Need Help From the Experts: Heteractis Magnifica

tufacody

tufacody

New member
I've had my heteractis magnifica for 10 days, and it has been a b**** to be sure. I'm looking for advice from mag owners on how it looks and how to proceed.

It is inflating/deflating much too often, at least once a day but usually 2-3. I have seen its mouth tight, gaping, medium - everything. I thought it was a goner today as I noticed a brown ball of what looked like twine its mouth, which I am sure is zooanthellae. But a few hours later it looks perky again.

I have tried feeding it deli shrimp when it has perked up. It will "reflex" on it and try to bring it to its mouth, but eventually it seems to decide it doesnt want it and lets go. Even though I am feeding the clowns, they do seem to tug at the food sometimes, which I'm sure makes it more difficult for the anemone. Still, I think it would do more harm than good trying to take the two clowns out right now.

My water params are:

salinity: 1.025
temp: 79
ammonia: 0
nitriite: 0
nitrate: .2 (lowest possible other than 0 reading on salifert test)
magnesium: 1200
calcium: 460

I have added a very small amount of iodine (about 7 ml) and done a few 40 gallon water changes.

The animals are in a 60 gallon cube which is tied into my 180 reef for 300+ gallons.

I have attached a tank cam for viewing:

http://reeftank1.viewnetcam.com

user = reefcentral
pass = percula

hit the "SINGLE" tab when the site comes up.

I've moved the cam right up to the tank to try to get the best shot. I realize the quality of the cam depends greatly on your internet speed. I'd take pictures but the damn thing changes so much by the hour.

I've also played with the photo period, but it won't give me any signs as to what it likes. I've added some eggcrate and a cloudy plastic top over the cover this morning to see if some reduced PAR will help.

Please take a peak and share your thoughts. This is my first mag and I'm pretty worried about it. Thanks
 
i wasnt able to log into your site. id like to know what they should normally look like too. my LFS has had one for many months but its been stuck at the top right corner where it get sunlight. the tentacles always look deflated though
 
Re: Need Help From the Experts: Heteractis Magnifica

Hi tufacody,

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13257919#post13257919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
It is inflating/deflating much too often, at least once a day but usually 2-3. I have seen its mouth tight, gaping, medium - everything. I thought it was a goner today as I noticed a brown ball of what looked like twine its mouth, which I am sure is zooanthellae. But a few hours later it looks perky again.
Click to expand...
Classic actions of a disturbed H. mag and one that is in decline. These deflating events can go on for weeks, but lets hope it is feeding related.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13257919#post13257919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
I have tried feeding it deli shrimp when it has perked up. It will "reflex" on it and try to bring it to its mouth, but eventually it seems to decide it doesnt want it and lets go. Even though I am feeding the clowns, they do seem to tug at the food sometimes, which I'm sure makes it more difficult for the anemone. Still, I think it would do more harm than good trying to take the two clowns out right now.
Click to expand...
I prefer not to feed new anemone arrivals and when I do, feed them very small soft bodied portions until they are well established. IME, shrimp is not the best first food for anemones. Soft fish cut to small portions appears to digest faster and help to avoid the regurgitation factor.

You'll get mixed opinions, but I do not like clowns in my new H. magnifica arrivals.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13257919#post13257919 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
I've also played with the photo period, but it won't give me any signs as to what it likes. I've added some eggcrate and a cloudy plastic top over the cover this morning to see if some reduced PAR will help.
Click to expand...
I would shift the lighting to the side and let the anemone decide. If it wants more or less it can move, quite quickly to the area it prefers.

Flow will impact placement as well. Mine prefer alternating flow and intense light as long as they are not bleached.

Best of luck.
 
What do you mean "shift lighting to the side"? Its one of the few parameters I can contol. Flow is already great and on a wavemaker. If anything, the nem has crawled lower on the rock, not higher, but he pretty much hasn't moved from where I put him.
 
*stop dosing iodine altogether
*keep water parameters correct and stable
*feed the anemone much smaller foods such as HUFA enriched mysids or HUFA enriched brine

what lighting is the anemone under? I highly doubt that your mag needs to be shaded from "too much PAR"

tying a mag system into your 180 reef can prove to be a poor decision- you would have been better off keeping it's cube separate.
 
Yes, I only does iodine once.

I tied it into the 180 for stability purposes. The 180 only has 5 small fish, so it is a very low bioload.

The mag is under the current 250 hqi/t5 fixture, so plenty of light there. It does seem to deflated after the lights have been on for about 3-4 hours. I am limiting the hqi to 4-6 hours right now.

I have mysis and brine. I will try that the next time it is inflated.
 
I am working on some experiments with H. Mags to my knowledge they are prone to bacteria infections and are very poor shippers. I finally bite the bullet and bought a accurate jewelry scale and large amount of Doxycycline. With my experience if the mouth is gaping and they are constantly deflating and inflating they are trying to rid themselves of something, mine did this for 2 weeks till they just died.
 
That seems to be the general concensus. I won't try it again if it dies. Really wish there was something I could do than watch a slow funeral.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13263173#post13263173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
That seems to be the general concensus. I won't try it again if it dies. Really wish there was something I could do than watch a slow funeral.
Click to expand...

Do you have a qt tank? I would be willing to ship you some doxy and see if that helps. I have a 20gal with a hop filter with floss.
 
Wow, thank you for that link. I could easily convert the mag's cube into a stand alone system for treatment purposes. Now...should I?

Has anyone tried the doxy lately?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13263173#post13263173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
That seems to be the general concensus. I won't try it again if it dies. Really wish there was something I could do than watch a slow funeral.
Click to expand...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13264297#post13264297 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
I purchased a mag from DD and I am on week two. Frankly, I don't think its going to make it. I agree with Elegance that a picture is very deceiving, as mine usually looks awesome for 2 hours and terrible for 22. I almost wish DD didn't have a guarantee on them.

Its heartbreaking to see these animals struggle. I was very opportunistic and purchased an expensive system for the dedication of this animal and a pair of clowns, and right now I'm pretty depressed about the whole purchase. Normally I'd suck it up and try again, but I just can't see risking more animals, especially knowing how long they live in the wild. I don't think the hobby is ready for them yet.

Sorry to be depressing. I thought I could beat the odds too, but sometimes I think it must have been pure arrogance on my part that led me to the purchase. I have so much respect for those that are successfully keeping them, but maybe it is also arrogance that leads me to think that they were just lucky enough to find certain specimens that were gentically capable of withstanding captivity.
Click to expand...

I understand how you feel. Trust me, I've been there more times than I care to admit, and I don't blame you for not wanting to try this again. However, I hope that in time you will be able to reconsider this decision.

In those cases where people are sucessful with this species, I do not believe it is luck or genetics. The vast majority of people that are sucessful with this species are those with many years of experience, and that have done a great deal of research on the subject. There are very few newbies getting lucky with these animals. One of the great problems we have with this animal is our ignorance, or lack of understanding. Every time someone like yourself posts a thread or shares their experience, our pool of knowledge grows. I would much rather see someone like yourself buy one of these animals than the typical hobbyist.

I do not consider myself sucessful with this species yet. I have had mine for quite some time now, but it is not what I would call healthy. I have worked very hard to keep this animal alive, and if it dies, I will take what I have learned and apply it to another some day. Who knows, maybe some day I will be able to start fragging Mags like Flighty and help ease the pressure on wild populations. I remember when it was unheard of for people here in the states to frag and trade SPS corals. Today everybody is doing it. It took alot of trial and error from dedicated hobbyists to make it happen. It would be nice to think we could do the same with Mags.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13264601#post13264601 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
Also, won't doxy crash the whole nitrogen cycle, or is that remedied through frequent water changes?
Click to expand...
Threat them with doxy in a 5gal bucket and return them to the tank.
 
Well, in true mag style he's puffed up again and looking better. Mouth is still pretty gaping, but I was afraid he wasn't going to inflate at all again.

Can someone please take a look at my cam and tell me what they think of overall condition, and hopefully flow. I know the cam is mediocre with a slower internet speed, but I still think its better than a picture, as the nem changes so much. Obviously this much change is not good, but its must not be quite ready to throw in the towel.

See first post for cam link.

How much MH do you think I should be giving it? Its a 250 watt with t5 actinics. The bulb is 19 inches from the mouth.

God this is a crazy ride!
 
I mentioned this in another thread, but will say again here. And this is just my own experience. Anemones like the water to be stable. Additives and water changes are the very definition of UNstable. As Gary said, stop adding that stuff. You can try the dox treatment if you believe there is some kind of bacterial attack. Inflate/deflate, gapping mouth, etc. are all signs that the anemone does not like the water it is in. What is in the 180? Other corals? I have excellent success with mags, many for years. When I have lost one it has been after moving. Did I mention they do best when the water is stable? Good luck.

Dan
P.S. I cannot access your cam site. How about a pic here at RC?
 
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