Received Haddoni through post - need advice

[Silfer]

Hi,

Just received a Haddoni anemone through the post, it's very cold where I live and the heatpack/water was cold.

The anemone does look alive, but it's mouth is gaping and the water is a little clouded.

What is the best thing I can do for it? It's been temp acclimated by floating and I am currently dripping water into the bag via airline.

Should I do that for 2 hrs, stick it in and hope for the best?

How are Haddoni's ability to come back from stress? It doesn't appear damaged anywhere.

Thanks

 

[Toddrtrex]

Shipped from a fellow reefer that had it for a while or shipped from a vendor that just got it from a wholesaler? (( There will be a huge difference in the odds of recovery, depending on the answer )).

How does the water smell/look? Do you have an ammonia test kit, if so, test the water that it is in. If there is any ammonia reading, put it in the tank right away.

Once in your tank, make sure to shade your lights, and tomorrow I would do a 10-20% water change, and run fresh carbon.

IME, if a Haddoni has been fully healthy and settled in, they can recover very nicely from damage/stress. The key being that it was already settled and healthy.

 

[Silfer]

It came from a marine shop who got it in about 2 weeks before shipping. They said the mouth was closed.. although the pic they sent me soon after they received it, it was open.

Will test ammonia now, thanks.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Can you post that picture? And a current one? There are degrees of the mouth being open, so okay, and others not good at all.

 

[Silfer]

Ammonia reading is 0, just tested.

Will get a pic in 5min

 

[Silfer]

Pic I got from shop (was assured the mouth had since closed):

Pic taken right now (still acclimatising):

 

[Toddrtrex]

I remember that picture now. The first one isn't too bad, considering it was in a bare-bottom tank. The second pic isn't bad at all, all things considered.

I would only acclimate it for an hour.
Dig a little hole in the sandbed, ideally near some rocks -- all of mine have their foot buried in the sand, under a rock.
Make sure that your powerhead are covered, and I would turn them off for the first couple of hours -- just for it to attach.
Tomorrow do the 10-20 water change and run fresh carbon
Make sure to acclimate it to your lights -- I use 3 layers of window screening, supported by egg crate, and remove one layer every 5-7 days -- like so -- right side of the tank;

 

[Silfer]

It's been drip acclimatising for 1.5hrs now.

What is window screening? Never heard of it, can you find the equivalent in the UK through google so I can try get some tomorrow?

Thanks

 

[Toddrtrex]

Then I would place it in the tank now.

Forgot that the UK doesn't have it. It is basically nylon mesh that keeps the bugs out of the house when the window are open.

Looks like this (( usually comes in rolls, this was already cut by me ));

(( the egg crate is the white stuff, the window screening is the black stuff ))

 

[kduen]

here is a link for a company in the UK were it was 6.99 for a meter. http://www.pesthelp.co.uk/weshop/Window_Flyscreens.asp
it was all the way on the bottom.

 

[Silfer]

Thanks guys. My mother is going into the city tomorrow (i'm working), she said garden centers sell it and will pick some up for me.

For tonight will it be alright on the bottom of the tank under full lighting for a couple hours?

My lighting is 6x80w T5s (3 x ati blue plus, 2 x ati aquablue special, 1 x ati purple plus). I do have a 2 x 250w MH with 2 x 36w T8s I can use, I prefer the T5 setup though. Tank is 5x2x2 - 600L

 

[Toddrtrex]

If you can, I would only turn on half of your lights -- the blue pluses -- for tonight.

 

[Silfer]

Alright, thanks.

 

[Silfer]

So I tried to dig a hole to the base of the tank but obviously the sand caves back in on itself. It's in a little ditch of sand next to the rock, I assume it will dig its foot under the sand itself?

Thanks