What is wrong with my bubble tip anemone?
- Thread starter zmazza
- Start date
israelnajar
Active member
I dont know. I am going to force feed it until it gets its tentacles back completly, and gets used to eating again. Then try some silversides down the road. But my nem has never been sticky so it may never eat on its own or it may start when it gets it tentacles back. I can post a pic of it when I first got it but not what it looks like now since I dont know how to mount my camera on linux.
I think the best answer to give when you don't know, is that you don't know. Unfortunately, I knew...
I hate to admit to this, but this incident was fairly recent, like a couple months back in our tank. The lights were going bad, and we didn't even think about additional feedings. One day it was just obvious that the crispa was missing tentacles. Right away we realized what had been happening, so we started some heavy feeding and he's looking much better. I'm embarassed that this happened, but at least I was able to provide a general answer.
zmazza - please keep in mind that the time may be off given the variables present, like type of anemone, current health, food, and tank conditions. I think that you should see some form of improvement in a week or two.
FWIW: I would caution you on the force feeding. That's usually reserved for desparate times, when you can't get a sick nem to eat any other way and the situation is dire. Force feeding can cause damage to your nem if you're not careful, and may cause additional stress. Since yours is eating I wouldn't risk it. Smaller and varied foods sound like a great option for you right now.
That's just my 2c from reading way too many posts (at least my husband thinks so) over the last few years.
Good luck!
maww
Premium Member
I would be suspicious of the peppermint shrimp, especially if you are feeding the BTA. IME they are prone to eating BTAs as well as aiptasia. You also don't mention what snails you have. Cowries will also eat anemones- I had one which nibbled my LTA down to the size of a golfball before I figured out who the culprit was. The LTA is now back up to nearly a foot across.
zmazza
Premium Member
The peppermints we're just added. The guy I bought them from assured me they we're peppermints and not camel shrimp which he stated would eat corals and other inverts ( anemones).
These peppermint shrimp don't even eat aiptasia as far as I can tell. I've got a few zoanthids as well, and they leave them alone. Seems like I might have gotten some nice ones.
These peppermint shrimp don't even eat aiptasia as far as I can tell. I've got a few zoanthids as well, and they leave them alone. Seems like I might have gotten some nice ones.
I won't go into the terror my peps wreaked on our tank - it would take too long!! Mine were definately peps, not camels. Ours would try to steal food from the nem we were trying to nurse back to health and it was very frustrating.
Our LFS guys told us recently, that you can get peps from a couple different areas, the ones from the Gulf of Mexico (I think) are the aiptasia eating ones and seem more docile. From somewhere else and you run the risk of wanting to put them on a cracker!
Sorry I can't remember all the facts, but I would definately watch them while you're trying to help this nem recover.
Our LFS guys told us recently, that you can get peps from a couple different areas, the ones from the Gulf of Mexico (I think) are the aiptasia eating ones and seem more docile. From somewhere else and you run the risk of wanting to put them on a cracker!
Sorry I can't remember all the facts, but I would definately watch them while you're trying to help this nem recover.
israelnajar
Active member
Yes I forgot to mention if you are going to try to force feed your nem you must be very gentle and careful. If it is eating willingly then I would not resort to force feeding.
I have done so since mine is not eating on its own.
zmazza
Premium Member
The peps have set up a territory at the bottom of the tank. Haven't even gone near the anemone. I take the fish and hold it at the anemones mouth until it closes around it or bites into it. I don't leave until I see him eat it. Again, I just hold it there until he closes around it. He's eating on his own, so no force feeding. He just has a bit of a time holding onto it at first. All the fish including the peps keep their distance from him, so no trouble yet. The peppermints probably don't even get off the first set of rocks.
zmazza
Premium Member
Interesting... Surely they can't steal the food from the anemone after he's already eaten it, right? I haven't noticed them messing with the corals, or missing corals for that matter. The anemone was already missing the tentacles, but I am noticing new growth! Little tiny stubby tentacles are starting to appear all over him now. I think he's on his way to recovery. I'm feeding twice a day now. I'm going to try and run my P200 on my tank for a little while with some carbon in it.
Since your nem was missing tentacles before the peps, it's probably not them, but...
continue to keep an eye on them just in case. I've read peoples' stories of the peps digging into the nems mouth to retrieve food. I've never seen it, but I wouldn't put anything past the ones that I had!
Glad to hear there's some improvement!
Here's wishing you continued success!
continue to keep an eye on them just in case. I've read peoples' stories of the peps digging into the nems mouth to retrieve food. I've never seen it, but I wouldn't put anything past the ones that I had!
Glad to hear there's some improvement!
Here's wishing you continued success!
RedEyeElf
New member
I've heard of coral banded shrimp cutting nems open to get food out
My BTA is in the same state, same story
I soak my Mysis in Zoe for 30 minute-hour then target feed (sucking into baby medicine syringe and squirt at him, even in his state, the food sticks to him and he wraps up quick on it
My buddy refuses to replace his weak PC bulbs, does'nt feed his tank anything but flake, and has a ph of 7.6 and his BTA is almost a foot across and growing fast, I can't get one to have a tentacle in perfect conditions...
My BTA is in the same state, same story
I soak my Mysis in Zoe for 30 minute-hour then target feed (sucking into baby medicine syringe and squirt at him, even in his state, the food sticks to him and he wraps up quick on it
My buddy refuses to replace his weak PC bulbs, does'nt feed his tank anything but flake, and has a ph of 7.6 and his BTA is almost a foot across and growing fast, I can't get one to have a tentacle in perfect conditions...
israelnajar
Active member
So how is your nem doing? Mine finally started eating on its own now. I am so excited.
55semireef
Moved On
Maybe you just got a mutated BTA.
zmazza
Premium Member
Sad to say, but my bta did pass away. I noticed the tank was starting to smell "really, really bad". We pulled him out and disposed of him. I'll definitely have to research a better store to purchase him from next time.
Thanks again everyone for your help. It seems any anemone is extremely hard to care for, imho.
Thanks again everyone for your help. It seems any anemone is extremely hard to care for, imho.
israelnajar
Active member
Sorry to hear that. I wish you better luck when you find a better dealer.
Israel
Israel
israelnajar
Active member
Well our role is reversed. I am having success with my nem now and had trouble with my zoas. I got it figured out tho, turns out I had them in a too low flow zone. I lost about 25 out of 35 polyps but they are recovering now.
I try my best to give good information whenever I have it available.
I try my best to give good information whenever I have it available.
