Carpet wont eat

[cougar95900]

I currently have a 75 gallon reef tank that is about 4 months old. Some of the substrate and live rock are from my previous 20 gallon reef. I recently got a carpet anenome from a local fish store here in Tucson, AZ, along with one small clown that would not leave its presence. The problem I am having is that the carpet will not eat any of the silversides or krill that i give it. The anenome grabs it and then holds it for a while, then releases it.

current tank specs

ph 8.0
amm 0.0
nitrites 0
nitrates 5
alk 2.5 - 2.6

400 watts of overpowered T-8's
3 true actinic
2 10k
1 50/50

 

[rossthefishman]

try large brine shrimp. I've kept some that prefer the shrimp. But just let him settle in awhile too. Maybe later on try smaller or larger pieces to see what he wants.


good luck



-Tyler

 

[Slakker]

From what I heard spraying mysis in his general direction might help too.

Gorgeous carpet!

 

[pncstod]

I can't offer you any advice, but I do hope it comes around for you.

But posts like this gets me wondering....just how long can an anemone go without eating before you start worrying? Especially after just purchacing and acclimating? A week, or maybe two?

 

[LesMartin]

Try a few other things. Anemones can initially be very selective about what they eat. I've got a small carpet ( species - unsure but possibly a Mertens ) that only eats squid. it allows everything else to just drift off its tentacles. Mysis, cockles, mussel ( squid ! ) table shrimp, scallops etc are all worth a try.

 

[ApatheticReefer]

I dont know if this helps or not but maybe you should try a more focused light source. Perhaps a 250 or 400 MH perhaps it needs a little more sugar in its system for the strength to eat. I'm not saying your light is inneficient 400 watts of T8 is pretty good. I hope it starts eating soon good luck. :smokin:

 

[cougar95900]

I was thinking about the high intesity factor of halide lights. Do you think that a single 400WATT 14k bulb in the middle of the tank would be too much light?