Anenome help

[Erik72]

Need some help guys. I have a sebae anenome with it's mouth inflated and sticking out. Is it sick or is this normal? I've had it for about a year now. Water parameters are good and i'm doing a change tomorrow. The tenticals appear to be normal and it still has good color. It has decreased it's size slightly. As you can see from the picture (krill sitting on its mouth) it's not eating today. I feed at least twice a week with no previous problems.

All help greatly appreciated!!

 

[Photo_John]

That doesnt look good but dont panic. Stop feeding the nem when it looks less than happy. Nems wont starve as long as you have good lighting, in the short term. Check your water parameters and do water changes if needed. The nem could be expelling waste or a food item it didnt like the size of. Keep your water stable and the nem should be fine assuming your tanks meets the nems living requirements

 

[BonsaiNut]

Can't tell anything while you are trying to feed it. Show us a photo when it isn't in a feeding response.

 

[Erik72]

Can't tell anything while you are trying to feed it. Show us a photo when it isn't in a feeding response.

It looks the same either way.

 

[Photo_John]

is it still doing the same thing?

 

[Erik72]

is it still doing the same thing?

Yes, still doing the same thing. I did a water change yesterday. Water's still good. I'm not to worried yet. It still has good extension and color. I'll keep my eye on it and my water over the next few days.

 

[elegance coral]

Can't tell anything while you are trying to feed it. Show us a photo when it isn't in a feeding response.

I agree. It simply looks like an anemone feeding.

 

[Erik72]

I've never seen it look like it's feeding for 4 days. Is this normal?

 

[elegance coral]

No. That's absolutely not normal. What percentage of water did you change? Do you run carbon? Is this the only anemone in the tank? Have you been spraying air freshener, or cleaning products anywhere near the tank?

 

[NakedClown]

hmmm something is making it do that, if your water is good, might be a cleaning agent like stated above that got in, or maybe its just picked a weird way to start splitting. your extention and color are still good so its not dieing in that sense, id just keep an eye on it.

on a side not i fed my nems 1 time a week ( if needed) , they dont need a ton of food your clown that host it will help feed it and take are of it

 

[Erik72]

I changed 30%. Not running carbon, it's the only anenome and havent used any air cleaners. It's starting to look better today. I'll try to post an updated pic tomorrow.
Everything has been unchanged and stable for months. All other corals and fish are looking very good.

 

[Erik72]

It's been about a month and still no change. I've done 2 30% water changes and several water tests. All parameters are good. It's eating and still has good color and extension. It has decreased in size by 50% since this started.

I test pH, salinity, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, alk, mag, calcium, phosphates. Should I test anything else?

Anyone else had similar problems with their nem's?

 

[BonsaiNut]

It's been about a month and still no change. I've done 2 30% water changes and several water tests. All parameters are good. It's eating and still has good color and extension. It has decreased in size by 50% since this started.

I test pH, salinity, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, alk, mag, calcium, phosphates. Should I test anything else?

Anyone else had similar problems with their nem's?

I have never seen anything like this. That is why I was originally responding the way that I did. You have to understand anemone physiology. They are constructed somewhat like a drawstring purse with tentacles around the top. The purse has to stay closed most of the time to maintain positive water pressure inside the anemone - since this is what gives its body structure. Normally the mouth is tightly closed, and pressure and circulation are maintained via two slots on either side of the mouth called "siphonoglyphs" that are equipped with cilia (tiny moveable threadlike hairs) that pump water in and out. In your photo you can see that anemone frozen in a "feeding" response, with the actino-pharynx (throat) almost completely exposed. An anemone typically does this only when food is present - as if it is trying to "swallow" a large food piece.

Otherwise the anemone looks good!

The only thing I can think of is that there might be air trapped within the anemone (?) or some other physical obstruction within the anemone itself. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

 

[garygb]

I would suspect allelopathy with other corals (including mushrooms and/or polyps, if you have any). Increased frequency of water changes, carbon and overskimming should result in improvements, if indeed chemical warfare is the problem.

BTW, Naked Clown, H. crispa aren't known to split.

 

[Erik72]

Regarding allelopathy...do the corals need to touch the anemone for this to happen or can it happen thru the water flow.
I'm going to change the water in the morning then off to find some carbon. I appreciate everyones input!

 

[garygb]

No, it's definitely not necessary for there to be physical contact between the animals. Cnidaria, some more than others, shed substances (including nematocysts, from my understanding) into the water. This "chemical warfare," as it's sometimes referred to, is believed to have a deleterious effect between certain species.

 

[rssjsb]

I had an s. tapetum that was prolapsed like that for a good year. I moved it to a different tank with better light and filtration, no change. Then I added three more of them and it went away, really quickly. It was odd.