Rescue, Resuce.. H. Crispa. He won't settle in.

[OCDP]

I ended up going to the LFS yesterday to see what kinda anemone's they had in. One had a really nice sebae , but it's bleached. It is just a solid white colour (not translucent). It was hidden under a few giant other sebaes. I figured.. no one is gunna see this guy sitting under there, so I rescued it. I had a few darn nice sebae's to choose from, but instead.. I decided to give myself a challenge.

Now.. before I am flamed for tank size, I plan on upgrading soon. The sebae is not big by any means right now anyways. It's in my 20g.

Now, onto the story... I acclimated him and had a spot perfect for him . It's on the sand and in between rock/sand/bottom of tank. I figured he would for sure stay put (but you never know ..) and he hasn't moved once. That's beacause the little bugger still hasn't put his foot down yet. I had to keep my pumps off from 1:30 to now, using my skimmer and an air stone to keep things going. I turned the pumps on this morning for bit and he was slightly stuck down but not fully.. and eventually the current got him. So they are off once again.

I guess my question is.. is it because of the stress and what not on the anemone making him weak and not being able to put his foot down? His mouth is decent , not really tightly closed, but not gaping.. just a little loose.. but as of this morning since lights on, puckering up some more.

My paramaters (the usual suspects) are all undetectable . Lighting is Giesemann Nova II 250w HQI. SG is 1.026, I am using RO/DI unit, skimming with an AquaC Remora. Tank is almost 2 years old and pretty darn stable. I have kept many, many BTA/RBTA/GBTA in the past with success.. and no losses (just FYI). I did a 2g water change last night and am preparing another 2g water change right now.

I'll have pics shortly as well... I am confident I can rescue this guy if he just puts his foot down!

Scott

 

[WDLV]

Anemones are a challenge in and of themselves. Sebaes are not among the easiest to keep either. To buy one that was in poor health was to take on a tremendous challenge.
The fact that it won't attach is not reassuring at all.
I'd take precautions to prevent it from entering your powerhead intakes as it bounces around the tank. I would try feeding it very tiny pieces of silversides or fresh meats from the seafood section of your local grocier. I mean smaller than a pencil eraser. If it will eat and doesn't regurgitate you have a slim chance.

Good luck.

 

[OCDP]

Yes.. well, I am glad I took on the challenge rather than have it sit there and wither away.

 

[Amphiprion]

Keep trying to let it attach. Usually they will not accept food for a while (and almost never until after they attach), so first things first. It was a good sign that it attempted to attach, so try that again, with a bit of a longer time. Also, you may want to only switch on one or two powerheads for a while to give calmer situations for this anemone. Then, when it is firmly attached, you can turn on other pumps and try feeding (fish meats are best, IME--silversides work well for this purpose and be sure to feed all parts of the fish).

 

[OCDP]

Thanks for your post Amphiprion.

I since done another water change, and tried to feed. It was more like manually putting food into its mouth. I just took some flakes and put it in it's mouth and it looks like it took it. I will try to feed it small small bits of silverside once he settles in more. (edit: that sounds kinda harsh... I didn't force feed it. I just placed small bits of flake on the opening of its mouth and blew it in with a pipette.. hhaah just to clarify)

I am keeping it in the same area digging more in the crack of the rock and sand to give it a better chance to attatch in between the two. I also put a small piece of rubble on the anemone itself near the end just in case it detaches.

If he is not attatched by the end of the day... would it be okay to place a tupperware container over him so he can't wander off on me while im at work?? I took today off work just to stay home with it and get some things done on the tank.

I do think there is hope... he's not in horrible condition , just typical symptoms of a bleached anemone really.

 

[traveller7]

IMHO: A few bits of food at this point are not going to change much if they help at all. Key is to get it settled first and foremost. It will eat what it wants or spit it out regardless of effort spent and irritation delivered.

Stop the water changes, unless the water is out of wack. Stability is more important then absolute pristine water values now.

Get that Tupperware bowl, put the anemone on the bottom, fill in around it with sand, cover the top of the sand with rubble, make sure the oral disc is exposed, cover the whole box with "bridal veil" or a 1cmx1cm mesh soft fish net. Check my gallery for pictures.

I'll have to disagree, it sounds like it is in horrible condition, near breakdown actually. I have purchased a few as well, you'll see some more in my gallery; frankly I don't purchase them any more. Saving them from the LFS has prompted the LFS to bring in more. IMHO, having the LFS learn not to bring them in is a more sustainable plan.

Best of luck.

 

[OCDP]

I am not doing every little thing to save the anemone.... I was feeding my fish this morning and a few pieces of flake landed on the anemone, so I blew the flakes into it's mouth basically. I did not irritate the anemone.

I don't think it's on it's way out. The mouth is barely open, just "loose" ... definitely no where near gaping. I know, it's still not good, but given the situation.. it's been doing pretty good so far.

I was due for water changes this week anyhow. I had no intentions of doing more.. I always do around 4g. Just didn't have enough RO/DI ready last night.

What makes you think it's in horrible condition, and and near breakdown? Is it because of the fact it hasn't firmly attatched to anything? , and that it's mouth is slightly open ? Other than those two things.. the anemone looks alright to me. It inflates and it's mouth is pretty much near close or just slightly loose.

This is the first thing I have ever rescued, so I'd prefer not to get the whole "your supporting the LFS by taking it home" I made the decision to attempt to save it. I understand where your coming from, and if you don't agree with my decision you most definitely do not have to offer your help to me... I will be doing my best to get him to bounce back... if not, hey . I tried.

PS: Thanks for the tips on the sand box. I will set one up today.

 

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7766112#post7766112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OCDP
What makes you think it's in horrible condition, and and near breakdown? Is it because of the fact it hasn't firmly attached to anything? , and that it's mouth is slightly open ? Other than those two things.. the anemone looks alright to me. It inflates and it's mouth is pretty much near close or just slightly loose.

Bleached, open mouth, unattached, not eating, combined are serious indicators. It is not to say the anemone won't hang on for a few months and even stage a partial "recovery". You have your work cut out for you and frankly, the outcome may already be decided against you. I am not saying give up, just relaying the facts from personal experience and others experience.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7766112#post7766112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OCDP
I understand where your coming from, and if you don't agree with my decision you most definitely do not have to offer your help to me... I will be doing my best to get him to bounce back... if not, hey . I tried.

My friend I have made far more well meaning mistakes in this hobby then 10 others combined, no reprimand intended here Anemones are just not a path I would recommend for most unless one can dedicate a species tank start to finish. I have had a few long time anemones that never adjusted to new systems when everything appeared "perfect", IMHO stability is crucial. Starting healthy is mandatory to success.

Based on my experience, that sandbox provides many benefits:

1. protection
2. ease of relocation to safety by you the reefer
3. ease of removal and containment in the case of meltdown.

As an FYI: I have a new banged up "sebae"(H. crispa in this case) myself which came in as an unidentified species(I guess I will never learn either). You can't see it from the posted picture in the gallery, but it is in the sand box where the A. nigripes are breeding.

After 9 weeks: It is now green, but it has a long long way to go. Attached, coloring up, and eating. Tentacle growth minimal, mouth open < 1cm. It is likely another month from make it or drop dead. We shall see and I'll update if you like.

Again, best of luck and don't give up on it

 

[OCDP]

Thanks again.. I won't give up on him.

I will make the sand box for it soon here.

I should have noted that the colour is like a cream white/yellow hue to it. I need to snap a picture of it still..

Please do keep me updated on your sebae.

I am noticing a foolish mistake made by myself.. I leave town next Sunday for 6 days . I do have someone to watch the tank.. if it hasn't attatched, would it be wise to keep it in the sandbox and covered so it can't really escape?

It's looking decent right now, mouth is basically closed.. it's fully expanded. Here's hoping...

Scott

 

[Ciarán]

Best of luck man, i hope it pulls through. Can you take any pics of it? It would be great to see the specimin being referred to.

 

[OCDP]

Here are pics. I can't get a shot of the mouth at the moment. Right now it's just barely open.. a cm at the very most.

Colours are semi accurate... it's more creamy white than it is translucent. There is also yellow hues in the anemone that the pictures don't pick up too well. Anyways , here they are:

Scott

 

[traveller7]

Tentacle length could be alot worse, at least it appears to have some resources

 

[Amphiprion]

I have seen anemones in much worse shape make a full recovery. Hope everything works for you. Good luck.

 

[OCDP]

Yeah it really isn't TOO too bad... I mean yeah, it's bleached.. but like you said.. there's been much worse that make full recoveries.

Question... When using the "sand box" .. would it be harmful in any way if I were to just stick a tupperware container over the anemone??

Having said that.. I think he may have started attatching... but it's not firm at all.

 

[WDLV]

...and the center has a bit of a yellow tint which may indicate the presence of some xoanthellae.
- Good luck with it.

 

[OCDP]

Yup... the camera doesn't pick up the yellow too much though.

Thanks everyone.. I'll keep the thread updated.

 

[55semireef]

I tried saving an anemone that was already breaking down. lol.

It got better for a couple of days and then just died.

 

[OCDP]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7768381#post7768381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
I tried saving an anemone that was already breaking down. lol.

It got better for a couple of days and then just died.

I see.. bummer.

 

[55semireef]

I knew it was going to die but it was free and worth a try to help me gain some experience. So why not. Glad your doing it too. Just don't try to save to much or your lfs employees might catch on.

 

[OCDP]

Yeah.. I know, this is the first ever rescue. And to be honest it's not doing that bad at all. It isn't completely bleached and the mouth is now closed. If it keeps up like this it may not be much of a "rescue" It also appears to be attatched fairly well now. Pumps have been on for a couple hours and it's still in place. So far so good....