New Green carpet :)
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55semireef
Moved On
I had a pretty good success in bringing back my bleached S. Haddoni to full recovery. At first, my Haddoni didn't eat either. It was sticky but it never got the food down even if I put the food in its mouth for it. It would just regurgitate the food back up. After about two weeks, it would readily take food. Give it some time to adjust to your tank.
This is what mine looked like when I bought it:
About two weeks later it looked like this:
Mine was under T5s and it seemed to really like the lighting possibly because of the even distribution of light the T5s put out. Mine was bleached just like yours and it also refused to eat. All I did was give it time. It actually regained its zooxanthellae on its own without the feedings. I began feeding it after it colored up ironically.
This is what mine looked like when I bought it:
About two weeks later it looked like this:
Mine was under T5s and it seemed to really like the lighting possibly because of the even distribution of light the T5s put out. Mine was bleached just like yours and it also refused to eat. All I did was give it time. It actually regained its zooxanthellae on its own without the feedings. I began feeding it after it colored up ironically.
ATX aquarist
New member
Hm that's pretty interesting semireef. I will certainly give it a try and just leave it alone for a while. I'll try feeding it again this weekend
55semireef
Moved On
Thats not to say that I tried to feed him. 
I definately tried feeding my Haddoni buy would not accept anything. I actaully gave up on the feedings and it recovered on its own. You might have a different case fwiw.
I definately tried feeding my Haddoni buy would not accept anything. I actaully gave up on the feedings and it recovered on its own. You might have a different case fwiw.
ATX aquarist
New member
Sounds good to me. I'll t5ry feeding it tomorrow and I'll post any results
shouldabenacowboy
New member
Page 2
SBC
SBC
ATX aquarist
New member
well I tried feeding it and it had the half silverside for a while. I never saw it actually eat it though. I also tried injecting another anemone I have that has been refusing to eat for months with phytoplankton. Hopefully it will work
55semireef
Moved On
Austin stands correct. Anemones are not water column feeders. Anemones do not feed on microscopic organisms especially ones that are plants. I would try feeding it lancefish, shrimp or silversides. Those are your best options.
ATX aquarist
New member
well im just shooting for nurishment right now. Plants are primary producers and they provide the nutrients to fish and anemones eat fish. Infact energy is lost in the process, maybe the energy from it will help it. I've tried silversides and krill. It's mouth has been open for a while, or has been easy to put things into. I've slipped small pieces of food in, even whole silversides into its inner cavity, it just spits it out. Quite frustrating. I've tried pumping mysis into it with a turkey baster, shot it out pretty quickly
55semireef
Moved On
Anemones get the majority of their nutrients through the zooxanthellae algae they have that live within their tissue. Since your S. Haddoni is bleached, it has a lack of zooxanthellae algae. Because of this, you're going to have to feed more often than what is considered normal that consists of MEATY FOODS such as shrimp, squid, fish and scallops. Phytoplankton is a primary producer while anemones are higher up on the trophic level. They do not feed on phytoplankton and nor will they ever. Feed the anemone what it is suppose to eat. Don't imagine up some theory that phytoplankton will nourish your anemone because it won't. You're just adding stress on it like Austin said with your phytoplankon injections. You are right about the loss of energy though. Engergy is lossed as it transfers through the food chain by about 10% but your anemone cannot make use of phytoplankton simply.
wantsalotta
New member
you are physically inserting silversides into this anemones mouth? Even after everyone on here has told you to wait a few days (or more) before trying to feed it. This thread reads as you have had it for 2 days. The advice (that you asked for) posted above says wait a week to try feeding it. If you don't want to kill this animal, probably a good idea to follow that advice, and definitely stop inserting anything into its mouth. When it is healthy/settled enough to eat, it will. Forcing food into its cavity is not going to do this animal any good.
ATX aquarist
New member
no im talking about a different anemone, not a haddoni,which I've had for months. It has been refusing to eatall this time and has slowly becoming bleached. I'm pretty sure the haddoni ate today though
ATX aquarist
New member
I dunno. Sometimes I think there are points at which anemones can't be helped anymore
bencozzy
New member
my haddoni cant resist mysis squid or clam.
as for force feeding anemones, its a very bad practice, why because most carnivorious corals and anemones need to expend "metabolic" energy to produce the enzymes to digest a food item. so logic would say if it cant feed itself then its probably a goner.
as for force feeding anemones, its a very bad practice, why because most carnivorious corals and anemones need to expend "metabolic" energy to produce the enzymes to digest a food item. so logic would say if it cant feed itself then its probably a goner.
elegance coral
They call me EC
The last thing I want to see here is an argument, but 55semireef is 100% correct. I see all over RC where people are "feeding" their carnivores like anemones and LPS's Phyto. This is like trying to feed a grape to a lion. Anemones need protein based foods and in sizes large enough to cause a feeding responce. Tiny particales don't cause anemones to feed. You can add phyto to the tank every day and the anemone will starve to death.
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