Hmmmm...what do you guys think?

[55semireef]

What kind of anemone do you guys think this is?

 

[traveller7]

Looks very Condylactis species to me, and a nice one at that ;>)

 

[55semireef]

Thanks. I bought it as a Condy but was never completely sure if it was one. I have a question about it that concerns me. Everything is fine with it. It has the a dark color just like in the pictures, its eats readily and its mouth is shut tightly. Over this past week, it seems the anemone has been shrinking on me. Like its tentacles are getting shorter. If I were to take a picture of it now, its probably half the size of itself in the 4th picture. Why is it shrinking. I feed it plenty, about 3 times a week of pieces of shrimp, fish and any flakes it can get from feeding my fish. Any ideas???

 

[ClownReef®]

Looks like an LTA to me.

 

[Amphiprion]

Looks like the same seagrass dwelling Condylactis species we always get in.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7759379#post7759379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by iReef69
Looks like an LTA to me.

Thats what I was thinking. Could be an LTA. Because why would a Condy shrink on me like that?

 

[dantodd]

I've never seen an LTA quite like that before. Can you get a shot of the oral disk?

 

[55semireef]

I can try to get a shot of the oral disk. Might be hard. But you will notice that my anemone looks smaller but still the same color.

 

[55semireef]

There is no way I can get any shot of the oral disk. There are tentacles in the way of it.

 

[dantodd]

probably not an LTA then. They have fairly open oral disks with the tents concentrated around the edge of the disk. There will be verruca on the underside of LTA oral disks and striations extending from the mouth the the edge of the oral disk.

 

[55semireef]

Most likely a Condy then. But why is it shrinking? Why would it decrease in size? Its getting plenty of light and I feed it plenty. Water conditions good too.

 

[55semireef]

So does anyone know why its shrinking? I am really eager to find out. I always like to know what I do wrong for obvious reasons.

 

[traveller7]

IME anemones shrink from a lack of food(light), undesirable water conditions, predation, or division. They are quite "simple" critters and that about sums it up the main culprits, so I would start at the beginning and eliminate what you can. Unfortunately, there is likely a bunch we still don't know and they get to decide what they like, what is enough, what is too much, etc.

When mine are not quite right, I recheck the following:

- are any of the tentacles un-naturally shaped to indicate a predator, "loving" clown, or buffeting from flow?

- if you are quite sure the specimen is not regurgitating food, it can possibly eat more. Stick with portions the size of a keyboard key up to once a day. Maybe alternate, fish, shrimp, and Formula VHP(some of mine are big fans others not)

- what are the daytime versus night time pH peaks? Measure before lights on and before lights off

- is the anemone anywhere near a "kalk" top off, etc.?

- Are the bulbs over six,nine,twelve(PC/VHO/MH respectively) months old?

- How are the summer temps treating the tank?

- skip carbon for a week or two

Best of luck and I can't tell you how many times I knew things were right with my system, only to find I overlooked something I knew was "okay".

Cheers.

 

[55semireef]

Wow thanks Traveller. I will answer all those questions on the message board just to be safe. Ok...

The tentacles are going with the flow. They wave around.

I alternately feed it shrimp, and pieces of fish

I will have to check the pH swings

I have no Kalk top off

PC bulbs are 2.5 months old (New T5 Tek lighting is on the way starting from today )

Even though I live in Florida, my tank stays at a stable 79

I just started putting carbon in in the past week or two. I will skip it.

 

[55semireef]

So the basically only things it could be is:

Carbon
pH swings

Those are the only things I could think of. The carbon I use is real high quality if that makes any difference. Its not one of those cheap brands.

I also have a leather coral and Xenia. Maybe that. But I have seen tanks such as Finding Nemos with RBTAs and Xenia. She runs carbon too and her tanks look great.

 

[Amphiprion]

Sudden addition of good carbon will make the water very clear, very quickly. That, of course, increases light penetration and that may have temporarily aggravated your anemone. Sudden removal of other compounds may have done the same. Either way, it should be temporary, as you are doing everything as you should. pH swings may be a problem IF they are significant (more than 3 units per day).

 

[55semireef]

Well how long would it take for my Condy to readjust? Its still looking small. I have been feeding it daily since.

I doubt its pH swings.

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7775155#post7775155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
Well how long would it take for my Condy to readjust?

I have no idea. It is not a concrete thing--to the contrary, it is quite variable. I would give it at least a few more weeks.

I doubt its pH swings.

I doubt it also, but at least check to see if it is a factor. Oh, and that should be .3 units, not 3 (oops!) on the above.

 

[55semireef]

Ok I will give it some time. I mean it couldn't be that much of a drastic change. I didn't change any bubls and the bulbs are new. its not like my water was cloudy before I used carbon and made that much of a difference. But I will give it some time and I am hoping it will come nack to the size it use to be.

 

[Amphiprion]

Carbon won't really clear cloudy water, but it can quickly reduce any yellowing in the water. Chances are, though it is difficult to notice, that it cleared pretty quickly. You would be surprised at the difference it can make.