Is my bubble tip anemone dying?
- Thread starter dlajola
- Start date
Calappidae
Harlequin Shrimp
I believe long tentacles on a BTA means it's hungry.
Otherwise it looks healthy to me.
Otherwise it looks healthy to me.
beckywaller108
New member
Same issue?
Same issue?
I just bought a anemone and the first night I had it it looked great. The next morning it looked like the picture attached. It is ok and/or maybe still getting used to its new home? I had my husband flip it back right side up since it looked upside down from what the guy at the fish store told me?
<--- this is when I first put it in the tank. The pic in the post below is what it looks like today
Same issue?
I just bought a anemone and the first night I had it it looked great. The next morning it looked like the picture attached. It is ok and/or maybe still getting used to its new home? I had my husband flip it back right side up since it looked upside down from what the guy at the fish store told me?
<--- this is when I first put it in the tank. The pic in the post below is what it looks like today
beckywaller108
New member
2nd picture
2nd picture
This is the today picture. Is this normal?
2nd picture
This is the today picture. Is this normal?
Last edited:
sam.basye
New member
Pretty sure the orange meaty part is the foot and the white tentacles should be upright like your first post..
beckywaller108
New member
I fixed it. Moved it upright. This is what it looks like now. Is this good or no?
beckywaller108
New member
beckywaller108
New member
Whew!
sam.basye
New member
Don't forget to feed it every other day or so!
beckywaller108
New member
I tried to feel it last night with a syringe and some thawed out Mysis shrimp and it didn't go so well. I fed the tank first and then the anemone (hoping the rest of the tank would be full) and my fish wouldn't back off me and ate everything. I've heard of people feeding it thawed uncooked shrimp but I still wouldn't know what size shrimp and how to make sure the other piggy's in the tank didn't steal it all first? Any suggestions?
Stevenliu9
New member
BTA inflate and deflate regularly. Nothing to worry. I have 9 of them between my two tanks (all reproduced from 2) and they inflate and deflate on a daily basis especially between meals after they've digested, they'd deflate to excrete. And agreed that the ones with long extended tentacles means they are hungry, try offer them frozen food like mysis or krill. But for the most part, they are super hardy, especially if you have a clown hosting it, the clown would give the anemone it's "leftovers"
ReeFreak1
New member
It takes Anemones a few days to acclimate and start eating. Just let it find its sweet comfortable spot. Don't worry, it doesn't need to eat everyday. Many experts think it thrives best if fed twice a week in captivity. Regarding the portion size, it really depends on how large your anemone is. The chunk size needs to fit in the anemone's mouth. I have great success feeding my 5 inch bta uncooked fresh shrimp and squid. I feed half inch portions and sometimes a little larger. So if you have a medium sized shell-on shrimp, cut it in half inch portions, feed one piece and freeze the rest. Make sure you peal it prior to feeding and dip the food in tank water so its temperature is adjusted to tank temp. Push the food towards the center of the anemone until it gently touches the mouth. (Do not shove the food inside the mouth). Guard it from scavengers for a few minutes or until it is devoured. If it doesn't eat it, don't push it and try again the next day.
Do you have a clownfish? Clownfish are excellent guards.
beckywaller108
New member
I have 2 clown fish and the female has fallen in love with it. But, this morning I work up to it looking like this! Normally it does this when I turn the light off for the night, but the light has been on for hours now and it won't open back up and me and my clown fish are freaking out.
Attachments
ReeFreak1
New member
It is to early to freak out yet. Anemones are stresses when first added to the tank and might take a week to adjust. This is NORMAL.
I'm curious and have a few questions:
Is it still moving around or did it settle?
How old is your tank?
What are your water parameters including temp?
What kind of lighting do you have?
Did you acclimate it prior to adding to DT.
beckywaller108
New member
It has settled to this spot. It moved around the first couple of days and then has stayed here. Tank is close to 3 years old. "What are your water parameters including temp? - I will have to check on this. Just bought a new light that has 2 daytime lights and 2 blue lights in it (haven't set it up yet bc 2 bulbs blew and Im waiting on my new ones). We let him float in the bag for about 30 mins, then slowly let water in for about another 15 mins. Its a 75 gallon tank and its the only anemone we have. Later that night it opened back up and has been fine since. My clown fish can sometimes get a little aggressive with it by shaking a lot in it and dive bombing in and out of it. Can that get it mad and make the anemone shrivel up? Also, I attemped to feed it small pieces of raw krill and it would make it to its mouth and that stinking clown fish would dive bomb it and take the krill and eat it. So I don't know what else to do as far as feeding it. Everyone I know with an anemone like mine says they just hand feed theirs and its easy peasy. But im struggling with it. Any suggestions?
ReeFreak1
New member
Sorry for taking so long to respond. I am hoping that the BTA is doing well and is eating. If not, could you detail your water parameters? In my opinion, you have added the anemone too fast to your tank (15 minutes) that was why it acted up for a couple of days. Anemones are sensitive and prefer longer time for water acclimation before adding to tank. It did get over the shock, however, which was good.
Regarding aggression, it does bother the anemone, but I would only be worried if the clown is too large for the anemone, otherwise, I think the clown will calm down with time. The anemone needs to be about 3 times larger than the anemone. Regarding food theft, maybe your clown is hungry. It is a good idea that you fed your fish first then the anemone. I also think that with time, the clown will learn to respect the anemone and stop stealing its food. Actually, clown fish will get dedicated and start feeding the anemone. BTAs benefit a lot from strong lighting. In fact, under strong enough light, BTA only need to be fed once a week or even once a month so no need to worry about the feeding for now if your light is strong enough. Try to offer different food each time you feed. Please keep me updated and will do my best to respond sooner.
