Trying to bring back H. Magnifica

[55semireef]

I saw many dying anemones at my lfs today which was quite sad. They were H. Magnifica and one large Macrodactyla doreensis. It really made me angry. So I looked at all of them and saw a fighting chance in one of the H. Magnicfica which is about 7 inches in diameter. I got it for FREE and brought it home. It wouldn't attach to the rocks and I was not going to take a chance of it rolling in my S. Haddoni so I put it in a tuperware (sp.) container and put it by a powerhead for some good flow and at the top for extra lighting. It seems to be doing better now but its still a very delicate species of anemones to be dealing with. BTW, this is my first Ritteri I have ever dealt with. So I need to avoid trial and error learning on this one. Here's some pictures.

Any advise or input would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[traveller7]

The anemone doese not look like H. magnifica to me based on provided pictures.

It actually looks quite M. doreensis from the pics. See if you can get a shot under the oral disk, verrucae specifically.

 

[BonsaiNut]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8388554#post8388554 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by traveller7
It actually looks quite M. doreensis from the pics.

That is an M. doreensis. Doesn't change the fact that you are trying to do the right thing. Good luck with it - you might want to try burying it in the sand...

 

[OrionN]

It is a M. doreensis, a sand bed anemone. I hope it will make it. It is easier to keep than H. magnifica. Less light and less current.
Add a rock to the container and add sand when it attached. Hope that it will attach to the rock under the sand.

 

[55semireef]

Well thanks guys. I had no idea. I guess I was misled. Wow.


Well I am going to add sand to the container for now since I found out is a M. doreensis. I did not plan on keeping the anemone in the first place, just bring it back to a healthy state and then I was going to sell it in my local area to an experienced aquarist.


Well its getting plenty of light and good flow for now. My goal is to get it back to being really sticky and inflated. Once it has attached to the rock under the sand as orion suggested, I will see if anyone wants it....

Thanks for the heads up guys.

 

[JasonLL]

I'm shocked that a LFS would not know one anenome from another (please read that with the proper sarcasm).

Good luck, and congrats on the rescue attempt.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8389770#post8389770 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JasonLL
I'm shocked that a LFS would not know one anenome from another (please read that with the proper sarcasm).

Good luck, and congrats on the rescue attempt.

:lol: I got it.


Well today the LTA is looking more deflated and I see that is mouth is gaping open. So I cut a piece of shrimp and pushed it *lightly* into its mouth because the LTA would not take it on his/her own. What I am trying to do is feed the LTA small daily feedings to give him/her the necessary enery to get back to good health. Is my method a good way to approach saving this anemone or should I avoid feeding my anemone this much?

 

[OrionN]

IME, for new or sick anemones, small food bit is much better. Use mysis shrimps or grounded/smashed table shrimps.

 

[traveller7]

Foot still red, long tentacles.....that anemone does not need to eat for 2 weeks or more.

Provide it a proper conditions, location, and get it to settle in first.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8393189#post8393189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by traveller7
Foot still red, long tentacles.....that anemone does not need to eat for 2 weeks or more.

Provide it a proper conditions, location, and get it to settle in first.

Yes the foot is very red but the tentacles are deflated. So you don't think it needs to eat at all for now?

 

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8394040#post8394040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
Yes the foot is very red but the tentacles are deflated.

IMHO: Tentacle deflation is not a trait of a hungry anemone.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8394040#post8394040 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
So you don't think it needs to eat at all for now?

With M. doreensis IMHO: No. Diet is secondary to it settling in, becoming attached, and expanding. It appears to me, it has the body mass to make it at least a week or two without being pestered.

Keep your eyes open for small white erosions to show up on the red portion of the column.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8394334#post8394334 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by traveller7
IMHO: Tentacle deflation is not a trait of a hungry anemone.

With M. doreensis IMHO: No. Diet is secondary to it settling in, becoming attached, and expanding. It appears to me, it has the body mass to make it at least a week or two without being pestered.

Keep your eyes open for small white erosions to show up on the red portion of the column.

Alright, I will let it be for a while unless I see white erosions on the column.

Tentacle deflation is probably the anemone still acclimating to my tank and stress. The anemone is getting plenty of light and good flow. Nothing is bothering it either. The foot has attached to the container that its in. I will add sand tomorrow. The tentacles also appear to have a twisting effect. Like its a corkscrew. I am assuming this is a good sign right? I have read this before.


Thanks

 

[delphinus]

The corkscrewing is a distinguishing feature of that species.

 

[Ladipyg]

I am taking care of 12 tanks ranging in size from 12 gallon nano to multiple 300 gallon tanks for a friend. There is a HUGE H. Magnifica in one of the tanks, it was situated next to a (shudder) Sea Apple...well today they were pretty close together and both looking crummy. I was not looking forward to a large Sea Apple doing it's thing in a 300 gallon reef tank and the anenome was just hanging there, mouth agape, tentacles deflated and looking like it was on it's last leg. I had an empty tank (75 gallon BB that had been cycled for an acro tank but I hadn't put anything in it yet) In desperation I took the 12" magnifica and drip acclimated it for over an hour and then put it in the tank. Within 5 minutes it had wedged itself into a large rock, it opened it's mouth wide and began to "pulse" and about 1 hour later it's tentacles were totally full and sticky. It's under 2 400 watt MH's in that tank and it happily ate some mysis. Now it's almost 14" across and on a even better note, the Sea Apple went back to it's normal self and looks great. Personally I think having one of those SA's is playing russian roulette but some people are of the "that won't happen to my tank" school of thought. I, myself, am part of the Murphy's Law crowd...what can screw up will screw up and the more costly it is to fix, the greater the chance that is will be the first to go!! Congrats on doing the right thing and trying to give the anenome a chance...I've rescued some of my favorite pets that way...

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8395739#post8395739 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ladipyg
I am taking care of 12 tanks ranging in size from 12 gallon nano to multiple 300 gallon tanks for a friend. There is a HUGE H. Magnifica in one of the tanks, it was situated next to a (shudder) Sea Apple...well today they were pretty close together and both looking crummy. I was not looking forward to a large Sea Apple doing it's thing in a 300 gallon reef tank and the anenome was just hanging there, mouth agape, tentacles deflated and looking like it was on it's last leg. I had an empty tank (75 gallon BB that had been cycled for an acro tank but I hadn't put anything in it yet) In desperation I took the 12" magnifica and drip acclimated it for over an hour and then put it in the tank. Within 5 minutes it had wedged itself into a large rock, it opened it's mouth wide and began to "pulse" and about 1 hour later it's tentacles were totally full and sticky. It's under 2 400 watt MH's in that tank and it happily ate some mysis. Now it's almost 14" across and on a even better note, the Sea Apple went back to it's normal self and looks great. Personally I think having one of those SA's is playing russian roulette but some people are of the "that won't happen to my tank" school of thought. I, myself, am part of the Murphy's Law crowd...what can screw up will screw up and the more costly it is to fix, the greater the chance that is will be the first to go!! Congrats on doing the right thing and trying to give the anenome a chance...I've rescued some of my favorite pets that way...

Great story. I really appreciate it. I hope my LTA turns out to be in good shape. Still, its mouth is gaping open and there is tentacle deflation.

 

[Amphiprion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8394452#post8394452 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
Alright, I will let it be for a while unless I see white erosions on the column.

Tentacle deflation is probably the anemone still acclimating to my tank and stress. The anemone is getting plenty of light and good flow. Nothing is bothering it either. The foot has attached to the container that its in. I will add sand tomorrow. The tentacles also appear to have a twisting effect. Like its a corkscrew. I am assuming this is a good sign right? I have read this before.


Thanks

Once it does get firmly established, you should feed it well. IME, most anemones will benefit from feeding, but as traveller7 said, should only be fed after they settle. I don't believe the red color of the column to be a good indicator. I have seen enough of these anemones come in in horrible condition with otherwise vibrantly colorful columns. However, the lesions are something to watch for and present a problem. The corkscrewing effect looks nice, but doesn't always necessarily denote the health of a particular specimen. I have seen otherwise spectacularly healthy looking anemones fail for some reason or another, often obscured by a supposedly healthy looking facade. However, the trait is present on many healthy M. doreensis, so it does seem like a reasonable assumption. I would rely on a combination of signs to tell me whether or not the anemone looks ok, such as a closed mouth, apparent firmness (and no localized discoloration) of column, readiness to settle and feed, etc.

 

[55semireef]

The LTA is sticky and reacts to the tough. Tentacle deflation and a gaping mouth are still present though.

 

[55semireef]

Here are some recent pictures of my LTA. What do you guys think? Going downhill or coming along? Its sticky and reacts to the touch.

 

[SVXH6]

looks good!!

 

[55semireef]

Well good news is that its mouth is not always gaping open. Now its only sometimes open and other times its closed. I fed it a small piece of shrimp today. Its tentacles are sticky but it could not feed on its own yet. So I had to place the shrimp on the mouth. I will see in a week if it will react better.