LTA help/suggestions

[docstach]

Hello, I recently purchased a green LTA (Macrodactyla doreensis) off of DD. When I received it, it seemed healthy enough. Mouth was a little open but I have certainly seen worse. The package had a heat pack and wasn't too cold. Anyway, it has been about 5 days and I am having a hell of a time getting it to attach to anything. I don't notice any tears on its foot, but I have had no luck getting it to stay attached. I originally tried clearing out an area of sand then placed the LTA in it. After that didn't work I tried the edge of a rock, then more on a rock, and then back in the sand. Anyway, it still looks about the same maybe a little worse. Tentacles are slightly sticky and it stays fairly inflated, but the mouth does gape a little. In addition, for lack of a better description the outermost skin around the foot seemed to slough off. I left my pumps off for a couple of days but felt I needed to eventually get them back on (at a low speed). I finally had to put it under a tupperware container, but feel this is less than ideal as the LTA is pretty big and the tupperware will block a fair amount of light.

The tank is a 125g about a year old but most of the aquarium was moved over from another tank that had been going for about 3 years. I have several other anemones in the tank that have done great, just not sure what else to do with this guy. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks,

 

[worm5406]

Can we get a few pictures?

Also some basic questions, I know everything else is doing good, but just as a baseline:

Rock type (tonga/encrusted)
sand type (oolite/crush coral)
Light type/frequency
Flow type/speed (powerhead/nozzles)
ph/sg/temp

What what was the water like when you got it? (if you tested it that is)
How/length did you acclimate it?
Has it eaten at all, from other food floating in tank?
Inhabitants? (Someone trying to host in it?)

I know you have other anemones so some of those questions should be pretty quick to answer.


Do you have a before pic and a current pic?

Thanks.

I had my LTA float for about a week before it decided to plant for a day. Then it floated for another week. I had it for a good two+ years, before it decided to pull it's foot and move the rock it attached to which sliced its foot and declined quickly. It was a good 8+ inches.

 

[docstach]

Thanks for your reply, I will post a couple of crappy pictures I took last night while I was trying to get everything settled. That is all I have right now, but I will try to get some better ones tonight. See below for answers. I would have no problem letting it float around for awhile, but I just worried about it getting caught in the pumps 2x WP-40s. That is why I tried to finally contain it in the container, but if everyone thinks it is better to just let it float around I can do that and leave the pumps of for a day or two.

Can we get a few pictures?

Also some basic questions, I know everything else is doing good, but just as a baseline:

Rock type (tonga/encrusted) non-tonga Basic marco rock mixture of 1 yr old and older
sand type (oolite/crush coral) oolite although a bit courser grain
Light type/frequency LED on for about 10hrs a day, my other anemones have thrived under it.
Flow type/speed (powerhead/nozzles) Right now, low flow as I was trying to give it time to anchor, normally it is located in a moderate flow area
ph/sg/temp ph: my probe is a bit off calibration so I don't know exact but it has been stable, sg: 1.025, temp: 78-79

What what was the water like when you got it? (if you tested it that is) I did not test it, but I did not notice a much smell or anything
How/length did you acclimate it? Drip acclimation, don't remember exact timing but around 45 minutes in a temp controlled container
Has it eaten at all, from other food floating in tank? No, at least I don't think so. I tried to shoot a couple of mysis at it and they seemed to stick to tenticles but I never saw them move to the mouth.
Inhabitants? (Someone trying to host in it?) 2 smaller percs, have not tried to inhabit it yet. I also have a pair of anemone craps but they live on the other side of the tank in different anemones

I know you have other anemones so some of those questions should be pretty quick to answer.


Do you have a before pic and a current pic?

Thanks.

I had my LTA float for about a week before it decided to plant for a day. Then it floated for another week. I had it for a good two+ years, before it decided to pull it's foot and move the rock it attached to which sliced its foot and declined quickly. It was a good 8+ inches.

 

[docstach]

Received it on the 10th.

1/13

 

[docstach]

Last night, while I was trying to get it protected.

 

[worm5406]

Do you have access to any strawberry holders?

The baskets that are full of large holes on the sides?

Can you try that?

Funny. It looks just like the one I had when I first got it.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ROZRBjbHYDT1iKGwSEpBJ9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?feat=directlink

I ended up adjusting it and placing it between two rocks at a slight wedge angle where it could feel safe. It did attach. Took forever. Then to bring the mp40s back up to speed took forever.

 

[worm5406]

Also, mine really liked to attach through the sand to the bottom of a rock.

 

[kjboggs]

It's never going to be happy and attach under that Tupperware!!!!

If your parameters are good, leave it alone, just use less flow. If there is a section you want it in, use eggcrate or something to block it from getting to other areas.

It can take up to a couple weeks, patience is key. Mine stressed me out and I tried everything, but only settled when I left it alone, which was about 2 years ago.

 

[docstach]

I agree, that was meant for a very short term fix to keep it away from the pumps/overflow. I have since switched to this and am slowly working up the pumps to reestablish ok flow. Hopefully will remove the egg crate in the next day or two. I am less concerned where it attaches so long as it attaches and does OK.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

 

[worm5406]

That is a lot better flow for it.

How is it doing?

 

[docstach]

That is a lot better flow for it.

How is it doing?

A little better, I have removed the crate and have normal flow going. Still not taking any food but at least it is attached.

 

[worm5406]

Yes that looks real good.

Let it acclimate for a bit still and try some mysis (yeah really small) it should grab it up as it floats by.

I feed mine actual shrimp, I cut one in half and feed each half to my haddoni and my ritteri. I swap in Scallops every now and then.