what is my anemone?

[Lost_Punk]

For starters let me say that i didn't expect to ever get one nor do i really know anything about anemones. But i was buying 25lbs of live rock and 3 clowns for 60$ and the guy threw in the anemone and an urchin. so i really couldn't pass up on it. The tank it was in had a T12 bulb maybe 30 gallons of water and he was target feeding daily with brine shrimp. the 3 clowns are attached to the anemone. i'm continuing the target feeding with brine shrimp and it seems to be doing ok after 3 days. problem is i have no idea what i'm doing or even what type it is. any suggestions?


sorry the picture is of bad quality. couldn't figure out how to take a decent one.

 

[2Addicted]

I dont think anyone will be able to give you an id from that picture. Three clowns in one tank concerns me. How long have they been together and how old are they? Usually in the long run the pair will kill off the third clown.

 

[Toddrtrex]

It sort of looks like a very very stressed BTA (( E. Quadricolor )), though had to tell from that picture. It appears that it has been eating itself for food/energy, by the short, almost non-existent tentacles.

Some info about your tank would be helpful,
size
lights
how long set up
parameters -- with numbers.

I also agree that 3 clowns is most likely going to turn into 2.

 

[Lost_Punk]

info on my tank. 33 gal, 30lbs of live rock. bad T12 lights. set up for over a year. just added the LR, clowns, and anemone this weekend from another established tank.

i didn't think the anemone looked too good. it was given to me for free and i thought i'd try it. just wondering what it is, how to feed it, and what else can i do to prolong its life short of throwing tons of money at it. i have a plastic tank top with the T12 bulb and my wife will not let me remove it to get a brighter light. looked for kits to swap out the guts for a HO t5 setup but i haven't really found anything yet.

 

[Lost_Punk]

the 3 clowns have been together for a while(i think) i got them from the same guy as i got the LR. 2 average sized ones and 1 that is double the size of the other 2.

 

[2Addicted]

Todd: Do you think the spots on the end of the tentacles make it look more like an unhealthy mag? Although it does resemble a bta and its foot is in a cave like a bta so i have no idea.

 

[garygb]

Lost Punk, I'm guessing a stressed BTA (bubble tip anemone) too. If you want to research this animal, there's loads online. You can start with Anemone faqs at the top of this forum and continue with WetWebMedia and just search Entacmea quadricolor, the scientific name. Assuming it is a BTA, then you're fortunate to have the hardiest of the host anemone species (clownfish hosting). How many T-12 flourescents do you have over the tank? T-5s would be much better, or PCs for that matter. The anemone may wander, so powerhead intakes should be covered with sponge or screen to prevent the anemone from being shredded by the powerhead.

Anemones, in general, aren't easy to keep; however, BTAs are as close to easy as you're going to get with the host species. That species is commonly kept and many of us who regularly respond to this thread have been keeping them successfully for years, so feel free to ask all the questions you can think of. And, a better pic would be nice just to make a clear id possible.

 

[bues0022]

When you describe your T12 lights as bad, what do you mean? Old? At the very least, some new bulbs would definitely help as a short-term solution. I'm not too familiar with T12 technology, but if they're anything like T5, a good reflector makes all the difference in the world.

I'll toss in my shooting-from-the-hip initial guess as BTA also. If you answer the questions the above members have asked, hopefully we'l be able to help you figure out how to keep the anemone alive and healthy, and stay married!

Also, you could ask your wife what she likes about the current light setup, then find one that meets those requirements. If it's the hood, you could DIY a hood to cover the light fixture. If it's the clear appearance, there are some really sexy looking T5 fixtures out there. From my own marriage/tank negotiations, I've found it's best to ask what she thinks, then find what matches than to provide good options and give your wife a chance to think of why that one won't work (IF finances allow). Haha!

 

[Lost_Punk]

ok i set up a light on my tank for now. wife isn't too happy but she is dealing with it. 2 96watt 10,000K and 2 actincs. Water paramaters weren't too bad. phospates/nitrates a little high but now i'm doing weekly water changes. salinity is right on. i'd give numbers but i checked everything on sunday and i don't remember.

Now with the bright light is there anything i can do to save this anemone? what should i be feeding? i'm going to start adding purple up for the rock growth and i'm not sure what i'm going to start adding for the little mushroom i have. need advice on how to make this anemone look better and be healthier.

 

[Lost_Punk]

Here is a few more of the anemone
I turned on some PCs added a powerhead and have been target feeding 1-2 times a day.
Suggestions?

 

[garygb]

Definitely looks like a BTA (Entacmea quadricolor). It will much appreciate the additional lighting and water flow. With PCs, the anemone will preferably be within 15 inches of the bulbs. What is the Kelvin reading of the PCs? Ideal would be 6700-10000K. You can find lots of info. on that species, as it may be the most commonly kept host anemone species. It looks like it's located itself in a cave or crevice in the rock, typical for that species.

For that species, temp in the 76-82F range should be fine, sg around 1.025-1.026, moderate water flow (not directly pointed at the anemone), because the anemone is somewhat bleached, target feeding of small pieces (say no larger than a small pea) of shrimp, squid, silverside, mysis, or krill would be helpful in the anemone regaining its vitality.

Do cover those powerhead intakes in the even the anemone wanders around in your tank.

 

[Lost_Punk]

i know the anemone is sickly. he was kept under florescents for a long time. arms are all but gone. been target feeding a block of brine shrimp with a turkey baster. i'd say about 2/3s land in the anemone and the clowns eat 1/2 out of it but it is getting food. is there anything else i can do or just wait it out?

 

[garygb]

Brine shrimp is not very nutritious, try mysis, small pieces of squid, silverside, shrimp, etc.

 

[kduen]

Kind of looks like a mag to me only reason is from what iv'e read mag's tenticles do not taper, are the same diameter the lenth of the tenticle and the tips have a different color. Bubble tip nems do taper if they are long and not bubbled they taper to a point and if they are bubbled they taper to a point. I see no tapering in the seccond pic and are very blunt ended.