RBTA sick after temp spike

[thrillreefer]

So I was away from my tank for two weeks and had a friend looking after it. He's done it before and does a good job, but the temp in Boston spiked into the 90s the day my AC unit died (room AC is the only "chiller")

I have a RBTA in the 55 gal mixed reef. I don't know how high the temp. went, but with a 250W MH, I think it could have spiked up to 85 degrees max. The AC was replaced the next day and the temp. went back down to 75-78 and has stayed there since. This was about a week ago, and all of the other inhabitants (including some SPS) have recovered and did not bleach or die. However, the RBTA has deflated and moved off of its rock onto the sand. It still has color in its tentacles, but the oral disc doesn't look red like it usually does. It has stayed in the position since the heat spike.

there is a maroon clown that lives in the anemone, and he was not going into the anemone for at least a few days, but has gone back in part time. The anemone may be looking marginally better

My question: what should I do? should I leave it alone and hope it recovers, try feeding it, try to move it back onto its rock? I plan on doing a water change probably tomorrow, but is there anything else that would help? keep the lights off for a day? try to lower the temp to low 70s? what would you do?

 

[redvipe2010]

I wouldn't move it, it will likely cause more stress. Give him time. What were you feeding the anemone before this happened? I like to feed food soaked in Selcon when things like this happen. Keep the water parameters in check and keep up with your water changes. Temps to the low 70's would be way to low IMO. 85 degrees is high, but I've seen worse. I typically keep my temps around 79 - 81.

Post a pic if you can.

 

[thrillreefer]

My camera is broken, but I will try to find one and take a pic tomorrow. The tank has been running around 75-78, so 85 is a substantial spike...

I don't really spot feed the anemone because my gold stripe maroon always feeds it whatever it can grab. I usually feed frozen brine, frozen mysis, frozen cubes, etc.

 

[redvipe2010]

I have had one of my tanks go up to 85 / 86. My anemones were stressed, took a walk and all split. They all recovered. My guess is that it spiked too fast for them to adjust. I'm not recommending keeping the temps that high, but others have kept anemones at those temps. I like to have a little room for error.

Rod at Rods reef keeps his temps in the low to mid 80's and they are thriving. I personally believe anything lower than 78 - 79 is too low.

I would skip the brine shrimp, it has little or no nutritional value, unless it is newly hatched. Mysis is good, along with silversides, krill, lance fish.

If your Maroon is not feeding it now, I would start feeding 1/8" portions and see if things improve.

 

[rssjsb]

This happened to me about a month ago, and my RBTA has just come back out from behind the rocks and started to regain color in the last week or so. Just feed him when you can and be patient. They're pretty resilient.