What's Wrong?

[The Fat Panther]

Last night my anemone started to shrink up a little more than normal. I've just added it last sunday and it seems to have been doing well until now.

It was a little more compact than normal but I figured it was ok because the lights had been off for several hours by that time. I figured I would look at it after school today and see if it's ok.

Well it's gotten worse. Today I came home to see it still shrunk up and it then proceeded to close up pretty tightly. (All of the closing up happened in about 3 minutes). An hour later I came back and it's opened up a little bit but there's a rather large hole in it and there appears to be a brown rock in the hole.

What's going on? Is it possible that somehow the rock got consumed and now it is "spitting it up".

I would hate to lose it and be out 50 dollars that I payed for it.

BTW the anemone is a green LTA.

All my params are fine.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[The Fat Panther]

Also, it's now out of the "hole" in the anemone and it's now got it in the tentacles. It sort of looks like a turd.

2 days ago I fed it half a block of frozen brine shrimp, could expelling the waste of that?

 

[tahoe61]

Anemone

Anemone

Expelling waste, and anemones to my knowlege do not eat rocks. Sounds like alittle anemone research is in order, both for your peace of mind and the anemones health. Not being critical I just think that you should know the basics of anemone behavior and care before purchasing them. There are alot of good stickies on the subject.

 

[The Fat Panther]

Ok thanks, also the tentacles on half of the anemone look deflated, is that part of it.

I just got worried because I've heard that an open mouth is bad. Thanks for the help though, your right, I've got some research to to do.

 

[tahoe61]

Anemones

Anemones

Anemones inflate and deflate regularly, usually deflate at night. Your right the opening should remain closed and not gap, it is ok if it is open alittle. Pics go along way in helping should you have problems in the future. Have fun with the research.

 

[The Fat Panther]

Yeah I have a lot of research to do, but it's acting really wierd. It keeps twisting and contorting itself.

 

[tahoe61]

Anemone

Anemone

Again normal behavior for a bta, and they will twist before they split. Anemones will split after introduction to a new tank as a means of self perservation. If you system is new as in under six months of age it probably not ready to house an anemone.

 

[The Fat Panther]

It's been running for a year (on january 31st).

Last night it moved to the back of the tank. Today it was right back at the front, and it was looking all shriveled up. I dug a hole in the spot I want it and put it there. I hope it recovers, I'm going to the LFS this weekend I'll have them test my water.