First Coral

mattiasschulz

New member
Hey all

Is it normal for Haitian anemone to close up like this when I put the blue lights on?

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Here is a pic with white light?

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Any info appreciated. As title state this is my first anemone.

Thanks
Matt

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A couple of questions for you.

Your info says you are new here. How long has your tank been set up and running? An anemone isn't the best animal to add to any tank less than 6 months to a year old. They like stable conditions and it takes a new set up that long to get stable and stop having algae or bacteria blooms.

I've heard of Haitian anemone and I always thought it was basically the same as a Condy anemone (Condylactis). Is that what you were told this anemone is? BTW, how much did you pay for it? Condys are common and cheap, as in $10 to $15, despite being protected in Florida now.

To my eyes this is a Bubble Tip anemone. And a very bleached out one at that (not good). Codys or Haitian anemones never have the bubble form in their tentacles and almost always have pink or purple tips or are completely purple. But then most Bubble Tip anemones are pink (rose) or green, not white. And they should cost $40 to $80.

Google images for both and see what you think. I've had both and I seriously think it's a Rose Bubble Tip anemone.

As for closing up like yours, anemones are a peculiar animal. They can be very fussy about water conditions, being moved, changes to their environment and such. Not that they are delicate, but they don't deal well with change. This one looks quite stressed (it shouldn't be all white) and has recently been moved to your tank from a store? Therefore I wouldn't be surprised by anything it might do. Personally, I never would have paid money for this anemone. I might have taken it for free to see if I could nurse it back to health. I'm no expert, but I give this one a 50:50 chance of long term survival.

I'd make sure it gets good, not excessive light and try to spot feed it some small shrimp. Best to turn off pumps so the water is still and try to 'spray' some small mysis shrimp or small bits of some other meaty food over it with a turkey baster. The tentacles should hold on to some and then move the food to it's mouth. Whether this is a Haitian or a Bubble Tip, it feeds itself through photosynthesis and collecting food from the water. Don't over feed it. Just every 3 or 4 days until it starts to develop some color, either pink overall or pink tips. Then cut back the feeding to once a week. Give it time, it could take as long as a couple of months to recover. Don't rush things and other than feeding it, leave it alone.

Good luck.
 
Last edited:
Hey!

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I'm new to the forums and also a newbie aquarist. Tank has been running since August 2016, so we are going into 6 months now.

I did do a bit of research before buying and the water conditions should be fine. The LFS also tested my water prior to taking home the anemone.

In regards the the species, I actually want a Condy, because (of course after buying this anemone) I read online that a clownfish will rarely host in a haitian anemone, and this was the sole reason we chose the anemone in the first place. Frankly, I like hammerheads, but we're told not to buy that as the clowns won't host it.

The guy at the LFS didn't tell me the actual species, I found it by googling. You can't really see from the pictures, but the anemone is white / tan color and she does have pink / purple tips on her tentacles.

I have been feeding her every other day. She takes the food and then seems to be out all day waving her tentacles around in the flow.... perhaps she is stressed in the new tank. She has been with me for a week now.

I'll do some more research and see if I can determine if she is a haitian or a sick bubble tip.

Hopefully she come good again.

I'm finding info about lighting very conflicting. How long should I be running my lights?

Cheers
Matt

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Here is another pic a bit closer, you can see the purple tips now and the tentacles are a bit more filled out.

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I have just changed about 15% of the water, salinity was a bit high so reduce it back to normal with RO change. Hopefully the change won't distress my anemone too much.

Will keep you posted on any progress

Cheers
Matt

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You are right about the bit of purple at the tip, that part say Condy. And my wife says the 'bubble' form in the tentacles isn't common to Condys, but she has seen them look like that. So it may well be a Condy.

BTW, I lost an anemone that my clowns were hosting in. It moved and actually rip it's side open and died. That weekend we were snorkeling in the Keys (before Condys became protected) and I brought one home. It took the clowns about 4 or 5 days to adapt to the Condy. It was clear they didn't know it and they spent a day just getting close. Then a day of swimming up and touching it and swimming away. Then a day swimming through it but not staying in it. By the 5th day they were living in it like they were long lost friends from totally separate oceans!
 
You are right about the bit of purple at the tip, that part say Condy. And my wife says the 'bubble' form in the tentacles isn't common to Condys, but she has seen them look like that. So it may well be a Condy.

BTW, I lost an anemone that my clowns were hosting in. It moved and actually rip it's side open and died. That weekend we were snorkeling in the Keys (before Condys became protected) and I brought one home. It took the clowns about 4 or 5 days to adapt to the Condy. It was clear they didn't know it and they spent a day just getting close. Then a day of swimming up and touching it and swimming away. Then a day swimming through it but not staying in it. By the 5th day they were living in it like they were long lost friends from totally separate oceans!

Great feedback Ron. Thank you!

Regardless of the type; I will keep the anemone anyway. If the clowns never host in it then I can add another in a month or so and try again [emoji14]


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Thought I'd share some progress. Anemone is looking well. I've added some more lighting as I found what I had was slightly insufficient. Now with more then enough lighting, the anemone has moved a bit but in the last few days has been settled here and seems very happy. Happily takes food from me every 2-3 days as well, which is an unreal experience. I had no idea about these amazing creatures prior to owning one!

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