Push food down anemones mouth?

[plancton]

Hi, I had an H. Magnifica once, and it died. I know its a very difficult anemone to keep. However I bought it because it had been in my LFS for 1 week, super healthy. It started to deteriorate in 2 weeks in my tank and I blame it on the maxijets which are not suitable waterflow for the anemone.

Now I have a bigger tank, seios, and wavebox, plus the lighting is also good, so I hope not to have the same problem again.
But I remember that everytime I would feed it shrimp, it opened its mouth but couldn´t move its tentacles.

So I wonder if I ever had the same problem again with a new anemone, is it possible to push the food down the anemones mouth with a stick or something?, in order for it to recover strenght by eating. Would you recommend it.

 

[TheVillageIdiot]

Put it next to the mouth and the anemone should eat it just fine, also do not feed large chunks, but rather minced foods.

What are your water parameters?

Deterioration in 2 weeks does not sound like a flow issue to me.

thanks!

 

[raoul]

I think most of the people on the board would recommend against forcing the food down the nem, if you're not careful you can cause damage. My recommendation (it's free, so take it for what it's worth) is that you add a different anemone, magnificas seem to have a pretty high mortality rate.

 

[cschweitzer]

haddoni are a good and much more stable substitute. Also, LTA's are hardier that the ritteri.

 

[plancton]

that anemone did die. But I bought it really healthy and thats why I blame it on my waterflow.

I am willing to try with a new healthy one.

 

[TheVillageIdiot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9232475#post9232475 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plancton
that anemone did die. But I bought it really healthy and thats why I blame it on my waterflow.

I am willing to try with a new healthy one.

What are your water parameters? It may be possible, but I don't believe a perfectly healthy H. Magnifica and deteriorate and die in 2 weeks just because water flow is low.

 

[rkelman]

Just because it looks healthy it doesn't mean it will survive. They are very hard to keep.. They don't like being moved at all.

 

[wilvivas]

i have a mag. my clowns kept taking chunks of prawns from it so i began feeding minced pieces and also (some of you will not like me for this) i would place the piece in it's tentacles and gently poke it on it's side to get a faster response so that the clowns wouldn't steal it's food. they've learned now so i don't poke.

 

[redvipe2010]

Never force an anemone to eat. Please post your water parameters, tank size and equipment.