Carpet Anemone Toxins?

[moonlightdriver]

Can Carpet Anemone release Toxins into my tank?

 

[Jacwil]

I believe just if they "expire."

 

[titoav15]

I don’t have direct experience with nems, but I hear that if they are “on their way out” the do release toxins.

 

[moonlightdriver]

what are the signs that they are dying?

 

[Jacwil]

Shriveled up constantly, gaping mouth...chk the anemone forum here on RC..may find some more info there.

 

[titoav15]

They do shrink and expand routinely. But a sign can be when they shrink and the mouth is wide open to the point where you can sort of see the insides of it. Post a pic of it.

 

[titoav15]

Jeez Justin way to beat me 2x! lol

 

[titoav15]

Also if the nems tentacles are not sticking to the food, that can be another sign that there is something wrong.

 

[Jacwil]

Ha!

 

[moonlightdriver]

I know he recently detached himself from a rock and ended up on my heater... I removed the heater and it looks like there is some of the back side of him on the heater so I don't know if he got burned or what... I did look at him this morning and his foot hasn't attached to anything yet... so he is kind of on his side... I will post a pic tonight... I don't know if I should pull him out and quarantine him or what... I just don't want him releasing toxins and taking out the tank.... you know

 

[Jacwil]

Post your question in the 'nem forum as well and see what the folks there offer...IMO I would leave in DT and monitor.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

anemones are slow to react/ show signs of something being amiss.

an aquarium with a heater located on it's bottom doesn't make a good home for many types of anemones.

what type of carpet anemone?

stressed anemones can release nematocysts into the water column.

 

[moonlightdriver]

how do you test for nematocysts?
the heater was on side glass... and when he let go he was blown onto the heater... (at least that is what I assume)

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

all anemones have nematocysts.

They are the "harpoons" that sting other critters. They can be released into the water column. Their release can kill fishes.

 

[nhdave69]

is there a way to test it to see is there are any harmful toxins in the water?

 

[Jacwil]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1980464

too late evidently...and if you used ge #1 silicone, it wasn't the reason you lost livestock IMO.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

is there a way to test it to see is there are any harmful toxins in the water?

"harmful toxins" implies chemicals such as allelopathic metabolites.
Nematocysts are stinging cells. I know of no test for either other than to observe your livestock.

In this particular case it appears to me that some yet unknown species of anemone got burned by a heater and released nematocysts which killed fishes.

It's a pretty good test, IMO.