How do they move around?

[nehsmit]

I keep hearing nems move on their own but how? Do they stay upright on their foot and move? Do they lie flat and move? Or do they just get blown by the current?

 

[CarlDelain]

They move with their foot. It looks kind of like the bottom of a snail would when moving around on your glass.

 

[nehsmit]

I ask because I keep putting my LTA in foot down but he doesn't attach so ends up lying flat. Then there is no moving--just getting blown around the tank or into LR.

 

[bradleym]

I don't want to come off harsh but there are some things you should know.

1. I have seen your LTA and it has been mistreated badly before you bought it. The white color tells me it has been subjected to dangerous temperatures or other bad conditions, causing it to bleach or turn white. This also means that it cannot process light like most anemones and corals, because the white color means it has expelled the brown algae it uses to process light.

2. After it was bleached, it was most likely dyed. I say this because it looks to have blue in it as well, and that is not a natural color for LTAs. I could be wrong about this, but it looks blue in the pics.

3. As a rule of thumb, it is risky to add an anemone to a tank less than 6 months old, because they are very sensitive to momentary swings in many tank parameters. When I went looking for your old thread to look at your LTA again, I noticed your tank has only been set up for 3 months.

These 3 things combined lead me to believe that your anemone came to you nearing death's door, and though it doesn't look it, is barely hanging on. I would suggest weekly 10-20% water changes and try to feed the anemone a very small piece of raw shrimp or scallop. Since it isn't getting food from the lights it will need another source until it recovers. If you can keep the water clean and the anemone will eat, you will be headed in the right direction, but given the above, that may not save it. Not being mean but I thought you should know.

 

[Allmost]

if its food is not sticking, it is not healthy.

get a small box to put him in so it wont get sucked into Power heads and feed it meanwhile. till it attaches to the box firmly ...

 

[BonsaiNut]

I ask because I keep putting my LTA in foot down but he doesn't attach so ends up lying flat. Then there is no moving--just getting blown around the tank or into LR.

LTA's are sand anemones. They need to be buried in the sand up to their oral disk. You could actually completely bury it in the sand and it would be better off than blowing around in your tank - it would eventually get situated and move to the surface of the sand where it would open up just the oral disk.

LTA's need the sand to be comfortable - it is their primary defense mechanism in the wild. In the event of being attacked, or bad storms, or extremely low tide, they pull completely under the sand.

 

[nehsmit]

Bradleym -- appreciate the honesty. Have been toying with the idea of just returning him. Met a few reefers last night who just bought the same LTA from the same LFS and had great luck getting them to attach. They told me to just let him be, flat or upright and he'll find his way. Not sure how much I believe that. If he is lying flat, should I stand him up so he is on his foot or just let him lie flat?

Allmost--what kind of box? like a plastic bucket? Once he attaches firmly to that, then what? How will I get him off of that so that he goes back into the tank?

Lastly, how do I feed him? I took a syringe filled with mysis and releaseed them slowly over his disc and tentacles. Its not like I saw him grab them and put them into his mouth. What should I do?

Thanks for your help and sorry for the noob-e questions.

 

[nehsmit]

You could actually completely bury it in the sand and it would be better off than blowing around in your tank - it would eventually get situated and move to the surface of the sand where it would open up just the oral disk.

So completely bury his oral disc and tentacles? Wont that hurt him? How about just placing him into a flower pot or bucket or pvc pipe WITHOUT sand, letting him attach, then add sand?

 

[BonsaiNut]

How about just placing him into a flower pot or bucket or pvc pipe WITHOUT sand, letting him attach, then add sand?

He won't attach without sand. Trust me on this one. If you put him in a pot, put him in the pot, hold him in it, and then backfill all around him with sand. He needs to feel buried - and he needs to feel buried DEEP. Once he is buried deep you will be amazed at the difference.

 

[bradleym]

I would feel safe backing up BonsaiNut on this. When they are happily settled, they can easily hide UNDER the sand and dig themselves back out. Sand anemones that aren't in sand will always WANT to be in sand. At least 3 inches deep.

As far as feeding, turn off the flow and let some mysis set on the oral disc while the nem is pointed straight up. If it wants them it will wrap some tentacles around them and pull them to it's mouth. But I would make sure not to do this for at least a couple hours after disturbing it.