Buying a New Carpet?

[bheron]

Update to the above post. 1-2 hrs later and I feel like its actually starting to gain a footing in the sand. its def better than it was before, so maybe there's progress here. the body of the coral is still compressed but its "folds" seem to be open and healthy. mouth is still open.

 

[bheron]

Latest update is all good news!

The carpet actually seems to be fully anchored in the sand, color looks good and the mouth may even be starting to close a bit. I'm running a new dose of carbon and am mixing a new batch of SW for a change later in the night.

 

[bheron]

Final update for the day. Just performed a 5% WC (I have a large system and do 5% a week). Maybe I should do a larger one?

Anyway, things are looking better. My clown has even started defending the carpet and claiming it as his own. Keeps poking at something in the middle of it and that worries me.

Anyway, last pics for the day....actincs on. Pics dont do it justice.

Maybe will be better after a good night's rest

 

[bheron]

Latest update as of end of day today...

I'm thinking things are better b/c the carpet seems to be fully seated, but much lower to the sandbed. Is that normal?

Anyway, one of my clowns slept in the carpet last night and has fully claimed it. I'm wondering about this "symbiotic relationship" thing and hoping for some insight. Either my clown is slowly killing the carpet or he's working some miracle to help it survive. Here's why -- the clown spent the entire day picking at the carpet. First I was worried since some fish nip at coral. But this was different. I got a better view and noticed a brownish material coming out of the carpet's still partially open mouth. I've seen this before when one of my GBTAs went on me, so I feel like its a bad thing. On the other hand, the clown seemed to be "cleaning" and pulling the "gook" out of the carpet's mouth.

Hmmmm, any ideas?

 

[miguelp19]

That is what the symbiotic relationship between the anemone and the clownfish usually entails. The clownfish clean and feed the anemone for the exchange of the anemones protection. I think this is normal and the clownfish is most likely trying to help the anemone rather than trying to harm it. Especially since the clownfish doesnt seem to have much protection from wat i can see in your tank it is probably looking for a home asap. Anemones are very "special" when it comes to their acclimation needs. It'll stay there for a few days and it might move around in a week or two. good luck

 

[TDesaulniers]

That is what the symbiotic relationship between the anemone and the clownfish usually entails. The clownfish clean and feed the anemone for the exchange of the anemones protection. I think this is normal and the clownfish is most likely trying to help the anemone rather than trying to harm it. Especially since the clownfish doesnt seem to have much protection from wat i can see in your tank it is probably looking for a home asap. Anemones are very "special" when it comes to their acclimation needs. It'll stay there for a few days and it might move around in a week or two. good luck

The clownfish isn't "trying" to help the anemone. It's 100% pure instinct for this clown or for any clown for that matter to want to be hosted by their natural host anemone. That is backed up by thousands and thousands of years of evolution. The anemone is simply a safe haven for the clown and in return the anemone also gets protection from the clownfish against any anemone predators.

To the OP, your Haddoni looked pretty bad there but the latter pictures show signs of improvement. IMO, I would have avoided the acclimation process all together with your acclimation tank because in the end you were going to move it anyways. More moving means more stress. Best thing you can do is just leave it be and let it get acclimated to your tank conditions. I would try to avoid feeding it anything for at least a few days. Let it get situated. Hopefully that clown doesn't rough up the anemone too bad. A clown trying to host a new/stressed anemone is never a good thing. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[OrionN]

I think your tank is much too new for an anemone. Good luck with it. Haddoni is an easier species to keep than most other host anemones.

 

[Fishamatank]

Some species of clowns are pretty hard on their host. They will pull on tentacles to try to puff the nem up to their liking. There are times when it is necessary to separate them until the nem is settled.

 

[bheron]

Thanks for all of the feedback. This helps alot as I go through this for the first time. A couple of comments:

miguelp19 - I have to agree w/you and think my clown is naturally "grooming" the coral, whether he intends to help it or not. You also said "Especially since the clownfish doesnt seem to have much protection from wat i can see in your tank it is probably looking for a home asap.". Actually, my clown current resides in a nice-sized sinularia located at the other side of the tank. She is the largest of my 5 fish.

TDesaulniers - thanks for the input. next time I'll think about skipping the acclimation for one of these. Reason I like to acclimate in the 15g is that I can reach it easily. once something goes in my 30" deep 220g tank its very hard to get to. It was very easy to target feed in my 15g. anyway, to your point, prob not worth it since moving these guys takes a toll on them.

OrionN - actually, I never stated how new my tank is. Its been up for over a year now. one clown in the tank is in its 7th year with me and the other is over 4 yrs old. anyway, the tank is pretty mature I just dont have alot of coral in it. up until a few weeks ago i had 9 fish.

I'll hold off on the feeding and continue to monitor. Thanks so much for the feedback all!

 

[OrionN]

Keeps poking at something in the middle of it and that worries me.

Aggressive clowns often dig into an open mouth of an unhealthy anemone and eat the inside of the anemone. This will kill the anemone. You should remove the clown for now.
Once the anemone settle in, you can try to feed it. Feed very small food and small amount of it at first until it can start to digest food. Carpets are fish eater and can heat huge fish (4+ inches tangs) but not right now. Flakes or small amount of chopped up fish or shrimp should be the first food to try. If you feed it too much food, it will regurgitate and deflated for a while.
About your tank age. You did not mention how old your tank is but it just doesn't look like an old tank to me. From the picture, I would guess it is less than 2 months old. I guess I was wrong.

 

[bheron]

Update:

Well, I'm sorry to say my carpet perished and so went my first try with one of these beautiful creatures. still 50/50 if it was doomed to begin with or it was something I did. But I definitely learned alot from this thread - thank you! - so that I'll be very well informed if the oppty comes my way again.

thanks all!