Open Mouth Anemone? Help Please

[Fretfreak13]

I've heard that an anemone that has an open mouth constantly could be a very unhealthy anemone. =( Reassure me its ok please? I bought this FLOWER anemone yesterday at the All Ohio C-SEA fragswap and it was in a fishbowl under a MH light with about 10 other anemones. They were all pastel like in color (some light green, lavender, green and white, etc.) and mine was all white, but did look healthy otherwise. I figured it was supposed to be white, compaired to the others it was with and how thier markings were. I brought it home and floated it for about twenty minutes while I dipped everything else I got. After that, I drip acclimated it for about an hour and then put it in the tank. It attached to me, took me a good five minutes to get it off, and then attached to the rock right away. It hasn't moved, and even accepted food yesterday. The open mouth thing started this morning and it's still like that.

Yesterday
Today

 

[Fretfreak13]

Seventeen views and no help? =( Thats a first for me on RC, normally I get replies in minutes.

I also forgot to mention that my tank is nine months old. Its a 29 gallon with a 20 gallon sump and under T5s. I've kept a beautiful pink tipped GBTA for a little over two months as well. I didn't do a water test, but everything else from the swap has opened beautifully and all of my other critters seem fine as well.

 

[Asureef]

Without knowing your water perimeters, it could be anything. Anemones are sensitive to changes in the water. How did you acclimate it?

 

[huskysglare1]

I've heard that white anemones are never a good sign. It looks ok as long as it doesn't spew it's guts out. my start spewing it's guts and 2 weeks later, it died.

 

[mayjong]

it's (most likely)bleached.
all you can do is give it time. i wouldn't feed too much at this point.

 

[crsandoval]

It appears to be bleached already, attempt to feed with mysis, or a small silverside.

 

[Fretfreak13]

I would still argue that it isn't bleached. All of them were that color and were coming from an obviously experienced seller. As well, I asked a few other people around the swap because I feared the same thing and they told me it looked fine. All of the other ones in the tank were lighter colored as well. Besides it possibly being bleached, is that the only reason you could think of for the mouth to be open like that? I fed it the day it went in the tank (piece of dethawed shrimp) and it scarfed it down. It was after that that the mouth thing started.

 

[rssjsb]

Flower anemones can have actual white pigment, unlike other anemones. However, yours appears to have transparent parts around the white parts, so I would agree that it looks bleached. Be sure to feed it small pieces - no bigger than an eraser on a #2 pencil.

 

[Fretfreak13]

Hm, the piece I fed it was a lot bigger than that. Could it be trying to expell it maybe? I'll try a smaller piece of cod tomorrow (out of shrimp lol). Should I still try yo feed it even with the mouth like that, or just leave it alone? I'm getting conflicting opinions on that one.

Also, I know sick anemones also tend to lose their vigor. I killed my first BTA by trying to move it around, but I've learned since then. I got home tonight after the lights were out and it was a bit droopy, not sick-like but as if it were just...sleeping? I don't know what to call it, my other nem does that too. lol Gets all wierd shaped at night, but anyways I gently lifted the top up a bit to look at the mouth and it decided to sting the crap out of me. Good sign? =\

 

[GreekSoxFan]

Feed it for gods sake. Every time I see an open mouthed 'nem at work I feed it, and its fine within an hour. Spot feed it with a pipette, etc. :idea:

 

[Fretfreak13]

I'll try that now, but like I said I did feed it yesterday. I hope it doesn't die on me. If it is bleached, it's absolutly stunning (pics do NO justice, it has so many intricate little markings on it and bands around the tenticles its amazing). I can't even imagine it with any kind of color.

I'll let you guys know about the feeding tomorrow morning. I'm hittin the hay after this. Night RC, and thanks for the help so far.

 

[Fretfreak13]

Actually, it threw it. Twice (and then the Rg ate it). Now I'm starting to get really worried about it. ='( Could a very experienced nem keeper give me the probability that I could save this one? Is there anything else I can do to give it better chances other than just leave it be?

As I said it went from MH to T5s, could that switch be causing this?

 

[Fretfreak13]

Bump. =(

 

[MarineFlake]

Pic?

 

[GreekSoxFan]

If your fish are getting to the food before you can feed it to the 'nem then feed your tank first until their full; and then feed the 'nem. That's all I got man, good luck.

 

[huskysglare1]

Feed it for gods sake. Every time I see an open mouthed 'nem at work I feed it, and its fine within an hour. Spot feed it with a pipette, etc. :idea:

I disagree. if an anemone opens it's mouth, it had probably just threw up. you rarely see an open mouth when the anemone is healthy, i could be wrong. don't feed it. it'll throw up again and makes everything worst. what's your temp. i am not sure about this but you may want to try raising the temp to 76-80.

 

[Fretfreak13]

Temp is about 76. I need another heater. I stupidly bought one meant for a 30 gallon tank and forgot about the volume my 20 gallon sump added, so it came up a little short. The anemone threw the food, it didn't want it. It also moved for the first time since I got it. Is that a good sign? Like that it has the energy to do that?

 

[huskysglare1]

moving is never a good sign. it moves because it doesn't like where it's at right now. just let it move where it wants. stop feeding it. let it rest for about a week. resist the urge to feed it. you'll only make it worst. it wastes a lot of energy throwing up. have you tried feeding it silverside? just cut off a very small piece. however, for now, don't feed it and don't touch it. i would suggest waiting a week.

 

[Fretfreak13]

It never threw up, it just let go of the food from its tenticles. I didn't try to move it or touch it, I know better. I will

 

[Fretfreak13]

I just wanted to thank you guys for all the help. It did happen to die, and I did a ten gallon water change. Everything seems happy and healthy and unaffected by the death. I'm really bummed, it was so pretty. It was like...snowblind white. Oh well, thanks again guys.