Long Tentacle Anemone - is it actually dying?

krcdance17 · 05/23/2017, 07:40 PM

Hello everyone! I'm new to these forums, but my boyfriend and I are truly stumped, and we figured we'd turn to people with more experience!

The main issue is, we can't tell if our long tentacle anemone is dying or not.

Background:
We started the salt water tank about a month ago, and we've had the anemone in the tank for about 1.5-2 weeks. The tank cycled rather quickly. It's a 10-gallon tank with a salinity of 1.024 ppm, a pH of around 8.5, ammonia level of about .25 ppm, nitrite level of around .25 ppm, and nitrate level varying between 0 and 5 ppm, and these levels are before our daily water changes.

We usually feed the anemone once a week, with a piece of thawed krill, sometimes two.

When we went to feed her a couple days ago, she held onto the krill but never actually ate it. Her body is bubbled up while a lot of her tentacles are inflated but just hang. Tonight we watched her insides START to turn inside out, but then it went back to how she's been.

So, now we don't know what to do!

I've also attached pictures from the day we first got her, to pictures taken tonight.

krcdance17 · 05/23/2017, 07:42 PM

I'm also adding to this that this has all happened within the past day or two. Before that, she's been absolutely fine!

Swayze27 · 05/23/2017, 08:30 PM

Ok, this may be blunt but you need to know. Anemone are some of the most sensitive creatures in this hobby and should only be added to a tank that has cycled and a tank that maintains the stablest of parameters. Most recommend not adding anemones until after a year of the tank running. I say at least 6 mo providing that you have done significant research and have a good hold on keeping your tank stable and maintaining good husbandry.

A few things about your situation: your tank is too small for a long tentacle anemone, fully grown they get literally bigger than your tank. Secondly your tank still has presence of ammonia and nitrite, which are extremely harmful to any inhabitants in the tank especially an anemone. Thirdly, the anemone appears bleached which can be a sign of inadequate lighting, anemone require intense lighting to thrive. Make sure you have adequate lighting down the road.

Take it slow in this hobby, let your tank cycle completely before adding anything else, especially sensitive creatures like anemones. Read up on these forums, there is a lot of information on here from a lot of people that have been around the hobby a long time. Learn from their mistakes so you don't make the same. This is a very rewarding hobby when patience is utilized but it can be the opposite when it's not. Good luck and go slow. Your anemone more than likely will not survive in its current environment, sorry.

humphreyhh · 05/23/2017, 09:31 PM

You added anemone too soon. Following the 6 month rule will give you much higher success rate.

The anemone is looking bleached. What's your lighting?

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

elegance coral · 05/24/2017, 08:37 AM

My advice would be to contact your local aquarium club, and try to find someone that can properly care for it. It's not dying right now. It is bleached though. If it's environment does not change, it will likely die.
Sorry.
EC

vhuang168 · 05/24/2017, 10:41 AM

If you actually have ammonia and nitrite readings, your tank is not cycled. Could be the reason why the nem is stressed.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

OrionN · 05/24/2017, 01:00 PM

Agee with all the above. Your tank is too small, too newly set up and you are too inexperience. You need to get him to a man re experienced Reefer with more suitable tank if you want him to live. Best of luck.

Pond Boy · 05/25/2017, 05:38 PM

Quit feeding so much feed it once mebbe twice a week tops.
Do water changes every few days.
Cross your finger hope for the best.

DasCamel · 05/26/2017, 12:41 PM

I tested the 6 month rule, it just makes life harder.

humphreyhh · 05/26/2017, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DasCamel

I tested the 6 month rule, it just makes life harder.

I mean...which part of life isn't hard though...😂

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

DasCamel · 05/26/2017, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by humphreyhh

I mean...which part of life isn't hard though...😂

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

LOL, I guess you like things on extreme difficulty mode?

krcdance17 · 05/28/2017, 08:49 AM

Hi everyone! Thank you so much for your responses! The anemone unfortunately did die the next day (it looked like it was essentially leaking out of itself), but at least we are more aware for the next time, should there be one!

humphreyhh · 05/28/2017, 09:25 AM

Sorry to hear that...I'm newbie too, I have a lot to learn before I can get more delicate animals.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/23/2017, 07:42 PM	#2
krcdance17 Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 3	I'm also adding to this that this has all happened within the past day or two. Before that, she's been absolutely fine! __________________ Fish are friends, not food.

05/23/2017, 09:31 PM	#4
humphreyhh Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 581	You added anemone too soon. Following the 6 month rule will give you much higher success rate. The anemone is looking bleached. What's your lighting? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk Last edited by humphreyhh; 05/23/2017 at 09:40 PM.

05/24/2017, 08:37 AM	#5
elegance coral They call me EC Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: central Florida Posts: 6,208	My advice would be to contact your local aquarium club, and try to find someone that can properly care for it. It's not dying right now. It is bleached though. If it's environment does not change, it will likely die. Sorry. EC __________________ "Most of the failures with marine aquaria are due to lack of knowledge of the biological processes that occur in the aquarium." Martin A. Moe, Jr. "A scientist seeks the truth, wherever that may lead. A believer already knows the truth, and cannot be swayed no matter how compelling the evidence." Current Tank Info: I'm trying to see how many tanks will fit in my house before the wife loses it.

05/24/2017, 10:41 AM	#6
vhuang168 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,136	If you actually have ammonia and nitrite readings, your tank is not cycled. Could be the reason why the nem is stressed. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Vincent 40g custom AIO --> DSA190Pro

05/24/2017, 01:00 PM	#7
OrionN Moved on Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Coastal Texas Posts: 16,000	Agee with all the above. Your tank is too small, too newly set up and you are too inexperience. You need to get him to a man re experienced Reefer with more suitable tank if you want him to live. Best of luck. __________________ Minh My homepage is my album here at Reef Central Current Tank Info: Reboot 320 anemones reef. Angels: Yellow Chest Regal(2), Flame (2). Copperband But. Tangs: Yellow, Purple. Wrasse: about 20 wrasses various species. Anemones: Giantea X4 (Breen, Blue, Purple and Multicolors), Haddoni X1 Red, Magnifica X1 Purpletip

05/23/2017, 08:30 PM	#3
Swayze27 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Warrior, AL Posts: 546	Ok, this may be blunt but you need to know. Anemone are some of the most sensitive creatures in this hobby and should only be added to a tank that has cycled and a tank that maintains the stablest of parameters. Most recommend not adding anemones until after a year of the tank running. I say at least 6 mo providing that you have done significant research and have a good hold on keeping your tank stable and maintaining good husbandry. A few things about your situation: your tank is too small for a long tentacle anemone, fully grown they get literally bigger than your tank. Secondly your tank still has presence of ammonia and nitrite, which are extremely harmful to any inhabitants in the tank especially an anemone. Thirdly, the anemone appears bleached which can be a sign of inadequate lighting, anemone require intense lighting to thrive. Make sure you have adequate lighting down the road. Take it slow in this hobby, let your tank cycle completely before adding anything else, especially sensitive creatures like anemones. Read up on these forums, there is a lot of information on here from a lot of people that have been around the hobby a long time. Learn from their mistakes so you don't make the same. This is a very rewarding hobby when patience is utilized but it can be the opposite when it's not. Good luck and go slow. Your anemone more than likely will not survive in its current environment, sorry.

05/25/2017, 05:38 PM	#8
Pond Boy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: In a tube amp Posts: 141	Quit feeding so much feed it once mebbe twice a week tops. Do water changes every few days. Cross your finger hope for the best. __________________ Bringing back a 12g JBJ from some serious neglect... Current Tank Info: JBJ 12g

05/26/2017, 12:41 PM	#9
DasCamel Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Kenmore, WA Posts: 1,542	I tested the 6 month rule, it just makes life harder. __________________ 375g DT 125g sump acrylic, Mixed SPS/LPS tank with anemones and fish. Current Tank Info: 375g Build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2608197

05/28/2017, 08:49 AM	#12
krcdance17 Registered Member Join Date: May 2017 Posts: 3	Hi everyone! Thank you so much for your responses! The anemone unfortunately did die the next day (it looked like it was essentially leaking out of itself), but at least we are more aware for the next time, should there be one! __________________ Fish are friends, not food.

05/28/2017, 09:25 AM	#13
humphreyhh Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 581	Sorry to hear that...I'm newbie too, I have a lot to learn before I can get more delicate animals. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk