LTA rescue, can it be done?

[Costa reefing]

Its very rare where i live to come across nems. I have been on the hunt and a lfs near me got a shipment of about 15 LTAs 2 weeks ago. To say the least, they all looked terrible exept for about 3 that actually where able to attach themselves to the tank.

I visited yesterday and saw one that i had been looking at before, its the only one left, im pretty sure a few died and the rest were probably sold. I am confident in my skills of keeping BTAs and Haddonis but i have never tried an LTA.

The mouth is shut and is firmly attached to the bottom of the tank which has about 1/4in of substrate and has a 250w MH about 6 feet above it. Its just, very VERY bleached. Is this nem a sure goner or do you think with the proper care it can be brought back?

 

[bradleym]

With good lighting, great water, some TLC and frequent feeding it can definitely recover. Bleached is very different from sick and dying.

 

[Toddrtrex]

As long as it is otherwise healthy, and you give it the proper care, it can be done -- it just takes time and effort.

This was years ago,

Started with this;

A couple of months later,

 

[syrinx]

Over the years I have had great luck with LTAs. I wouldn`t hesitate to try- as long as the price reflected the quality of the specimin.

 

[bues0022]

Did I read that correctly, the light is 6 feet above the nem?

 

[Costa reefing]

Ok im going to stop by the store and take a shot at it then, hopefully it recovers nicley, im exited to see what color it turns out!

Did I read that correctly, the light is 6 feet above the nem?

No surprise why its bleached huh? light acclimation is going to be a must seeing as my 250 is only 10in off the water

 

[Toddrtrex]

I would use the screening method --- worked really well for mine; pictured above.

 

[Costa reefing]

You used 3 layers if i remember correctly, right? And took one off every week or 2? I remember reading one of your threads a while back, i guess the pictures stuck more that the words haha

 

[Toddrtrex]

You're not the first one to state that my words are forgettable.

But, yes, I used 3 layers and removed one layer every 5-7 days. (( the 5 is for ones that aren't as bleached, but in the case of the one pictured, I would stick with 7 days. If it shows a bad reaction when you remove a layer, just put it back at wait 3 more days. The timeframe isn't hard and fast but a good starting point )).

 

[garygb]

I agree that the LTA has a good chance. Be sure that when taking it off the bottom of the tank the foot is not torn. With LTAs, a torn foot means almost certain death of the anemone. For whatever reason, that species doesn't rebound from tears the way some species can.

 

[Costa reefing]

Well i took the plunge....

The nem seems to be doing better than i thought, i dug a little hole in the sand so the foot could attach better and turned off the pumps. It took to it right away extending its foot into the sand and the diameter of the foot expanded much bigger compared to how it was at the store. All i can do now is wait and see what happens

 

[garygb]

The fact it dug right in suggests it is a healthy specimen, albeit somewhat bleached. It should do well for you assuming you provide it with good water quality and proper lighting.

 

[SwampyBill]

Nursing a bleached nem back to good health & thriving can definitely be done with patience, correct lighting acclimation, good water quality, proper flow for that particular species, & frequent feedings (sometimes daily for awhile if it's that bleached)... I've resurrected a snow white with purple tips sebae anemone that was about 4"s & now, a year later it's golden brown & the size of a dinner plate that my b/w occi's call their condo... My LTA was more of a challenge because it would move around tank for 3 months before finally settling in a corner it likes at opposite end of the sebae with less flow.

 

[Costa reefing]

This morning the LTA seems to have settled in nicely, with the 3 layers of messh its not retracting from the light and it seems the spot where i put it has appropriate flow. I'm not going to spot feed it for a couple days because I'm not sure if the nem has enough energy to digest the food, i do feed a plentiful amount of frozen food 2-3 times a day so im sure it will catch small pieces here and there.

Is there any way to try and guess what color it will turn out? It looks a little purple by the base and the tips look green.

 

[bradleym]

Those are both common colors for an LTA. Purple base with green tentacles may be what it turns into. Sometimes called a bi-colored anemone.

 

[sirbiggstixx]

keep it very well feed..like maybe some very tiny pieces of fish everyday..like pea size pieces..i saved condy that was at near death and is now happy as can be..i have a 250 halide also..i think you can save it..for some reason i like trying to save things like this..i just got a orange shoulder tang that was as well at near death for free and he is coming back, its only about an 1"..