Set my mind at ease: new Malu

[jonwright]

Just received new malu from liveaquaria today. I've read up on the animals and have been planning on having a nem in my 50 gal tank - I selected malu since they are a bit smaller and like the sand.

Below is a shot right after acclimatization (15 min temp float, increase volume of bag water with tank water by 25%, then again, and one more time every 5 min or so).

I was as careful as can be but his tentacles weren't sticky.

<a href="http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/jonwright3803/media/Aquarium%20Build/041_zpsg6scwdiz.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1317.photobucket.com/albums/t638/jonwright3803/Aquarium%20Build/041_zpsg6scwdiz.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 041_zpsg6scwdiz.jpg"/></a>

His extended mouth worries me - even if it was for only a bit.

After floating around upside down for a bit (with lights off) I put him in his current corner where his is staying put for now.

Now that the actinic lights are on after letting him rest for @1.5 hrs attached is him as of now. His tentacles are getting a bit longer as he sits there under the lights and his mouth isn't extended anymore.

<a href="http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/jonwright3803/media/Aquarium%20Build/042_zpsxewj6tlt.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1317.photobucket.com/albums/t638/jonwright3803/Aquarium%20Build/042_zpsxewj6tlt.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 042_zpsxewj6tlt.jpg"/></a>

I've turned off the power heads in the tank and will leave him be for a few more days. Main pump is on of course.

My revised light schedule for the next few days is:

2 actinic plus HO bulbs: 4 hrs
10k 250 watt: 1.5 hrs

I didn't want to put screen in my hood as the lights are rather close to the water.

Am I missing anything? I'm hoping he's looking OK.

Decided not to QT as he's the only nem in the tank and will be. Also decided against prophylactic antibiotic treatment.

water parms are good for reef tanks: 35 ppt, 78 temp, ph (always kinda low) but at 7.9-8.2 range, dKh @8, CA @420.

 

[Daniel62]

Looks pretty rough in the 1st pic, looks much better in the 2nd one. Keep an eye on him. don't want him to go floating around

 

[OrionN]

as soon as he attach to the rock, you can turn the PH back on, proving that there is not a lot of current. Malu don't like to much current

 

[tassy]

is that a mallu you got from the regular invert section a colored one from Fiji. Thanks.

 

[jonwright]

This AM he was not attached to rock but kinda looked like a corner of his foot was down. I debated digging a hole and burying him but when I touched his foot he retracted it. So I left him alone.

His tentacles are moving around in the current? what's too much current? He's. Not blowing around but he does kinda list to the side after a while maybe.

I have a 3' 50 gal with probably 600 gph goi g through the return.

 

[jonwright]

Tonight a bit bigger. Not attached. Foot is kinda up. Mouth looks a bit open. But still brown and growing (i.e. Tentacles gettingonger and fuller) so maybe in right direction.

 

[jonwright]

Here he is as of Wed night:

<a href="http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/jonwright3803/media/007_zpsjnwk2rcg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1317.photobucket.com/albums/t638/jonwright3803/007_zpsjnwk2rcg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 007_zpsjnwk2rcg.jpg"/></a>

And then today:

<a href="http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/jonwright3803/media/009_zpsunnfejgd.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1317.photobucket.com/albums/t638/jonwright3803/009_zpsunnfejgd.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 009_zpsunnfejgd.jpg"/></a>

I'm resisting messing with him. Since he's tentacles down should I turn him over???

 

[jonwright]

I couldn't resist. I put him in another corner of the tank where he's getting a bit more light and possibly have a shot at putting his foot down. However, after moving just a bit he's gotten a bit larger and not as shriveled up. But he has his foot up again and not in the sand or on a rock. I can't see where it appears it's dinged up any so hopefully he's OK.

*sigh* .... Patience.

 

[tassy]

Never got a response. Is that a malu out of the regular invert/anemone section.

THNX

 

[jonwright]

Tassy: Not really sure what you mean. For all intents and purposes I believe it's a regular malu. It has a green tint to the tentacles by the mouth. doesn't have purple tips that I can tell as of now.

 

[jonwright]

Well, here he is at the end of the day. water parms are fine and within what I'd like to see. So far he's stayed put in this spot where I put him Saturday AM and is putting his foot down. Water circulation is done by 600 gph main pump plus a single Tunze 6095 turned down at the lowest setting (18v in the power supply) and Profilux setting at 10%-30% max. Really low flow for the tank as of now.

From an asthetics point of view not really the perfect spot, but if he settled down there that's fine - his health is my concern vs. what looks nice to me.

<a href="http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/jonwright3803/media/50%20Gal%20Refurb/008_zps0ds9wgmb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1317.photobucket.com/albums/t638/jonwright3803/50%20Gal%20Refurb/008_zps0ds9wgmb.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 008_zps0ds9wgmb.jpg"/></a>

His foot is down now instead of hanging out of the "back" of the rock formation.

I'm not messing with him unless something thinks I need to intervene. Doesn't really look like a Malu to me as of now. He's pretty big!

<a href="http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/jonwright3803/media/50%20Gal%20Refurb/007_zpsg7v8wssk.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1317.photobucket.com/albums/t638/jonwright3803/50%20Gal%20Refurb/007_zpsg7v8wssk.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 007_zpsg7v8wssk.jpg"/></a>

 

[tassy]

what they had available at the time you ordered was a colored malu from the anemone section and not one from dd. is this correct?

THNX

 

[jonwright]

Belive so. It came from Cali. It's a 'regular' colored Malu, so no purple or anything. Wasn't from DD.

 

[tassy]

gotcha thank you just what I needed to know

 

[rt67ghy]

It looks good. Is that an aiptasia on its left in post# 11? If so I'd zap it.

 

[jonwright]

Thanks, rt67ghy. I get paranoid anytime the Mh's come on that he's bleaching, but he seems to be the same (which I'd suppose as of now is good). He moves a little back and forth between the rock and glass but hasn't buried his foot nor moved from his little crevice.

yeah, it is aiptasia or Mojano. It might be a bit bigger than aip, though. Zapping that one a few other polyps is on my list...(and it's a long one).

 

[garygb]

That looks like Heteractis crispa to me.

 

[jonwright]

Yup that's what I'm wondering! Doesn't have rings on the tentacles and his foot is awfully thick. And he's bigger than the 6" they said he was on the web site (liveaquaria).

 

[garygb]

Yeah I'm pretty sure it's crispa. H.crispa tends to prefer to attach in holes in the liverock, but sometimes will attach and stay in the sand. Don't be surprised if it lets go from the sand

 

[kevan]

H crispa
had one years ago (1992) in my first tank with under gravel filter and it thrived in sand ( had for 4 years ) but lost it when changed to a wet dry filter system .