anemones questions-

[luamada]

Hi please give me a little insight in my new aquisition. I am new to the salt water, my tank is 5 month old the water quality is good with the exception of the Nitrate that I got to 15 and I am a hard time to get it to low.
My new anemony that the LFS told me would be fine in my tank, is just in between two rocks and have not moved from there. I put it in the tank and it went all over, for about 2 minutes and then it got there and there it stayed. I moved it back to the front of the tank by the glass and it went right back there again. I am not sure if she is happy there or if she is sad and does not want to move. I feed my 2 damsels (which I need them out but had no luck to take them out) with some frozen food twice per week and yesterday was the day for that. The anemony did not eat n the morning, at night she looked like she ate some. This morning she does not as white and looks more towars the pink side with the green tips. I turn off the lights at night and keep them on for 12 hours during the day. Is that enough? thanks

 

[luamada]

 

[Reefing102]

Anemones will move to a place they are happy.

From what you said, it does not look as white as before? A white anemone is a bleached anemone that usually isn't that healthy. Feeding it two maybe three times a week should help improve its health and gains in natural color back.

 

[luamada]

Shane, they bleach it???? oh my God, that is so cruel. What color is the natural color? Do you know what type of anemony this one and what kind of clownfish would like this type? I want to get a clown for it later. Thank you for your reply.

 

[Gig 'em]

no they don't bleach it. :lmao: What we mean when we say it's bleached is that the anemone is missing most of it's zooxanthellae; the plant like creatures that live within the anemone that gives it it's color and photosynthesizes the sunlight to create the essential sugars the anemone needs to survive. Anemones will lose the zooxanthellae if there isn't enough light or water is bad or a bad temperature. It's not your fault, this happened before you got it. The zooxanthellae population needs to be nursed back to health though. the anemone CAN survive on protein alone for a while, but not long. Just like no human can survive on meat alone. The protein though feeds the zooxanthellae like fertilizer so make sure you feed the anemone regularly while giving it adequate light. Good luck!

 

[Reefing102]

No they don't bleach it, it gets bleached by losing the zoanthelle (the organisms that give the anemone its color) usually by stress or poor lighting. The natural color depends on the type of anemone, although some variables may change that. For this we would need a pic. From what you have said so far, it sounds like your anemone may be a Bubble Tip Anemone which the most common color is a brownish green, to a dark green (at least in my experience) but there are also rose BTA's and some with a hint of orange in them. As for the type of clown? I'm not sure which is a natural host as it does depend on the type of anemone.

 

[luamada]

I am trying to put a picture in here, but I am new to this site as well and do not know exactly what to do. I will read it all and try it again; meanwhile, the picture is in my photo gallery you can look in there. From all I have been reading today, I have a feeling that it is heteractis magnifica, but I am not sure. Please look at the picture and tell me what you think. thanks
lucy
ps. I just put food for the fish and the anemone grabbed some with its tentacles. It did not take it to it's mouth though. It is hiding between two rocks and I can not get it to come out.

 

[luamada]

Gig, the bleaching that I mean was by using a neadle and use color to change its color, like they do to the glow freshwater fish (tetras). hehehe. It did sound like a blond theory. hehehe

 

[luamada]

 

[Reefing102]

that almost looks like a H. Magnifica or ritteri anemone. But would need a closer/clearer pic of it.

 

[luamada]

new photo

new photo

 

[luamada]

two mouth?

two mouth?

Is this normal that an anemony have two mouth???

 

[tufacody]

IMO your LFS should never have sold that anemone. It looks very bleached and sick. Most people will tell you that 5 months is still too new and your nitrates should be almost undectable.

 

[luamada]

I am worried about it now. But it looks really beautiful. It looks better now. I tested the water and the nitrate is at 10. Everything also is good where it should be. do you know if it is two mouth or what is the two wholes (closed) on it? Now I have to take care of it and make sure that I do anything I need to take care of it and make it happy. What is IMO? I have read that they insert something in the anemony so it looks white. I think that they may have done this to this baby. Poor thing. But Sue (the anemony) will be all right, I will take care of it. I just need to pick on everyones' brain to learn about it. I will test my water daily and I am thinking of adding another MH light. What do you think? At this minute it looks gorgeous. thank you for all your help.

 

[Steve Atkins]

I received one (H. magnifica) about 4 years ago that had two mouths but they were a bit further apart than yours. They gradually moved further apart as the enemone has split (not quite finished yet) into two. So, if you can keep it going, you might end up with two. Mine has taken a long time over this split but this is extended time frame is unusual.

Steve

 

[jubjub]

blah i dont aggree with 5months being to young.....i got my nem at about 4months and its over tripled in size and has been super healthy.. i might been a rare case, but regardless... but that nem is very bleached you do have MH's right? also get some good silver sides and feed it ever 3-4days about a 1/4" square of it oh yeah and dont be afraid to give him the head of the silverside and such good protien and such in that

 

[luamada]

from what I read about it looks like they bleached at the store to look more white. (how Cruel), I have known it I would not have bought it, but its colors is coming back. I do have metal H 175 (2 of them). Next week I will buy new bulbs just to be safe because my is almost 6 month old alrady. Also I will go to the store to buy the food that was indicated. I have fed it frozen food and it loved it. It ate like crazy and it saved some in her tentacles. Her name is Sue by the way. She is getting gorgeous since started to stay on the side all opened up. I am watching her very close. I will test the water today again to make sure that everything is good for Sue. Thank you all for all he input.
PS. My tank is 5 month, but I bought everything used and live rocks older than 5 years with things growingon them as well. The already had bristle worms and polyps and other things on them. Does anyone have a picture of what is sea weed??? I think that I may have that as well and need to learn more about it. Thanks