New to the bta thing!

[falesdk]

Hello!

I just purchased my first anemone last week. Its a pink tipped bubble tip anemone, which is green right now, but the longer its in my tank the more orangish peach it looks. It seems to be doing alright, expanding well etc.
It wasn't under proper lighting at the lfs where I got it, but it was fully expanded, it reacted to touch, and there was no visible injuries on it. So it will be interesting to see what it does under good lighting.

I have a few questions though.

First, when I fed it it took almost an hour to get the food to its mouth which started like four inches away, is this a normal amount of time, or is this something which should improve with time/proper conditions? Same with the waste I saw expelled yesterday it took probably a half an hour to be fully expelled...

and Second, the night of its arrival in the tank it moved itself right into the clownfishes home. My clownfish are captive raised false perculas, who seemed afraid of it at first. They would only go near it at night when it was closed up to sleep. Yesterday and this morning at first lights on before the anemone has opened the female is sticking her face in it like shes trying to figure out what it is, which is making the anemone not open up until shes done poking around in it. Should I be worried about this so early on in the anemone's arrival...or will it slowly get used to the clowns attentions?

I only worry about it since the clown is doing this while it is deflated, she seems kind of afraid of it when its expanded still.

So any advice would be great! I have researched a lot and maybe I'm looking in the wrong place but I just can't seem to find anything about how fast/slow anemones eat/expand/poo...Please don't be too harsh!!!

Dianne

 

[Toddrtrex]

An hour seems like a really long time -- but considering that you just got it I wouldn't be too worried. It really should take just a matter of seconds.

What type of lights do you have?

The anemone should get used to the clowns once it is hosting them.

 

[falesdk]

Yeah thats what I thought, but I couldnt find anything online to tell me if it was normal or not, I'm glad I asked, so now I can keep an eye on it. I've got 2 96 watt pcs and a 175 w metal halide on my tank the pcs are on 10a to 12:15a The metal halide is generally on from 4 p to 10 p.

I don't think the clowns have ever seen an anemone, so I suspect it will be quite some time before they start hosting. Although maybe the interest in it while its deflated is a good sign. Shes rubbing herself over where she normally lays her eggs (which is under the anemone when expanded) and every ten seconds or so kind of bumping her face against the anemones mouth. Shes been at this longer today. Hopefully she won't do it all day!