Is my Anemone in a death spiral?

[Icewing726]

So this is a long tentacled anemone and when I got him he attached to a rock and then he moved to another rock putting himself partially in a cave but still getting plenty of light. Then the following happened:

1) Thought a fish might be dead and moved the rock he was on which he stayed attached for the ride (2 inches to the left)

2) Added a PH buffer, not because I needed it but because I listened to the marketing and have been chastised for doing so already. PH was stable at 8.2, however this time the buffer didn't mix. Instead it precipitated and the anemone sucked in completely.

3) The anemone came back out but then started a tank walk/roll eventually coming to rest on the sand but not burying his foot in the least.

4) He stayed there for a 2-3 days and then moved a little further behind that rock, but still getting light and stayed there 2 days without burying his foot just laying on his side.

5) He's now in the cave and these are the best photos I could get.

Anyway, is he on the verge of death/what signs should I be looking for?

Should I remove him?

Advice?

 

[davocean]

LTA are not rock dwellars, they are sand dwellars, so it may be just trying to get down to where it really wants to be

 

[slief]

Anemones don't like changes in water chemistry. Your addition of buffer changed the chemistry some and the precipitation was likely ingested by the anemone which would have irritated it even more. Best you can do is wait it out and hope for the best. Don't do anything that will result in more changes. Hopefully your tank is mature because if this is a newly setup tank (less than a year old) chances of long term success with this anemone and pretty slim.

 

[Icewing726]

So while hoping for the best, what will be a sure sign that the anemone is about to nuke the tank?

 

[teddscau]

Can't really give you any info, but since he's not getting any light, he's probably starving since his algae isn't feeding him. Try offering some yummy meaty foods and see if he'll eat them. Only offer him a little bit of food as you don't need to stress him further if he leaves any uneaten food in there to pollute the water. I know that my freshwater fish and invertebrates enjoy eating food soaked in ginger, so if he refuses to eat you could try again later and soak the food in some freshly squeezed ginger root before offering it.

 

[pfan151]

So while hoping for the best, what will be a sure sign that the anemone is about to nuke the tank?

It won’t nuke the tank when it dies. If you see it start melting just take it out. I don’t think you ever mentioned the age of the tank in your last post. From the look of those rocks it looks to be less than a month to me.

 

[Icewing726]

Fine I'll own up to being a bad newbie and making an impulse buy. Bought this guy while he was rolling around a coral display in a store. Throw your spears I challenge any of you to pass up this beautiful specimen that I saw. I knew I was screwing up but I don't have a reputable LFS by me and couldn't control myself.........

Look, I'm Catholic and deal with the confessional once every 3 weeks. Don't make this my confessional away from a confessional bro. I know I messed up and I feel horrible.

 

[Dean Ladd]

From what I can see from the second picture the nem looks ok. I have had my LTA get stressed and go hide under the rock it was next to. As long as it has set it foot in the sand and is staying put that is a good sign.

As previously said LATs are sand dwellers. Usually they will bury their foot in the sand under a rock structure. Give it time it will seek light once it is happy. I would recommend to feed it a meaty meal occasionally. If it is stressed to much sometimes the nem will spit the food out.

Lessons learned, he who cast the first stone. Typically avoid nems not attached to a rock or sand, depending on the type of nem. Healthy nems will have a dark rich color. Light colored or transparent nems are usually an indication they have lost their zooxanthellae