Carpet Gigantia help! Color faded, 1/4th its size

[killakam]

Hi,
I have had the carpet anemone for more than an year and it is hosting two clownfishes. It used to be beautiful and big as some pics show below but now it is really small, the tentacles are barely visible and the color has faded. The tank was neglected in my house because no one changed water and I finally got the chance to do so few days ago (30-40% water change) to reduce nitrates. The anemone has been hardy and has withstood many challenged such as being stuck in MP10 before. I would really appreciate some help on how to revive it back to its original state. Some symptoms I found on sick gigantias on the forum and I wanted to check the ones I have noticed:

Signs of a sick gig:
1. Pastel color, lack of brown tinge (usually means zooxanthellae population has been expelled)
Not sure
2. Short tentacles -- looks like a haddoni, with very short, nubby tentacles
Yes
3. Gaping mouth
No
4. Siphonoglyph is visible (this alone is not a sign of a sick gig)
No
5. Expelling dark colored discharge (usually zooxanthellae)
No
6. Tentacles have a "balding" appearance, as if they are falling off, exposing the oral disk
Not sure
7. Unable to hold itself upright in a current
No

Another thing I wanted to mention is that the T5s have not been changed for almost 9 months

Thanks in advance!

 

[D-Nak]

Definitely bleached, but otherwise looks okay. Get more light on it and see if it'll eat. If you think it may continue to be neglected you may want to consider selling it to someone who can take care of it properly. How many T5s do you have? Looks like you will need more light regardless, since poor water conditions typically don't cause an anemone to bleach.

 

[killakam]

I have a rsm 250 with 6 36" T5s

 

[phender]

Looks to me like a lighting issue. It could also be a temperature issue.

 

[xtlosx]

Lights, lights lights! Mine looked almost like yours does now, and within 4 months has made a completely recovery and is baking under three Radion G2s..

Give it more light if you can.. Lots of people on the boards will have just one 250W or 400W MH just directly above the Gig. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[OrionN]

I think it is is poor condition and wasted away. Need all of the above, better water condition, better light, and then feed it and it will slowly grow back.

 

[killakam]

Thanks guys, I will be changing the lights soon. Water is under control.
I was thinking of switching T5s to LEDs but either way, lighting should get better soon and ill keep the thread updated.

 

[worm5406]

Get it better before switching those lights.

The acclimation period of your tank with the new lights will be reduced, probably less that the output you have now.

 

[killakam]

Get it better before switching those lights.

The acclimation period of your tank with the new lights will be reduced, probably less that the output you have now.

I thought lighting was one of the biggest problems?
It is eating right now and the water condition is a bit better than before, Nitrates are still around 10-20ppm :/ though

 

[5Starreef]

Take a look at your Nitrates and Phosphates

 

[worm5406]

Controlled lighting is what you are looking for.

9 hours or so a day will work.

Things need to convert and grow.

 

[Whysoserious]

Man.. What a beautiful Anemone.. Hope it recovers! Best of luck!

 

[killakam]

How often should I feed it in this condition? I am currently feeding it one silverside 2-3 times a week.
I want to move it up so it can get more light but I dont want to mess with its original place where it has been forever.

 

[yaridong]

Don't move it. It will move by itself to a spot it likes.

 

[killakam]

Just wanted to update, my anemone is doing much better.
I wanted to give a shout out to ptr13, he helped me with a lot of questions and suggested Selcon which I have been using.

Got stung by it yesterday pretty bad, but I am glad its doing well. It had no sting to it before lol

Still a long way to go....

 

[xtlosx]

What an improvement! Another couple months of food, selcon and good lighting will do wonders.. I used selcon to bring both of our gigs back from a rough state!

 

[worm5406]

I am glad it is doing better. Thank for the update.

Nice little bite they have huh? Funny how everyone is a bit different. Did you take any benadryl to see if it will help it some? Zantac might help too, yes it is stomach medicine but it has a high amount of antihistamines.

So what did you do about lighting?

What and how often are you feeding it?

Glad to see the cover on the MP10 is still there.

 

[killakam]

I am glad it is doing better. Thank for the update.

Nice little bite they have huh? Funny how everyone is a bit different. Did you take any benadryl to see if it will help it some? Zantac might help too, yes it is stomach medicine but it has a high amount of antihistamines.

So what did you do about lighting?

What and how often are you feeding it?

Glad to see the cover on the MP10 is still there.

I applied hydrocortisone cream, I have been stung plenty before but this has to be the worst case lol. I will look up zantac, cortisone reduced the swelling a lot.

Lighting is still the same, I did change the bulbs and I rearranged some rocks so the anemone can get total freedom and maximum light.

I used to feed it silversides but ptr13 recommended shrimps so I just get fresh shrimps every week, cut them in half, soak them in Selcon for some time and feed it 2-3 times a week.

It is actually a MP40, I added more flow in the tank so now I have a MP10/40 combination and the anemone seems to be liking it. The cover was a must, poor guy has been a victim of a MP10 before, one can only imagine what the 40 will do. (old pic below)

 

[worm5406]

Yes very true.... We have been pushing the covers when people say what powerheads they have with an anemone.

While some people have not had a problem.... It is sad to come back and see the problem happened to your own.

Very nice, thanks for the updates.

I ask this a lot, but, do you have any video?

I like to see and show others the flow around an anemone and how it reacts in it.

A friend asked me once what do they mean when the tentacles pulse/vibrate... I tried to explain, so I looked on here for a good video, I had to go to an 'ok' quality one on the net.

Thanks!

 

[killakam]

Ill try to make one with my slr. The tentacles are still not back to their normal length(shaggy like lol), I would say they are about less than half the norm.

Here is an old video, about an year old