Haddoni .....on the move....

[Chelle's Ocean]

Hi all. My haddoni has been doing great for some time now. (since 2/27/2010). Has been in the same place I had placed him the day I put him in the tank. Now, he has moved towards the rock, to the right of his center area. The only thing I have done differently, is I have removed the Condy, and an itty bitty bta, and placed in caribbean pink grass, in front of the haddoni's spot- but not touching by any means! Also removed a mated pair of o.clowns that were hosting in the hammer.

Also- how often do you feed your haddoni? Mine does not eat nearly as much as he did when I first got him. He is pulling in the brine shrimp I feed the tank, and he may eat a piece of food when I offer it, but I have to kind of 'play' with him to get him to take it. He is still very sticky, and looks very healthy. Camera is down for the moment (need more batteries!) so here is a pic of when I brought him home, and put him in the tank.

Any suggestions as to feedings? And why he would move after so long.
All parameters are in check, nitrates are high(around 5) due to feeding earlier.

 

[elegance coral]

He's not happy. I would start feeding pretty heavy until his feeding response recovers.
How much flow do you have on him, and how much sand do you have?

 

[Chelle's Ocean]

Thanks for the reply.
He was in a pretty deep spot, I'd say around 4-5 inches. But has since moved and is now between 3-5 inches of sand if I had to guess. I can see from underneath my tank, and his foot is still firmly attached to the glass.
He is (or was) positioned directly in the center of the tank, got a great cross flow where he was at. :idea: And since you mentioned that, it just dawned on me.....I did take the koralia down from the right side of the tank to clean it off, maybe it is not 'exactly' where it was, and he is reacting to that?
I am going to start the feedings tonight. And will let you know what happens. Aside from that- he appears to be very healthy. He is small during the led/actinic period, when the halides come on...he comes to life expanding beautifully.
Trying to load a photo:
Image 1 is when I first got him...
Image 2 is today...moved slightly to right of his spot.

 

[elegance coral]

He looks beautiful!

Haddoni's are very sensitive to flow. Mine, and every other haddoni I know of, likes low flow environments. I don't use power heads, so I can't help with the koralia situation. Tod should be along soon. He keeps multiple haddoni's and probably knows much more about the modern power heads than I do.

 

[Chelle's Ocean]

{He looks beautiful!}

Thank you very much for that! I take that compliment with pride, I really like him. (named him Monti) and I hope to have him be a part of my 'lil ocean for a long time.

I gave him a piece of scallop, and he gobbled it up right away. So I am not sure if he was just going thru a phase, or didn't like the silversides. I also have tried shrimp- he's not really a fan of that, and other foods, but he seemed to go for the scallop this time rather quickly- so I will continue your advice. Does a food offering every other day seem a bit rushed in your opinion? Or just see if he takes it? I don't mind heavy feeding- just don't want to push him, and over feed....ya know?
Again- I appreciate your response here. Thanks!
-michelle

 

[Chelle's Ocean]

Thanks for the input on heavy feeding. After 2 fairly good size pieces of scallop, he has moved back to his original spot. (very odd) but I am happy- so thanks!

 

[Chelle's Ocean]

Today's update:
Looking good, and moved back to his spot completely.

 

[elegance coral]

Monti still looks great!

Allot of people have had problems with silversides and anemones. I just don't use them. Try not to feed him pieces that are to large. He will just regurgitate the food before digesting it.

 

[Chelle's Ocean]

Good to know. I don't really care for the silversides- only bought them for Monti.
I am sticking with the small scallops from Publix- fresh- and cutting them into slices, he seems to like them better.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Not sure how I missed this one.

Your Haddoni is looking really good. Like "EC" mentioned the slightest change in flow can cause them to move. In the past I cleaned a powerhead and didn't put back exactly where it was (( it was different by about an inch )), and one of my Haddonis moved because of that.

I stopped using silversides a couple of years ago after a bad experience, now I just feed frozen/thawed krill. My oldest/biggest one only gets feed about once every 3-4 weeks -- to limit its growth. The others a bit more.

 

[Chelle's Ocean]

Thanks Todd! Your tank shots are very nice, love the anemone crab! I am thinking of looking for one. Thanks for replying. Yeah- I think you guys are right on the powerhead -may have been off by less than an inch, but he moved. I have not yet moved it back, and he is moved back in his original spot..... he is just playing with me I think!
Kudos on your tank - everything looks great.