help ID'ing anemone

[ls1grrrl]

Recently I purchased a 12gal nano cube that was stocked with some coral frags and an anemone and clownfish. (I know, way too small for the anemone. It's going into our big tank shortly.)

Anyway, I was told that the anemone is a LTA, but after looking at lots of pics, it seems awfully stubby in comparison, so I'm wondering if I can get some opinions from you all...?

Here are a couple of pics I just snapped. For reference, the clown is about 1.5 inches long. The stalk/foot of the anemone is about 2-2.5 inches across and when it's fully inflated, the anemone spans about 4 inches or so in diameter. It's hard to tell because it has a propensity for wedging itself between the wall of the tank and some LR.

Thanks in advance,
Heather

 

[Ron Popeil]

hello heather,
you do infact have a long tentacled anemone. right now its in a process of consuming its own tissues in order to sustain itself, hence the knobby tentacles.

given the proper intense lighting, and some heavy feedings of krill or silversides, youll see a dramatic turn around. the anemone itself will darken and take on a much more rich color. the tentacles will lengthen and narrow towards the tips, they may even spiral or curve. and youll notice some serious growth.

keep your water quality in top shape, and attempt to feed perhaps a few times a week. if its not sticky, and refuses silversides, at the least try to squirt some mysis into its tentacles a few times per week; until its ready to eat larger meals.

good luck!

 

[illcssd]

The best i can guess with those pictures is either h. malu or h. crispa. one of the anemones commonly referred to as Sebae's. If you could get a picture of the mouth and base of the anemone we could give you a more definite answer.

 

[phender]

I would agree with "Ron" on this one. Looks like M. doreensis (LTA) to me as well.

 

[Amphiprion]

I agree, as well.

 

[ls1grrrl]

Thanks for the info, all. The person I got the tank from said that he was feeding this anemone a silverside every few days. Or rather, that he would put silversides in and the clown was feeding the anemone, but I haven't seen any of that kind of behavior from the clown. In fact, the only time the anemone did seem to take a piece of silverside from me, the clown pulled it back out of the anemone's mouth.

The day we got the tank here, the anemone apparently killed and ate a green chromis that had been in the tank, and 2 days later I found the other green chromis dead (not long after my husband said he saw it nipping at the anemone).

We will move the anemone to the bigger tank and try feeding smaller meaty pieces from a baster since it doesn't seem to be readily reaching out to take food when offered.



How long would it take for a healthy anemone to start consuming itself like Ron mentioned? I'm trying to figure out if the guy I bought the tank from was full of it or what.

Thanks again,
Heather

 

[ls1grrrl]

pics of mouth

pics of mouth

We started the process of moving the anemone to the bigger tank, so while he's acclimating we were able to get some pics of his mouth.

No flash:

Flash:

Heather

 

[ls1grrrl]

Well, the anemone has been moved over to the big tank for 2 days now. He's not gaping any more and has inflated some, but he's moved himself into a cave without much light (and a real pain to feed into).

We're squirting small pieces of a variety of meaty foods in his direction and some stick, though he is very slow moving and I haven't actually gotten to see him eat anything...

I'm assuming he'll move out of the cave if it isn't satisfying his needs?

 

[raoul]

If the lighting intensity has changed from the nano to the cube, the nem could be adjusting to the more intense lighting. There are ways you can help it get acclimated to the light, but I haven't done something like that yet, so I wouldn't be much help. But it might be something to consider.

Also, is the aquarium you placed the nem in the one that was started in Oct. 2006? If so, it's very yearly for a nem. Most people recommend waiting a minimum of 6 months before adding a nem to the tank.

 

[raoul]

EDIT: IGNORE THE REST OF THIS POST, MUST HAVE HIT THE BUTTON TOO MANY TIMES


If the lighting intensity has changed from the nano to the cube, the nem could be adjusting to the more intense lighting. There are ways you can help it get acclimated to the light, but I haven't done something like that yet, so I wouldn't be much help. But it might be something to consider.

Also, is the aquarium you placed the nem in the one that was started in Oct. 2006? If so, it's very yearly for a nem. Most people recommend waiting a minimum of 6 months before adding a nem to the tank.