthann]

Well too late now.. It got sucked into the powerhead that i hid in the back of my tank while i was waiting for the foam covers to come in . Hopefully it wont nuke out my tank & i'll do a bunch of water changes when i come home. Shame.. I really liked it and i cant figure out how it got to it.

 

[Nykademus]

Thats one of the things you will have to worry about with anemones.. they love flow.. will need to make sure you have those covers first. Hindsight is 20/20 though.

Did it kill the anemone? I have had them get stuck and they bounced back.. but that will depend on how long it was stuck in the powerhead.

 

[Crimthann]

It's totally gone. I had to pull everything off just to get the plastic out of it's inside. Horrible.. I knew it was going to be a problem so I moved the jets way out of reach (or so i thought). Only thing i can think of is that it was climbing up the glass last night sometime. Part that aggravates me is my the foam cover things came in the mail at my office a few min ago. Æ'¼ well next time

 

[SuperNerd]

So you bought it online?

I would try a BTA clone from an LFS if your tank is ready for it.

Anemone could have already been going downhill but just in case what's your parameters and setup like and how old is the tank?

 

[Crimthann]

No the anemone I bought at my LFS, i read that they dont really ship well. I bought the powerhead covers online. It seemed fine until it got sucked up it was just not eating (i only had it for 3 days & tried feeding it twice) either fast enough or was just a little stressed. My parameters were great, probably all screwed up now after it died. My tank is about 6 weeks old and my nitrates nitrites and ammonia have all been 0 for the last 4 weeks or so. It probably would have been good feeding it under the Tupperware. I just figured because it was an LTA it would stay in the sand bed and it wandered up the glass into my power head. Live and learn I guess. Now I have the covers for the intake and once I can get my levels inline again for a few weeks I’ll try again. First thing I’ve lost in my tank, sucks it had to be such a nice looking anemone.

 

[TekCat]

sorry about your loss. next time then.

 

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8685695#post8685695 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Crimthann
My parameters were great... My tank is about 6 weeks old and my nitrates nitrites and ammonia have all been 0 for the last 4 weeks or so.

6 weeks?! :eek1: Even if the anemone hadn't been sucked up by a powerhead the tank is most likely not ready for an anemone and it should not have been added in the first place. Many hardy animals would probably find it hard to get by in a tank that young and most anemones are sensitive to begin with. They can be harder to take care of than some corals and in general need stable, mature tanks (years, not weeks).

You will most likely need to test for the things that corals need as well, in addition to the very basic ammonia and nitrates, but I would not ask that LFS for any more advice if they suggested you take home that anemone in the first place.

As far as I know anemones do not die in nature. Death in home aquariums is usually attributable to inadequate husbandry. If you're going to get an anemone in the future I would start out with a BTA because at least these ones have been known to clone in captivity. First however, I would get more experience under your belt and prepare the tank for its arrival. In general you need good lights, good water, and good filtration. If you do not have these in line it will make it even harder to successfully keep them longterm.

Ask around here for advice and read the threads posted before you purchase (it'll prevent not only a lot of unecessary animal deaths, but a lot of $ simply going down the drain).

Also keep in mind that clowns do not need anemones to do well and there are MANY other inverts out there that look very similar to anemones and are easier to take care of.

 

[reefallen]

I totally agree with Supernerd! Your tank should be a minimum of 6 MONTHS old before adding ANY anemone!! And, a BTA would be the best place to start.

Your LTA looked a bit bleached as well. Even if it didn't hit the powerheads, it probably would have been a goner!

Sorry for your loss, but good info is KEY.

Try this website for help after about 5 more months...
http://www.karensroseanemones.com/