BTA in need of zooxanthella transplant?

[DanDashO]

I've had a BTA in a 20 gallon reef for 3 or 4 years now. Every year in the late summer when it gets hot (85 in MN lol) the nem gets a little po'd and bleaches. Not a big deal, by October its always back to its former glory. Here is a pic of what it looks like normal:

This past summer when it bleached, however, it hasn't come back yet. I'm wondering if it completely lost its zoox. Here it is as of yesterday:

Before you start asking me about params and husbandry, I know how to take care of anemones. I'm simply looking for opinions on whether or not it has any zoox left.

What do you guys think? should I attempt a zoox transplant?

 

[JamesHolt]

It looks like it has less color than my LTA http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2564936
I am planning on picking up another this payday to do a transplant with, I don't think it would hurt it to try..
It does look like yours has lost alot/most of its zooxanthella/color though...

 

[DanDashO]

I went ahead and tried it. The closest match I had available was a hammer coral, we'll see if it's compatible...

 

[hotelbravo]

What do you mean by "closest match" they do not need a transplant from an identical color specimen. A red anemone can get a transplant from a green anemone and it will not turn green but instead regrow red.

 

[OrionN]

I went ahead and tried it. The closest match I had available was a hammer coral, we'll see if it's compatible...

Take pictures and keep us update please

 

[DanDashO]

What do you mean by "closest match" they do not need a transplant from an identical color specimen. A red anemone can get a transplant from a green anemone and it will not turn green but instead regrow red.

I haven't any access to any other anomones. I don't think my lfs would be very humored if I walked in and said 'one anemone tentacle, please'. The hammer was the most similar doner I had available.

 

[DanDashO]

Will do, Minh!
The anemone has digested it's food; I didn't see any remains of the tentacle in it's waste, I'm thinking that that is a good sign.
Also, I started dosing vinegar as that seems to help zoox repopulate a little more quickly.

 

[DanDashO]

It's not quite been two weeks yet, but I can already see the faintest of color coming back to the tips of the tentacles (not enough to show up in a photo yet). I'm not yet sure if this is due to the transplant or the vinager dosing.