Do I have the proper environment for my long tip anemone?

[forrealb50]

I have had my tank up and running for about 5-6 months. In the LFS, before removed, it was at least 12" around and look very health - brown/green coloring, healthy base no rips, and had 3 clown hosting it.

My 55 gallon tank is currently set up with the following.

Lighting: Current-USA Satellite p/n 1016 260watt CF (on 12 hours a day followed by moon lighting all night)

Flow: Two power heads combined 1400gph flow

Parameters:

Ammonia 0
nitrite 0
Sg 1.023
PH 8.3-8.4
temp 79-80


Do I have what I need to keep my long tip alive? Thanks in advance!

 

[forrealb50]

Here's a picture after her first night. Still looking healthy and happy measuring 7"-8" across. In the LFS I want to say she was atleast 12" to maybe 15" across. What do you think?

Also, I was told not to feed her for about a week to help settle her in. I have frozen krill I was going to start feeding her last this week. What do you think?

 

[sedor]

You could bump your SG up to around .026 and I would be a little concerned about your lighting, but the only way to find out is to try it out. Generally PC's are best for softies and not much more. Anemones require a little more light and you might want to consider upgrading to T5's at some point.

 

[Salty92]

How long has she been in you tank? Mine took about 2 weeks to start looking right again. She might need more light as well but usually they move around until they find a comfortable area .

 

[forrealb50]

She has been in my tank less than 24 hours. She settled in right where I put her in the tank. From the pic above does she look healthy to you?

 

[forrealb50]

She's growing! With all the folds she's still about 10" across.

 

[dalston]

It looks pretty good for an anemone just added 24 hours ago, it usually take them a while to acclimate to their new surroundings.

I did notice your SB is quite shallow, LTA prefer a good 3-4" to bury their foot in. Also +1 on bumping up that SG slowly.

 

[davocean]

Yeah, looks very good for intro.
LTA's IME DON"T like real strong light, mod light/flow seems best, and the fact it buried foot that fast is good sign.
I agree, no need to feed for at least a week, and maybe just mysis.
I am on the bandwagon now against feeding silversides!!!
I would also bump to at least 25-26 for specific gravity, and yes, slowly.
Don't judge a nem on size, many think bigger is better, but often it means they are just spreading out for max light.
I look for good color.

 

[forrealb50]

It looks pretty good for an anemone just added 24 hours ago, it usually take them a while to acclimate to their new surroundings.

I did notice your SB is quite shallow, LTA prefer a good 3-4" to bury their foot in. Also +1 on bumping up that SG slowly.

Do you think I could add more SB by just pushing it around the LTA? Or should I go buy some live SB and add it?

Also the mouth is open a little about the size of a dime. I know this is not good but should I be worried now or wait a few more days and see if she closes it up? Also, nothing is coming out of the mouth - just open.

 

[forrealb50]

It looks pretty good for an anemone just added 24 hours ago, it usually take them a while to acclimate to their new surroundings.

I did notice your SB is quite shallow, LTA prefer a good 3-4" to bury their foot in. Also +1 on bumping up that SG slowly.

Also I just start doing top offs with saltwater to get the SG to 1.025. Should be able to do this easily over a week.

 

[davocean]

I wouldn't worry about open mouth at this time.
As for adding more sand, I prefer not to disturb existing sand bed, and I would add a little DRY sand at a time, like half an inch.
Storebought LS will have die off, dry sand will seed pretty quick, and w/out die off.

 

[forrealb50]

*Update* 30 hours after introduced to DT.

The mouth is now closed up and the size is about the same. The foot is still in the same spot - buried in the sand. This LTA is by far the coolest animal I have put in my tank. A great centerpiece.

The new pic shows the foot and my cleaner shrimp that may be suicidal. Not sure if the LTA will pull it in but the shrimp keeps getting close.

The guy at the LFS said to feed it silversides? Should I give her the krill I already have?

 

[dalston]

I would let it settle in a little more before feeding it, is is sticky to the touch? I am againts feeding silversides, too many nems have perished from feeding bad/diseased silversides. IMO, go with the krill you already have.

Oh, and the shrimp will be fine, mine used to steal food from my LTA's mouth!

 

[forrealb50]

I would let it settle in a little more before feeding it, is is sticky to the touch? I am againts feeding silversides, too many nems have perished from feeding bad/diseased silversides. IMO, go with the krill you already have.

Oh, and the shrimp will be fine, mine used to steal food from my LTA's mouth!

I haven't tried to touch it myself since I put it in the tank. When I was feeding the fish flake food the flake would stick to the tentacles. Not sure if that counts.

 

[davocean]

Sure does, and mysis is good too.
I used to preach silversides too, until I lost 3 LTAs right after feeding them silvers.
All did same, eat, turn inside out, dispell real gnarly, let loose and melt, just like that.
They really don't need much food if any if light and water is good.

 

[forrealb50]

Sure does, and mysis is good too.
I used to preach silversides too, until I lost 3 LTAs right after feeding them silvers.
All did same, eat, turn inside out, dispell real gnarly, let loose and melt, just like that.
They really don't need much food if any if light and water is good.

I'll just try a small peice of krill once a week starting this weekend and see how that goes.

 

[davocean]

Krill, raw peeled shrimp, scallop maybe are all good choices.

 

[forrealb50]

*Update*

50+ hours after introduced to the DT. Slightly smaller in size with a few tentacles deflated (maybe 1 or 2). The mouth is back open and you could probably stick the tip of you pinky in there (just guessing). Over all still looks good with dark purple and green coloring and still planted in the same spot.

When should I be worried about the open mouth?

 

[forrealb50]

I went and check on her again and the mouth was all closed up tightly... not sure why it was open at that moment. Also had to removed a recently murdered hermet crab and brushed my finger by the LTA. Those tentacles are super sticky - it's like touching crazy glue.

 

[dalston]

I went and check on her again and the mouth was all closed up tightly... not sure why it was open at that moment. Also had to removed a recently murdered hermet crab and brushed my finger by the LTA. Those tentacles are super sticky - it's like touching crazy glue.

Thats a great sign! seems like it is settling in nicely