Malu nem questions

[NumberFish]

Hi all. I have a purple malu nem that I acquired from a guy in my local club about 2 weeks ago. It is about 7-8" total when fully flat and expanded. It seems happy and healthy, but is not eating. The guy who owned it before me was feeding salmon once a week. My water conditions are SG 1.025, Ammonia 0, Nitrites, 0, nitrates .5. My tank is a 90 Gal with a 30 gal sump. I aquired the tank in a setup condition and moved to my house 3 months ago. Here is a pic in natural morning light.



He is in the left corner of my mostly softy tank and has moved out of the container I brought him in into the sand bed. I tried feeding him fresh salmon last night but it didn't take it. I figured I would wait a while and try in another few days. Any suggestions on feeding?

Also, I have 2 clowns (see pic), but so far they have not hosted it or shown any interest. Any suggestions. I'm not rushing or forcing things, but taking things slow. I am just asking questions because I want to give it good care. Here is a pic of the fish this morning.

 

[NumberFish]

Also my lighting is 4 bulb t5vho and flow is 2 sicce voyager 4 stream pumps with 1600 gph flow mounted on opposite ends of the tank. He was in the plastic container with DSB shown in pic but moved over the weekend. Not sure why because nothing has really changed.

 

[SeaTila]

I have a malu sebae that is very difficult and tends to like not much of anyplace in the tank bit but perks up with indirect stronger flow in the corner of tank on sandbed slightly buried next to rock. Its a slow eater ...very slow but will eat if shrimp etc doesnt steal its food. The easiest food I've found is frozen krill. I put a couple of nets up to block the clowns and shrimp to give more time. I also turn up current/ waves in tank so its got movement. I watch and it just is slowwwww. My other anenome grabs krill and closes up and is very fast. The sebae I just put krill near mouth so theres no need to move it a long way. Ive had it about 3 months. It tends to need to be left alone unless in bad spot snd will start to be more attached. It seemed to help to place in a bit of a depression next to rock and fill in a bit around foot. I don't know if it helps and many say not to but I offer different frozen food regularly...krill, blood worm, mysis, reef plankton, roe...you name it. I target feed in general area those smaller foods. I dont force the food...more like making available. Hope 1 or more of these ideas may help. ...I sometimes soak krill in selco and no negatives and could be part of why most everything including the sebae is doing well.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I527 using Tapatalk

 

[OrionN]

I think he look a bit stressed right now. I woud let him be until he look healthier. He will be fine without foot for a long time, months. I woul dhold off on feeding for at least 1 week. Once he extend fully then you can feed him.

Healthy Malu should look something like this:

 

[NumberFish]

Thanks SeaTila and Minh. I guess if he were happy he would not have moved. Also I noticed in your picture the tentacles were more elongated. My flow in the spot that it is in is more indirect flow. Not real strong. Not sure if I should increase it or not. Minh, do your Malu eat slowly like SeaTila describes?

I was also going to dump the sand out of the plastic container he came in and build up the area around it unless you think I should hold off. Thanks again.

 

[OrionN]

They grab the food pretty quick like most other anemones.

 

[SeaTila]

They grab the food pretty quick like most other anemones.

I've read personality of nems may vary. Mine could be picky and not liking the food, not needing to eat or simply not healthy enough. Mine is definitely way more difficult than the others I have. I have 5 total in a 200g. All my others placed into tank grabbed a rock or planted foot in sand first day except the malu sebae. All the others like water conditions/lighting and are growing/thriving. I've not had that ease with the malu sebae like my previous post mentions. I suppose based on general reading of experiences mine is not that uncommon. I'm sure someone can purchase a healthy happy malu from the lfs and have better experience but lots of people post concerns over troubling behavior like not settling down/planting foot etc.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I527 using Tapatalk

 

[OrionN]

IME, Anemones that are fish eater, Haddoni and Gigantea Carpets, have a really fast and very sticky feeding response that take a piece of food and fold over it in a few seconds. All the other host anemones Doreensis, Magnifica, Crispa, Malu, Aurora will eat in a minute or two.
All of these anemone will have enough strength to pull the food off a skewer stick.

 

[davocean]

I agree leave it alone.
That tank looks a little stark/fresh still, still kinda new, hopefully params are stable.
That sailfin is too big for that tank BTW

 

[NumberFish]

I agree leave it alone.
That tank looks a little stark/fresh still, still kinda new, hopefully params are stable.
That sailfin is too big for that tank BTW

thanks. yeah I am adding to it, rock and coral as I can. The sailfin and hippo are going to be sold in club if possible, otherwise my lfs will offer store credit. I agree they are too big. The tank had been running almost 5 years by previous owner before he sold it. He removed most of the corals and had neglected the tank due to an injury just before I purchased it.

Params have been stable.

 

[NumberFish]

So I pulled the tangs out and glad I did! Tank just seems happier! I decided to try feeding the malu in the morning while it seemed happiest which is in the morning sun with its tentacles fully extended. Lo and behold it snatched the salmon right up. Wow. I fed a fungia too and he did the same. I am so excited!

 

[NumberFish]

 

[OrionN]

That is a nice looking Malu. Best of luck with him. They are perfect anemone for a usual reef tank. Stay on the bottome and not get too big.

 

[NumberFish]

Yeah I like it a lot! For all of those reasons and he's not so aggressive to eat my fish! I am so glad to figure out when to feed him and that he is eating! He loves the morning sun!