when to give up on anemone?

[j_beau_13]

my 2 month old GBTA has been sick for around 2 weeks now and it has lost its color and almost all the tentacles. it got sick a week after my true perc found it, and was harrassed ever since. so i built a crate around the anemone to give it breathing room. but when exactly should i give up and take it out before it nukes the tank?

but as we speak my dang clownfish is harrassing my hammer to death

 

[hogben]

If its melting or falling apart, check the foot or base first, here are some sad pics:
http://www.karensroseanemones.com/thedyingrose.htm

 

[j_beau_13]

the foot looks good when he balls up and i cant see around because its in a crevise

 

[redvipe2010]

It sounds like it is starving. What are you feeding it? What are your parameters? Can you post a pic?

 

[j_beau_13]

i was feeding it frozen squid, krill, and mysis shrimp 3-4 times a week but its stopped eating. But it hardly has any tentactles to grasp the food and even when it does, it doesn't close up around it.

but i figured if he didn't like where he was he would move.

parameters:
cal - 400
alk - 9.6
mag - 1275
sal - 1.026
temp - 79

 

[j_beau_13]

before

now

 

[hogben]

The color looks better but maybe it needs more alone time from the clown. Has it looked better since adding the crate?

 

[cschweitzer]

The original pic looks bleached pretty badly...maybe just the color of the photo.

 

[redvipe2010]

Try small pieces of silversides. Its short tenticles shows that it is not eating enough. Definately don't give up. The anemone is not in that bad of shape IMO, but it definately needs to start eating.

 

[j_beau_13]

he was bleached pretty bad but he was coloring up before i put the clownfish in. i figured silversides would be the best thing but what happens if it doesn't close around the fish?

i also lowered my light some because he looked like he was stretching to it more since the crates around him.

 

[walmart]

Those pictures are gross, but hope your anemone gets better.

 

[hogben]

I agree I dont think it looks that bad and was on the right track, sounds like the clown just gave it hell.

It is hard to tell visually the health especially if you cant see the foot.

 

[redvipe2010]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9709215#post9709215 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by j_beau_13
i figured silversides would be the best thing but what happens if it doesn't close around the fish?

Use small pieces, smaller than the mouth of the anemone. Turn down the flow if you need to give the anemone more time to grab on to it. Drop the food near the mouth if you need to, but don't touch it or force it to eat.

 

[j_beau_13]

ive stuck pieces near his mouth but its like it doesnt even know its there. is there a safe way to get him to close around it so it has to eat the food?

is there any thing else i could do that will help or is time the best thing?

 

[redvipe2010]

Have you tried this with silversides?

 

[j_beau_13]

no not yet

 

[omni2226]

Dont give up. I am nursing one back that looked a whole lot rougher than yours.
Give the clownfish access. And remove the basket, let it get light.
I have a Clarki Clown that is 3 times the size of my nem. And Clarkis are rough on nems to say the least. The fish keps the nem clean and stimulates it.
Forget the silversides and other junk. Stop by your grocerie store and get some raw squid, octipus and shrimp. Chop it all up into little bits and freeze it.
Three times a day take a little chunk and place it right on its mouth, hold it there with your finger and see if it wont open and take it.

 

[j_beau_13]

but if i take off the crate the clownfish will steal his food...

 

[davocean]

Best IMO is leave it alone and let it heal.
Keep it from the clowns for now, basket is fine.
Nems can go a long time w/ out food as long as they have light.
I actually think it looks healthier in second pic(it was pretty bleached)
Sometimes clowns love them to death, especially if clowns are big and nem is small.
If you want, squirt some mysis or something at it, but don't stress on the feeding.
It really needs to be left alone to grow tents back.
When it looks OK and can take food, feed a little heavy(not too much) just to help increase size so it can deal w/ clowns.

 

[redvipe2010]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9710057#post9710057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by omni2226
Give the clownfish access.

The OP already tried that, it didn't work.

Forget the silversides and other junk. Stop by your grocerie store and get some raw squid, octipus and shrimp. Chop it all up into little bits and freeze it.
[/QUOTE]

Junk? Silversides is the prefered food by most.


Three times a day take a little chunk and place it right on its mouth, hold it there with your finger and see if it wont open and take it. [/QUOTE]

If you tear the mouth the chances of this anemone recovering are slim. I don't recommend this at all.