ANEMONE HELP!!!!

[KelBell3113]

So I've had this bta for about 2 weeks. I was unaware that they aren't supposed to be white. I chose to keep it anyway to nurse it back to health. I have good water, lighting, temp. I direct feed little bits of brine shrimp to it. Yesterday it looked like it was finally perking up now today it looks horrendous. Its all shriveled up and the mouth appears swollen. Is it dying?? How can I tell? I don't want it to die and kill my whole tank. Help please!!!

 

[phantomreefing]

If the mouth is gapping it is a really bad sign...

How are the other corals looking and what kind of lighting are you using...

BTW... if it dies it will not kill your tank.

But I will highly recommend a water change

 

[KelBell3113]

Specifics: 14gal biocube, temp 77°, salinity 1.024, nitrate 5ppm, nitrites & ammonia 0ppm. Actinic bulb and 10k daylight bulb. Emerald crabs, blue leg hermits, peppermint shrimp, assorted snails & lawnmower blenny are its tank mates. Lots of live rock.
The mouth doesn't appear to be open just swollen. Most of the time it looks pretty good but today it's looking rough. He is my first coral.

 

[KelBell3113]

That's a relief to hear. Everything else I've read said it will kill the whole tank.

 

[ReeferBoo]

Looks like the foot is still attached well, anemones also go through periods of cleaning themselves out. You said that you've been feeding it regularly, this could be it getting rid of waste. Keep a close eye on it and monitor your water parameters.

The mouth is puffed up as opposed to gaping, which IME is a good sign

 

[KelBell3113]

That's one thing that hasn't changed since day one, it's had a firm grip to the rock. It only moved once when it was first introduced to the tank and has been in the same spot since. I monitor my water very closely. I feed it a little every other day.

 

[Rob's Reef]

The mouth puffs up on mine when I feed him. Then goes down once he's eaten the food

 

[KelBell3113]

I fed him earlier this morning and his mouth wasn't puffed up like this till about a half hour ago.

 

[KelBell3113]

I fed him earlier this morning and his mouth wasn't puffed up like this till about a half hour ago.

 

[CodyRVA]

How old is your system, what's your ALK and MG?

 

[KelBell3113]

Update: He's starting to fluff back up.
I'm a little paranoid if you can't tell lol. I love my critters so I'm always paranoid that one of them is going to die or get sick on me.

 

[KelBell3113]

Thank you all for your help!

 

[CodyRVA]

Update: He's starting to fluff back up.
I'm a little paranoid if you can't tell lol. I love my critters so I'm always paranoid that one of them is going to die or get sick on me.

Good to hear; I strongly suggest you test your ALK and MG regularly. The Nem may keep filling and excreting water over and over appearing healthy then unhealthy every few days. This is a tell tale sign of unstable or insufficient water chemistry. Good luck!

 

[Oldreefer44]

Would recommend feeding a little less often. In that size tank uneaten food, or the waste from eaten food can quickly overwhelm your system. I have 2 BTA's that I never feed. Both are over 2 years old. One has grown to 8 inches across and the other about 5. Neither has ever moved.

 

[Rob's Reef]

Would recommend feeding a little less often. In that size tank uneaten food, or the waste from eaten food can quickly overwhelm your system. I have 2 BTA's that I never feed. Both are over 2 years old. One has grown to 8 inches across and the other about 5. Neither has ever moved.

I rarely feed my anemones as well. They get scraps from feeding my fish.

I'll post a video later of me feeding mine so you can see how his mouth looks and compare it to yours. :)

 

[KelBell3113]

Would recommend feeding a little less often. In that size tank uneaten food, or the waste from eaten food can quickly overwhelm your system. I have 2 BTA's that I never feed. Both are over 2 years old. One has grown to 8 inches across and the other about 5. Neither has ever moved.

I read that I should feed it little bits often till it perks up. I never feed a whole lot. Any leftovers from the bta are quickly eaten by his tank mates. I plan to start doing less this week.

 

[KelBell3113]

Good to hear; I strongly suggest you test your ALK and MG regularly. The Nem may keep filling and excreting water over and over appearing healthy then unhealthy every few days. This is a tell tale sign of unstable or insufficient water chemistry. Good luck!

Thank you, I will try that.

 

[KelBell3113]

I rarely feed my anemones as well. They get scraps from feeding my fish.

I'll post a video later of me feeding mine so you can see how his mouth looks and compare it to yours. :)

There only fish I have right now is my blenny. I'm going to get a clownfish and maybe one more but wanted the bta to have a chance to get healthy before introducing the clown so it's not overwhelmed. I'll keep a look out for your video. Would definitely be helpful so I'm not so panicky :)

 

[anghrndz]

Please help! I went out of town this Sunday and Monday and asked my roommate to turn off the water but he forgot so my water was on for about 36 hrs. I came home to find my anemone had shrunk really small and today the mouth the hanging out. I tried to feed her and nothing . Everything else looks fine.
I'm really worried. I've had the anemone for about 3-4 weeks without issue . Normally she looks like the last picture

29 gal biocube
Mj1200

 

[CodyRVA]

Please help! I went out of town this Sunday and Monday and asked my roommate to turn off the water but he forgot so my water was on for about 36 hrs. I came home to find my anemone had shrunk really small and today the mouth the hanging out. I tried to feed her and nothing . Everything else looks fine.
I'm really worried. I've had the anemone for about 3-4 weeks without issue . Normally she looks like the last picture

Can you please explain what "turn off the water" means? How old is your system? Have you done any testing for ALK or MG? You should create your own thread btw.