Run around or misinformed?

Gold Stripe

Gold Stripe

New member
I have never heard of a white anemone and I have been doing this for a few years. I ordered a BTA from a fairly large online retailer and when it got here this morning it was solid white. The foot was still pink but the tentacles were almost clear. I'm thinking bleached and dead. I went ahead and floated for 30 min, dripped for 90 min and introduced. It immediately crawled under a rock. It is semi inflated but I have my doubts. I figured I would notify the company so that if/when it croaks I could get a credit for 15 day guarantee. This is the response I got:


Hello,

We shipped you a white bubble tip anemone. Please note not all anemones are colored. This is the natural color of this anemone.
Please keep me informed.
Thanks for your e-mail,

Kim @ Customer Support

Ok, am I getting snookered here or did i miss something over the last 6 years and there really are white BTAs?

Comments?
 
It's just my opinion - but I think you got hosed... Sorry and good luck. I would be very upset and wouldn't trust the company. I do not believe there are such things as healthy white anemones.
 
I think they told you the truth, they sent you a white BTA, and not all anemones are colored, some have expelled their zooxanthellae, and therefore are "naturally" white, and unless it can be nursed back to health (a possible-but doubtful- slow long process) it will most likely be relocated to the porcelain tank-where oh so many anemones go...
 
I purchased a white sebea from the LFS, it took almost four months under MH to get its color back, deep green base with purple tentacles and tips. The company sure did send you a white anemone though.
 
If an anemone expels its zooxanthallae, how can it get its color back? Are there still small amounts present or do they come from a different host? Not trying to hijack but I noticed a LFS with 2 "white" LTA and was thinking of low balling a price to them and seeing if I could nurse them back. I imagine regular feedings would be key.
 
I dont know if this is good or bad news but the foot is nice and pink now and it seems to be doing better. It is in a 75 with 2x175 MH and 2x110 VHO with excellent water params. It is still hiding in a cave but I can see that it has opened up and inflated. I am going to try and feed it a raw shrimp later on after it has settled. The bad part is that if it takes longer than 15 days to die I am out the $$. Guess my only option is to try my best to bring it back from the edge. Any help would be appreciated.

How does an anemone replentish its zoo?

What, if anything can I add to the tank to help him out?
 
Your anemone will likely regain the zooxanthellae in time given good water parameters. Other cnidaria in the water will have zooxanthellae (an algae) and some will make its way into the anemone and begin to colonize. There also may be some present in the anemones tissue anyway. Because it is bleached, it has likely been in low light and so might shy away from your MH lighting. I would try to keep the anemone at a distance from the bright light by placing the rock its on near the bottom and not directly under the MHs. Also, you will want to feed it small pieces of food starting in a few days, after it has acclimated and is opening up. This will expedite the recolonization of zooxanthellae as they absorb the waste products from the anemone.
 
make sure to feed smaller pieces of food, and not a whole shrimp.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12767091#post12767091 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gold Stripe
I dont know if this is good or bad news but the foot is nice and pink now and it seems to be doing better. It is in a 75 with 2x175 MH and 2x110 VHO with excellent water params. It is still hiding in a cave but I can see that it has opened up and inflated. I am going to try and feed it a raw shrimp later on after it has settled. The bad part is that if it takes longer than 15 days to die I am out the $$. Guess my only option is to try my best to bring it back from the edge. Any help would be appreciated.

How does an anemone replentish its zoo?

What, if anything can I add to the tank to help him out?
Click to expand...
 
I have had many bleached white almost transparent Condylactis, and they all got their color back under good lighting and feeding them 2 to 3 times a week. My Haddons carpet was white when I bought it, now it is green, not a dark or flourescent green, but it looks good. I am a firm believer that any bleached anemone in good water conditions, under good lighting and with feeding can be brought back, as long as they still inflate and are not withering away when you buy them.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12770679#post12770679 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Massengill
I am a firm believer that any bleached anemone in good water conditions, under good lighting and with feeding can be brought back
Click to expand...

I don't agree with this. I think sometimes they are just stressed beyond help. Maybe you've had good luck bringing them back - but I don't think it's as simple as you put it and I think it's way to big of a stretch to say 'ANY' bleached anemone can be brought back. Just my opinion!
 
I hear ya, I have only lost one bleached anemone, it was a Sebae. I took a chance when I bought it though, it was not only bleached, but it didn't look too healthy either. The guy made me a real good deal on it so I took a chance. It was deflated, bleached, the foot wasn't attached etc. Then again I lost a BTA that was not bleached, it's foot was attached and inflated when I bought it, but in my tank it just died. Anemones are weird, but my carpet is doing great, and I have never lost a Condylactis. Even when Condy's get tentacle damage they seem to always recover.
 
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