any known anemone parasites or killers?

[hypnoj]

Are there any known fauna etc that kills anemone's?

 

[BonsaiNut]

Yeah, tons. Are you looking for critters in your tank? Or critters in general on the reef?

 

[Reefvette]

Sea turtles i just learned

They mostly succub to internal infection.

 

[elegance coral]

Fish, shrimp, crab, starfish, microbes (they're typically secondary though), and probably several other critters are known to kill and eat anemones.

 

[hypnoj]

"Yeah, tons. Are you looking for critters in your tank? Or critters in general on the reef?"
In tank pests, not ones on the reef.

"Fish, shrimp, crab, starfish, microbes (they're typically secondary though), and probably several other critters are known to kill and eat anemones."
Please be more specific. I'm looking for more common type aquarium pests.

The reason I ask is because I have 17 BTA's in my tank, and even though 16 are thriving and growing, I have 1 that is failing. I'm racking my brain as to why this very large and originally healthy BTA is dying (could be dead at this point).
I did notice some slug looking bugs crawling around. They look a lot like small (pencil eraser size) mexican turbo snails without the shells. If I thought I could get a picture I would, but they blend almost completely into they're surroundings. With that being said, I've never seen them on any anemone's, just scavenging, so I doubt they're killing my nems.
any advice?

 

[elegance coral]

Are they all clones of the same anemone? If not it MAY be allelopathy/chemical warfare between the anemones?????? The anemone may have simply been damaged, and an infection set in????? I doubt you have an anemone predator in your tank.

 

[israel.kendall]

Are you sure those little slugs are not stomatella snails? That's what the sound like.

 

[Anemone]

Are they all clones of the same anemone?

My question as well, because...

If not it MAY be allelopathy/chemical warfare between the anemones??????

This may well be happening.

Kevin

 

[hypnoj]

they are not clones of each other, only a couple of them have clones out. I have thought about chemical warfare as well. I runner carbon in a reactor constantly, but I know it still might not matter.

 

[hypnoj]

ya, stomatella snails, you were right on the money, I've heard about them, but have never seen them. Happy to have them regardless. Pushes me even further to the fact that chemical warfare is occurring. I was just really hoping that since they were all BTA's I could avoid it (knew I probably couldn't entirely though).

 

[Anemone]

IME, a large nem usually doesn't just die from the same-species allelopathy. It usually shrinks in size and just slowly "doesn't thrive." In that case, you'll need to target feed the affected nem. Frozen Krill works well for this.

If your large nem is truly crashing, there might be more going on here.

Kevin

 

[hypnoj]

IME, a large nem usually doesn't just die from the same-species allelopathy. It usually shrinks in size and just slowly "doesn't thrive." In that case, you'll need to target feed the affected nem. Frozen Krill works well for this.

If your large nem is truly crashing, there might be more going on here.

Kevin

I agree, that's why I'm so bothered by it; and stumped. I'm target feeding all the nems 3 x weekly with mysis and coral frenzy. The growth from all of my nems is quite good. This particular nem was a dark purple color; not a color often (if ever) seen in BTA's. When the LFS told me he had a purple one in stock I dismissed it and told him it probably wasn't a BTA and more then likely a LTA. Low and behold my friend stopped into the same LFS a week later, saw it, was told it was a BTA, and bought it for me. Once in my tank, it had all of the characteristics of a BTA, including smooth foot and slightly bubbled. I determined that it wasn't a LTA after all, but perhaps a rare BTA. It survived well for a few weeks not moving much from it's initial spot. I target fed it with the rest until in continued to shrink and then finally disappear in my rock. I could still target feed it a little bit though, but it never recovered and now I can't find it. All of the while, my other nems have continued to thrive.
So.. whatchu think? LTA and died from chemical warfare? Perhaps a color injected BTA? I dunno, I wish I had it thriving though, it was beautiful.

 

[Enyo]

This is the third thread i've seen recently where a purple BTA withered away as other colored clones thrived.

I have a small purple with green tips BTA that is on it's last leg, though it's mostly from shipping stress. When I opened the bag it was a blob of mesenterial filaments. Meanwhile I have two roses that are the size of dinner plates.