Progress of a Bleach Anemone... Pic heavy

[MarkPo]

I beleive this is an E. quadricolor, but am no anemone expert, and am unsure. Was hoping to be certain on my own, but I have no idea what differences are normal within the species, and what makes say, H. magnifica different.

Either way, here's how I recieved the poor fellow, completely unexpectedly with the purchase of a used tank.

I hate not knowing how to care for something, and still feel a bit guilty about accepting the tank after I learned it came with an anemone. I immediately dove into research, read a few books and websites that night and the next day. I bought new lights, began feeding... and was eventually rewarded with a spot of color.

Yesterday, all tentacles have at least faint coloration (It looks even fainter in the photo) and streaks of darker appear.

Feeding primarily shrimp, with occasional offerings of silversides and squid (Squid is rarely accepted). Most info on this I've gotten from Wet Web Media, this forum, similiar sites, and a few books.

I feel I'm on the right track to a healthy anemone- Thoughts? Opinions on diet, or exercise? Maybe a better guess then this noob has on species?

 

[Toddrtrex]

[welcome]

Actually, it would say that you have a LTA, and yours is looking pretty good, concrats. I am in the process of doing the same thing.

How long have you had the maroons in there? The reason I ask is because they can be hard on anemones that are smaller. Wouldn't want to have any set backs.

 

[MarkPo]

That didn't take long! Thank you kindly- I had looked at M. doreensis (Is that the only LTA?), but had heard Maroon's would not host in them?

This anemone has hosted Maroon's longer then it has been in my care. When fully extended, and it generally is, the anemone is larger then the big Maroon- How small is too small?

 

[Toddrtrex]

I am bored. For the most part that is the only LTA, and that is what I was referring too -- I should have used the "proper" name.

I have found that clowns will host what/whenever they want. My clarkii pair used to be hosted by a Condy.

That is a tough question. Most of the time 3x the size of the Maroon is a good rule, but... Just as long as the anemone doesn't look too stressed, it should be fine. And you would know if it looked too stressed.

 

[MarkPo]

I'm not a stickler for proper names, normally- Just that I've been trying to track down a firm ID for this fellow for months, and wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

Thank you kindly for the advice- Are we looking at a diameter 3x the length of the Maroon, or total surface not more then 1/3rd covered by the maroon? The second I'd be close to, the first no where near. Either way, the anemone doesn't appear stressed to me (an admitted saltware neophyte)- The pictures are the typical look, at least with the lights on.

 

[dc]

Definately coloring up nicely.

 

[sabodish]

im trying to care for my RBTA that i bleached out in my tank from new lights. can you tell me what the time frame was from the first pic to the last pic? im also feeding shrimp, silversides soaked in selcon...

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10124273#post10124273 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MarkPo
I'm not a stickler for proper names, normally- Just that I've been trying to track down a firm ID for this fellow for months, and wanted to make sure we were on the same page.

Thank you kindly for the advice- Are we looking at a diameter 3x the length of the Maroon, or total surface not more then 1/3rd covered by the maroon? The second I'd be close to, the first no where near. Either way, the anemone doesn't appear stressed to me (an admitted saltware neophyte)- The pictures are the typical look, at least with the lights on.

I would say 3x the diameter. And like I said, that is just a general guideline. If the LTA is still eating and looking better, I wouldn't be too worried about it.
Over all it looks pretty darn good.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10126274#post10126274 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sabodish
im trying to care for my RBTA that i bleached out in my tank from new lights. can you tell me what the time frame was from the first pic to the last pic? im also feeding shrimp, silversides soaked in selcon...

I can give you my timeframe (will post the pictures when I get back home), it was about a month for me. It hasn't come all the way back, but it is definitely out of the woods now.

 

[MarkPo]

First picture was early april of this year. Last picture was 2 days ago. The anemone came into my care already bleached, I do not have any information as to how long it was bleached. The process started very slow, and gradually got faster. It took forever to see the first tiny spots of color, and slightly less then forever to watch those spread, but the last half of the anemone almost happened overnight.

 

[ahullsb]

It's nice to see that it is coming back! Good job. I bought a tank with a bleached anemone that didn't make it...

 

[MarkPo]

I've had a few questions about this, thought I'd post in case anyone else had the same.

Anemone was originally in a 120 Gallon 60" tank, under 4 65watt CF's. I don't know for how long, but was bleached for "months".

I move the anemone into a 150 Gallon, under 200 watts CF and 2x250Watt Metal Halides.

The anemone is not "on the rocks", the rocks form a loose circle around him. His basal disk goes under the sand, and attaches to a rock. This is the only way I've seen him anchor himself, and he moved around a few times when I first received him. The rocks are in a loose circle to prevent the clowns from digging my DSB out from under him (One reason he would move early on).

I fed very often at the beginning, maybe 2-3 days. Small servings, and chopped up well. I slowed down as he colored up. Now that I have a decent species ID to work with, I will research propagation of this species and may up the feedings again, but so far these seem hard to impossible to propagate.

I have never detected ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate in this tank since adding livestock. Yes, I have bought new kits- My freshwater experiance and saltwater research said I should see at least some, but the DSB eats it all. Larger fuge then I see most people with (30 gallons, mostly rubble, some cheato in it as an afterthought, goal is pod production).

Ahullsb- I am sorry for your loss. I hope that, should it ever happen again, this story would lend some hope, as all of my advice comes from the same FAQ's and webpages you've probably already read.