On the first page you can clearly see a marbled pattern on the tentacles with purple tips, typical of H. Malu. Identifying species type by foot placement is generally not a reliable way to determine anemone type. Based on the color pattern on the tentacles as well as the pattern makes me believe it is a malu. The anemone in question may look different because it is deflated right now.
Novice Owner of a New Sebae
- Thread starter Xanthus
- Start date
So - wait...is mine malu or crispa? It looked more like a crispa to me, based on a lot of factors. But I'm newby.
The anemone was looking ok when I got home, but has since deteriorated a lot.
I'm pretty worried it's not going to make it.
The first 2 photos are from around when I got home, the rest are from now. It's looked somewhat shriveled like this before, but not this bad, and there seems to be something protruding from it's mouth now. :/
The last is a top-down shot from the surface of the fishtank so you can see how the foot's detached from the rock now, though I blame the stupid crab that's sitting there for that. It pushed it's way down into the crevice and the anemone attached to the crab, then it pulled it's way out and dragged the anemone part of the way with it.
You can see some of this in the 4th picture.
The last picture looks the worst, imo. But then again I saw a couple similar pictures of 'pooping' anemones...so I don't know if what I'm seeing is okay or not??
The anemone was looking ok when I got home, but has since deteriorated a lot.
I'm pretty worried it's not going to make it.
The first 2 photos are from around when I got home, the rest are from now. It's looked somewhat shriveled like this before, but not this bad, and there seems to be something protruding from it's mouth now. :/
The last is a top-down shot from the surface of the fishtank so you can see how the foot's detached from the rock now, though I blame the stupid crab that's sitting there for that. It pushed it's way down into the crevice and the anemone attached to the crab, then it pulled it's way out and dragged the anemone part of the way with it.
You can see some of this in the 4th picture.The last picture looks the worst, imo. But then again I saw a couple similar pictures of 'pooping' anemones...so I don't know if what I'm seeing is okay or not??
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The anemone's expelled some little bit of brown dirty that's clinging to it's mouth and it seems to be bouncing back a bit, but that damn crab is still shoving it back out of the rock like it wants that spot. But every time they do this they shove the anemone out and then abandon the rock anyway.
Do I have to get rid of these crabs or something??? If I do, what can I replace them with in my CUC?
Do I have to get rid of these crabs or something??? If I do, what can I replace them with in my CUC?
Whoops didn't see crkbaby's post there.:uhoh3: I will agree that is probably a BTA. I can't tell texture of the foot from the photos, but the narrow column makes it look like a malu to me.
X- If the crabs are causing a problem with the anemone being able to settle then I would remove them until the anemone settles then you can put them back in and see what happens. Just my .02
X- If the crabs are causing a problem with the anemone being able to settle then I would remove them until the anemone settles then you can put them back in and see what happens. Just my .02
Ohio
New member
IMO the first thing that you should do is put the nem somewhere where he can't fall down. It does not seem that he is going to attach on his own at this point. You can either set him back in the rock with the hole all the way thru (that seemed to keep him put at least) or get a small piece of PVC and set him in that on the sand. Nems are very temperamental and the more you move him and/or things in the aquarium, the worse he will get! The crabs are attracted to him because he is rolling around -they think he is already dead. Get him situated and once he starts to recover, they will leave him alone. You can move them to your sump(if you have one) or a basket hanging on your tank but you want but minimize the amount of time your hands are in the water and don't move your rocks around, it will further aggregate your nem. Watch for the brown stuff coming out of his mouth - that is bad. He is expelling xoanthea and may be turning for the worst. When/if he recovers, do not feed him for several weeks and when you do only a very small amount at first. If he doesn't grab the food and take it right to his mouth then he is not ready to eat. Wait another 3 to 4 days before trying again. Forcing food on Nems when they are stressed will also further aggravate them. I have had nems for years and have brought some back from bad places. Just remember, its bad for him to roll around but it is even worse to be constantly handling him. Good luck.
Ohio
New member
Crkbaby -I think you have a RBTA. Mine looked just like that under halide. I just switched to AI SOLs and he doesn't swell up so much anymore. Here is mine...View attachment 194546
ok, I've removed all the crabs to a breeder box and placed the anemone back into the crevice that it actually previous attached in before the crabs removed it. I placed a cleaned and rinsed (in saltwater) piece of fishtank plumbing against the side of the rock with an L-shaped piece to one side of the anemone to (hopefully) keep it from falling out of the crevice.
On another note, the occelaris clown in our tank has become very protective of the sick nemmie now, and is actively attacking us and trying to drive us out of the tank any time we place our hands in the tank, and positioning itself between us and the nemmy. Very cool. I hope the nemmy makes it, because it's got at least 1 friend now.
On another note, the occelaris clown in our tank has become very protective of the sick nemmie now, and is actively attacking us and trying to drive us out of the tank any time we place our hands in the tank, and positioning itself between us and the nemmy. Very cool. I hope the nemmy makes it, because it's got at least 1 friend now.
bigben2057
New member
Maybe your lighting is not strong enough? Not sure if you were already asked that just trying to figure out the prob. It would be best to have a 4 bulb t5 or larger fixture for an anemone.
bigben2057
New member
I have a similar tank aswell (29) your is a 28gal i see. I don't know much about anemones but I know they need like 3-4 watts per gallon. I had a double bulb t5 ho and upgraded to a 4 bulb fixture I should get soon for mine too get more light. I don't know if it needs more light but it was suggested to me so im just passing it on.
You can't see from this angle (getting the right angle on it is tough), but his foot's all the way down in that crevice smooshed into the rocks there, so I think he's attached at least somewhat.
He was looking a lot better earlier this morning, but now he's spittting something out again. I can't tell if it's the zooxanthellae being expelled, of if he managed to catch some of the other fishes' food and is spitting that out. It does kinda look like the frozen food we feed the fish...but who knows.
I figured I'd leave that bit of plumbing in there a while longer to make she he gets a nice firm attachment until I remove it.
You can also see the ocellaris clown and the bengali cardinal circling around him, protecting him from my camera.
I found out after the cardinal starting hanging around the clown that they are actually host in H. Crispa in the wild. I didn't even know they were a type of anemonefish. :O
He was looking a lot better earlier this morning, but now he's spittting something out again. I can't tell if it's the zooxanthellae being expelled, of if he managed to catch some of the other fishes' food and is spitting that out. It does kinda look like the frozen food we feed the fish...but who knows.
I figured I'd leave that bit of plumbing in there a while longer to make she he gets a nice firm attachment until I remove it.
You can also see the ocellaris clown and the bengali cardinal circling around him, protecting him from my camera.
I found out after the cardinal starting hanging around the clown that they are actually host in H. Crispa in the wild. I didn't even know they were a type of anemonefish. :O
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Is anyone else having trouble getting those 2 pictures to expand??
In any case, it's foot is now way way down into the crevice all spread out and worked into all the rock there. SO that's good, the clownfish and the cardinal are messing around with it's tentacles and it's moving it's disc and tentacles around messing back...or something. I dunno.
Hopefully everything's going well.
In any case, it's foot is now way way down into the crevice all spread out and worked into all the rock there. SO that's good, the clownfish and the cardinal are messing around with it's tentacles and it's moving it's disc and tentacles around messing back...or something. I dunno.
Hopefully everything's going well.
Yeah, I've seen a few pics of them sitting on anemone though, wish I had a tank for a good school of them, they look so cool.
http://www.lembehresort.com/images/sv_001.jpg
Attempting to re-attach those photos, hopefully they work this time.
http://www.lembehresort.com/images/sv_001.jpg
Attempting to re-attach those photos, hopefully they work this time.
Ok, going to try to post that second pic again, plus a couple more. I think the nemmy is looking a lot more healthy now (though I'm no expert), and it's foot is dug in deep where it's at...but it did move. It looks like it came down through that crevice and planted itself sandwiched between the two rocks there, partially on the substrate, but it IS dug in really well still. Hopefully you can tell more from the pictures this time.
