help with sick nem

[svynx]

I have had a sebae anem for a little while now. He is white with blue tips. He was acclamated for about 4 1/2 weeks before putting into the DT. He's been in the DT for about a week now. I got home after work, and it is light shade of green, still moving, but isn't "fluffed" up anymore. The tenticals are usually blown/fluffed up (not sure how to describe it). Any idea as to what might be going on. Water params are all 0 except Nit at almost 0. I did feed him 2 days ago with a small piece of krill.

 

[dalilgriffith]

I have had one of those in the past. I didnt have much luck with it. They require "A LOT" of light. What light setup do you have?

They also dont live more than a few months in captivity. Sorry man, I thought i'd let you know that now.

 

[svynx]

Yeah, I know. It sounds kinda mean, but I wanted to get one that wouldn't last very long, ie months, before I went and spend quite a bit for one that lasted longer. I did a lot of reading and wanted to test my knowledge. I've gotten some feedback on another forum, so I am a little less worried. I've got two lunar aqualights which have 20,000K, 130W combined. I'd like more, but it's not in the budget right now.

 

[georgie1]

Ok, YES they can live long under the right conditions! I have had mine for 4 years and all is well. How long has your tank been up and running? Yes they do like good light and that defineately seems like part of the problem. Your comment "Yeah, I know. It sounds kinda mean, but I wanted to get one that wouldn't last very long, ie months, before I went and spend quite a bit for one that lasted longer." is pretty disturbing. Why don't you try to find it a home?

 

[svynx]

I should have said it differently. I care very much about the animals that are in my tank, and I try to do my best with all of them. What I ment was that I was looking for one that its natural lifespan wasn't long. I could take care of it until it went to the beautiful reef in the sky on it's own, without me making it go there. And, I didn't want to spend $100 on something that I have never had before. For example, do you go out and spend $1,000,000 on a McLarren F1 for you first car, or do you go with a used $2,000 Honda? Same situation here. I spent about $30 on the sebae, knowing that it wasn't going to last very long, whether it's in my tank or someone elses. I will then take the experience and knowledge gained from taking care of him and use it for when I get a more expensive and longer living one.

Just and update - he has expanded almost to his full size, and has re-inflated. Looks a lot better. Still green though.

 

[georgie1]

Ok Thanks for clarifying! I am glad to hear that it is doing better.
IMO I would still fight for it though. I know they have a horrible rep, but it can be done! I would be more than happy to help you if you want to try. Their life span is not known for sure but they do live a VERY long time in the wild....

 

[gberry]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12168733#post12168733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by svynx
I should have said it differently. I care very much about the animals that are in my tank, and I try to do my best with all of them. What I ment was that I was looking for one that its natural lifespan wasn't long. I could take care of it until it went to the beautiful reef in the sky on it's own, without me making it go there. And, I didn't want to spend $100 on something that I have never had before.
Just and update - he has expanded almost to his full size, and has re-inflated. Looks a lot better. Still green though.

Anemones have lifespans well into decades and possibly even hundreds of years under the correct conditions.

Taking in an ill creature, whether it be percieved or actually sick, isn't really a recipe for learning how to care for it IMO. Far more is accomplished by doing the proper research, asking questions, and providing a healthy enviroment once you've done that research.

Would you purchase a dog with cancer, knowing it's life would be measured in days or weeks, and expect the experience to prepare you for caring for a healthy one? Yes, that's an extreme example, but an ill animal, whether it be terrestrial or aquatic, acts nothing like a healthy one, and if the animal is dying anyway, how do you know you're caring for it properly to begin with?

There's a huge amount of information here on the boards and on other sites around the web from folks who know how to successfully care for anemones. Please use that as a resource rather than experimenting on a live animal.

 

[svynx]

i'm not experimenting. I am taking all the advice and information that I have found both on in this forum and others to aid me in my quest to become a good reefer. I am doing everything that I can to make sure everything is ok for them, or at least as close as I can make it. The green is almost gone, and he is full size now. I'm going to try to feed him and see how he takes it. I hope that if it is sick, then I can take the necessary steps in helping it gain it's health back.

 

[garygb]

Yeah, I think most in the know agree that any one of the host species anemones would have a lifespan of more than a century--most likely they live until something kills them. From what I've read, they have no "built in" aging, as in say humans and other mammals, that are genetically programmed to die.