Anyone Had A Haddoni Recover?

[Mirror Pond]

After reading many many threads on the poor survival of Haddoni's shortly after acclimation, I'm wondering if anyone has had one turn around and survive after a bout of "turn my guts inside out"? It seems that it is a common occurance for these anemone's to go downhill shortly after acclimation and that poor tank conditions have nothing to do with this.

I know that they are usually listed as one of the easier anemones to keep and maybe they are if they make it through the first week. But after reading a lot of the threads it seems like these are doomed before they even reach peoples tanks due to shipping stress and/or damage. So, does anyone have any survival stories?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

"Easy" is a relative term. Every anemone that lives long enough to be placed in a hobbyists' aquarium is a survival story. Surviving acclimation is another matter altogether.
I personally believe that aquarium conditions have a lot to do with whether or not a healthy Haddon's survives a "gut wrenching" acclimation.

 

[Poorcollegereef]

Not to down any hope, but I have had two unsuccessful attempts with haddoni and one that had a tight mouth but died do to a foot infection that I did not catch. Haddoni is normally one of the more difficult species as compared to BTA and Atlantic Anemones. It may not be as difficult as the Ritteri, but what is the difference in orbiting the moon and landing on the moon?

 

[Newreeflady]

What happened with its foot? How did it develop such an infection? Any ideas? (ie, might it have been damaged pre-acclimation or shortly after?)

I just got a carpet in from Live Aquaria. I can't recommend anyone do it, I was very iffy with having a specimen shipped as well. So far so good, but it's only been 2-days so I am not sure what to expect. I'm running carbon, i've fed it twice with very small pieces of silverside. It is mad sticky, and looks great so i'm very hopeful. I'll update in a week.

BTW, they shipped this guy in very little water compared to its size (gigantic, it is more than 1' and I ordered a 4-6"-er.) Is this shipping method to keep it from inflating with too much nasty water? I don't know too much about this guy, I know it's sad, I tried to find reading, but I think they are just a mystery to some extent.

Best,
Angela

 

[Poorcollegereef]

Well that 'foot' anemone was well over a year ago and came from a declining LFS (new owner, not very good) and did not keep new anemones in good conditions. NE ways it was doing well for a day or two, but then declined, wilted away then tissue loss from the rip. I used a mirror so see behind the tank and there was a small rip and the anemone declined from that point. I am not sure if it was ripped before or after my acclimation. It was healthy considering the bad LFS but I dont think I caused it... but memory is a bit fuzzy because I went through 4 or 5 anemones (sad I know) before finally a awesome green BTA that later proved that my anemone proof power head was not anemone proof when I went to boston for a weekend.

To piggy back on the LA shipping, I recieved to dead anemones from them and one arrived last Feb without a heat pack. Ouch

 

[Newreeflady]

Wow, i'm lucky they shipped mine well, then. Wow, no heat pack, that's aweful!

Sounds like that one had a ripped foot. I'm sorry you've had so many losses. I'm sure you've worked to figure out the problems.

-A

 

[Slakker]

It's pretty common practice afaik to ship anemones with little water, as they are naturally exposed to air during tidal shifts and the like, they seem to be able to handle it.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9137786#post9137786 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Newreeflady
I don't know too much about this guy, I know it's sad, I tried to find reading, but I think they are just a mystery to some extent.

Best,
Angela

Hi, Angela. Did you read the Anemone FAQ stickied to the top of this forum?

 

[Newreeflady]

Hi Gary,

Yep, read the whole document. It seems rather general, the portion devoted to this anemone in particular is rather small.

Even after reading it, I still feel I don't know enough. You have any particular links for this species I can read? I am still not even clear on how large they get, some places say 1', others 2'... I'm concerned because I ordered a small specimen and got a gigantic one, and now it may outgrow rather quickly.

Also, how often do I NEED to feed. I know it can eat every day, but does it need to? I don't want it to get much bigger, but I do want to keep it healthy.

Thanks!
Angela

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9142533#post9142533 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Newreeflady

Also, how often do I NEED to feed.

Here's some tips: go by body mass.
If your Haddon's anemone seems to be shrinking, it needs to be fed more often. 24" diameter is a good rough estimate of a full size Stichodactyla haddoni.
I would not recommend feeding it every day unless you feed it smaller foods such as frozen HUFA enriched brine shrimp and/or Mysids.
If you feed silversides you can go much longer between feedings.

 

[Newreeflady]

Hi, Thanks Gary!

I actually have a couple more questions if you don't mind...

First, How does it deal with all of the stuff that sticks to it? I have a good amount of flow, so it gets some nice movement. But, some sand and small debris seem to get stuck to this guy's tentacles with ease.

Then, I attached mine to a rock such that it leaned toward the front. I made a nice area in the sand for it, but it was too tough on it the first day to just float around so I held it so it would attach to the rock. It looks like it may be moving to the sand, which is preferrable I understand. But, if i'm wrong and it's not moving, how long will it take to move to the sand? It's body lays on the sand from the rock it is on as the rock is right on the sandbed. Also, note the sandbed is not deep, maybe 2.5-3" everywhere.

And, concerning feeding, I want to feed small pieces of silverside, like 1/3 a silverside each time. I don't like to add to the bioload of the tank with irregularity. Would feeding every few days with this size piece be enough for a 12-13" specimen?

Thanks!
Angela

 

[55semireef]

The sand sticking to the Haddoni's tentacles won't bother it a bit. Remember in the wild, they are exposed to all types of currents and currents can bring gushes of sand all over the anemone. Its natural.

I would say your sandbed is pretty low for a Haddoni. Haddoni's usually prefer a sandbed of 4 inches or deeper. Is there a way where you can add more sand in the spot your Haddoni plants its foot so it has a deeper spot? I would try that.

Feeding it 1/3 inch silverside each time is fine. Some people rarley feed thier anemones and they still do fine but that only works if you have the acceptable lighting.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

 

[Newreeflady]

I'll post in my reef club and see if anyone has a little bit of extra fine grain sand to offer. Thanks for the tips

Thanks,
Angela