dumb questions!

[mbd521]

I am a brand new SW hobbiest, just got my first tank (55gal)set up. Still have my percula clowns in QT for another 2 weeks (optomistic, not signs of illness yet).
Anyways, My question is do anemones really sting? what does it feel like? (comprable to a bee sting? or more like electrical?) Do some anemones have a "stronger" sting?

How do you handle your anemome?

I have to say that when I got my first piece of LR, I had a very small BTA aproximately 1.5 inches opened up. The LFS said that he wouldnt take it off the LR because it would kill it. I said well wont the fact that my tank hasn't cycled yet kill it too! well anyways to make a long story short, I brought home this cute little nem. I knew it probably wouldn't survive, but really didnt know how to handle it. I thought that it had died durring the cycle, but actually it somehow seemed to survive. The cycle is complete, but the poor little nem looks much worse for the wear.. its about the size of a dime when its opened up. It has actually travelled quite far, It moved from the complete other side of the tank. Ill post pre "death", and post "ressurection" pics.

what are the chances of its surviving? should i try to feed it some mysis?

thanks.

side note.... didnt really do research prior to purchase because I didnt think I would get one, because I know they need a well established tank!

 

[C Dog]

...

 

[mbd521]

I didnt buy it! he gave it to me on the piece of LR that I wanted!! It was i piece that I was looking for, for the fit in my tank!

 

[bradleym]

C Dog,

OP didn't know it was on the rock when they bought it. It's a hitchhiker. Most likely a majano, BTW, but I'll hold that thought til there are pics.

 

[C Dog]

Ok I'm sorry. I read it wrong and thought you bought it. Take a pic of it that might help.

 

[mbd521]

sorry having trouble transfering pic from phone.

This is pre "death" picture

 

[bradleym]

As for your newbie questions:

Anyways, My question is do anemones really sting? what does it feel like? (comprable to a bee sting? or more like electrical?). I would describe it as a burn kind of sting, like a stinging nettle, if that means anything to you. They actually sting you everytime you touch them, the stinging cells have microscopic harpoons, so that's how they "stick" to things.

Do some anemones have a "stronger" sting? Yes. Some can leave BAD burns if you aren't immune like me. Haddonis are known to sting and stick so well that the tentacles rip loose and stick a person's skin.

How do you handle your anemone? Ideally, with gloves.

 

[C Dog]

I have had a lot of RBTA, sabe, carpet anemones and have never felt anything painful or burning. Some feel more sticky than others. I guess it depends on how sensitive your hands are.

 

[westohooligan]

*edit* too slow on my response, NVM

 

[bradleym]

I have had a lot of RBTA, sabe, carpet anemones and have never felt anything painful or burning. Some feel more sticky than others. I guess it depends on how sensitive your hands are.

Agreed. I have never felt the sting myself, but I know a few guys that get rashes and welts from nems. It all depends on your sensitivity to it.

 

[mbd521]

and now the post "ressurection" picture

notice you can see my copepods on the glass. i know its lame, but i'm pretty sure that means my tank is doing well. right?

 

[kissman]

the chances are slim and none, anemones are delicate and need a tank about a year old and lots of light to survive.

 

[mbd521]

my lighting is t5 HO, 54x 2 1 atinic bulb, and one 10k bulb. Since the nem moved it is much closer to the lights, it is also in the path outflow of my filter.

 

[kissman]

i am not sure 2 on a 55g is enough. I have 6 x54w on mine

 

[mbd521]

if i could find someone that would take him, I would give him up! but I dont know how to remove him from the rock.

 

[bradleym]

Yea, that's a majano, a pest anemone. It is extremely hardy, and will probably do just fine. That's the problem, though. They can survive anything short of turning your whole tank off for a month. And then when things start doing well they split often and pretty soon you are overrun with little mobile coral stinging machines.

 

[Theomi]

the chances are slim and none, anemones are delicate and need a tank about a year old and lots of light to survive.

Not relly, i got my first nem (bta) after four months and it grew and grew and grew nad was very happy...

As to the question about the feeling when stung, i don´t know i never felt it :lolspin:

 

[kissman]

it is also in the path outflow of my filter.

what kind of fliter are you running?


"Not relly, i got my first nem (bta) after four months and it grew and grew and grew nad was very happy..."

yes this can be true if you stay on top of things and don't allow much swing in paramerters like most new tanks have.

 

[mbd521]

filter is an emperor 350..... plan was originally going to be just FOWLR, I bought 50 lbs of Dry rock, then seeded it with two pieces (about 12 lbs) of LR from LFS... The one piece had the anemome on it.. the other piece had GSP on it! I placed one peice in the sand and the other piece with GSP on it on top of dry rock. thought process was to seed the sand and the dry rock... I did know about the anemome, but asked LFS to remove it because it wouldn't survive the cycle...He said that he wouldn't remove it because it would kill the anemome, and then, he sold me ( see the sucker tat on my forehead) some instant cycle junk, for half off because i was buying the LR. He said Everything would be fine! I was atleast smart enough not to walk out of there with any fish too! I didnt really believe or trust the "instant cycle" crap and tested my water the day after i put it in and i was right in not trusting it! have basicly left the tank alone, except for about 2 weeks ago added a clean up crew from reefcleaners( which i believe is WAY too much). I expected the Anenome to die... I didnt pay any extra for the nem, which he said was BTA, and it looked like it to me! The pre "death" pic was a couple days after he was put into the tank, he had shrunk up quite a bit already!

If I get more people confirming this is manjano I should inject with lemon juice, correct?

 

[spieszak]

the first pic shows it better, I don't think its a majano, but others (obviously) may disagree. Keep up on params, give it decent light, and see what it grows into... at least that would be my plan.