Magnifica - Tentacles Withdrawn

[Nortamzzo]

So my Magnifica of almost a year has started declining in the past few weeks. I first noticed his tentacles shrinking, from at least an inch and a half, to where they are now, which is just a few on one side that are a few mm long, to just knubs on the other side. I have searched and searched trying to find a cause for this.

Parameters:
40 Breeder with 20 sump, SRO 1000int skimmer
2 balls of Chaeto (seeing which one grows faster)
Salinity - 1.026
Temp - 78.5 - 80.5 high in the day
Nitrates - ~5
Phosphates - not showing up on Salifert test
Calcium - 400
Alk - 7.5 usually, checked this morning and was 6.8 with Salifert, but I may have over dripped
No test for Magnesium

For the past year, the parameters have pretty much been the same.

Lighting is an AI Hydra, I run 90 blues, 60 purples, 40 red and green for 6 hours, and bring white to 60 for 3 hours in the middle.

Allelopathy could be possible, due to several polyps, and I also have a RBTA, which is on the other side of the tank.

Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Reefahholic]

My buddy has 800 Gallon with about 20-30 RBTA's and he hasn't have any major problems.

He probably just got sick. They get sick easy and are sensitive to any little changes. especially a elevated salinity change.

 

[OrionN]

They are very sensitive to pH changes. Changes that will not bother other corals or clam will really affect them
Picture?

 

[Nortamzzo]

Ph goes from 8.4 to 8.55, depending on time of day.

Don't know if this pic will work, but will give it a shot.

 

[Nortamzzo]

Here is another pic from about 2 months ago. The tentacles are as they normally used to be in this photo.

 

[Reefahholic]

That mag was pretty sick in that picture.

Is his mouth still open like that?

Can we see a current pic please.??

 

[Nortamzzo]

The first pic is from last night, I'll get a better one when the lights come on.

 

[cyclenut]

Do you feed it at all?

 

[Nortamzzo]

I used to feed it twice a week, but for the past 2 weeks it hasn't taken food. I do squirt some mysis or homemade food by it's mouth every other day, and it appears to take some of that in.

 

[Nortamzzo]

Here is current pic.

 

[cyclenut]

Are there any shrimps/crabs or other fish in the tank that could be eating its tentacles? I know my clownfish sometimes aggressively sucks on the mags tentacles and I've had cleaner shrimps eat my elegance coral tentacles.

 

[Nortamzzo]

2 emerald crabs, six line, and 5 Peppermint shrimp

 

[cyclenut]

Peppermint shrimp are known to eat aiptasia. Maybe there is a correlation. Have you seen them hanging around your mag?

Do you run carbon at all?

 

[Nortamzzo]

I run a 1/4 cup of Carbon in a bag, changing every other week. And I haven't seen the shrimp near the mag.

 

[D-Nak]

I run a 1/4 cup of Carbon in a bag, changing every other week. And I haven't seen the shrimp near the mag.

I would check the tank in the middle of the night and see if the shrimp are bothering the nem. 5 peps in a 40 gallon tank is a lot, and I wouldn't be surprised if they've taken a liking to your nem merely out of starvation (assuming you don't feed your tank a lot of food). During the day, the clowns will defend it, but not at night when they're sleeping and the shrimp are most active.

Also, the optimum pH for mags is 8.3. If your tank has been at the elevated level for quite some time, then the mag is probably used to it, but it may be good to slooooowly being it down into the 8.1-8.3 range.

 

[xtlosx]

personally tentacles going in like that indicates he's hungry, either for light, or actual meaty food and might be consuming himself to stay alive.

Regardless, get that guy out, QT, and cipro if need be... that isn't normal.

 

[D-Nak]

personally tentacles going in like that indicates he's hungry, either for light, or actual meaty food and might be consuming himself to stay alive.

Regardless, get that guy out, QT, and cipro if need be... that isn't normal.

I agree with this as well. Have you seen its poop? Looks for partially digested tentacles.

 

[Nortamzzo]

I'll try getting the pH to stay around 8.3 and get the lights up a little. Will continue trying to feed it, maybe every day for a while.

 

[Reefahholic]

I'll try getting the pH to stay around 8.3 and get the lights up a little. Will continue trying to feed it, maybe every day for a while.

Something is definitely wrong. Get him out of that tank for awhile and put him in a holding tank or tx tank. See how he does for a day or two. If he doesn't show any signs of improvement. I would start treating him. I think he's getting ravaged by another tank mate at night. His mouth is too tight to be super sick. I would probably just go ahead and tx him actually and feed him when he's starting to perk up. I Think he's stressed from all the trauma he's been receiving by your shrimp or whatever else is enjoying midnight snacks. Either that or your PH is really taking a toll on him. 8.55 is really high. Hope he recovers. Good luck and keep his updated so we can all chime in. Twenty heads is better than one.

Just get him out of that tank asap.

 

[taylor t]

personally tentacles going in like that indicates he's hungry, either for light

I would guess the light also. I had a GBTA do the same. Took a change of lights to help. Took time to recover from that, a really long time. And, that was with a BTA.
I don't think removing it will help, honestly. Just my opinion.

Best of luck, what ever you try. I hope it recovers for you.