Bubble Tip Anemone

[UKReefer67]

Hi All,

I`ve had this BTA for a couple of months and its really looking very poorly - Any suggestions on how I can get this guy back to looking healthy?

Tank is a 76G mixed reef, been established for approx 18 months and all other inhabitants happy and healthy. The BTA moved to this spot on day 2 and has got progressively worse since.

Its difficult/impossible to get it to accept any food at tall as its got no tentacles to speak of. My 2 clown fish have adopted it readily and are in it daily.

Typical params are:
Temp: 25 C
Alk: 9.8 dKH
Ca: 420
Mg: 1400
Phos: V low/undetectable (Salifert)
Nitrate: V low/undetectable (Salifert)

I dose Tropic Marin All For Reef @ 15 ml/day and Readsea Coral Energy AB+ @ 36 ml/day

 

[Dbichler]

It’s starving. Needs nutrients and depends on lighting as well

 

[UKReefer67]

Thanks for the reply.... Its moved itself into this spot so can only assume that its found somewhere with lighting that suits it otherwise it would move again wouldn't it?

How & what should I feed it in that state?

 

[Bucs20fan]

Yep it needs nitrates and phosphates from the water man, the photosynthetic part of an anemone works like that of a coral. It requires nutrients in the water. Having both undetectable is asking for issues.

DO NOT FEED IT.

A healthy nem will feed just fine. Most people dont directly feed their nems. BTA can get all the nutrients they need from the water and good lighting.

 

[exnisstech]

Agreed nems do not need to be fed directly and it can even be detrimental as they have to expend energy processing the food. I especially would not feed one that is not healthy. What lighting do you have? Mine sit toward the top under 350 par and love it.

 

[UKReefer67]

Agreed nems do not need to be fed directly and it can even be detrimental as they have to expend energy processing the food. I especially would not feed one that is not healthy. What lighting do you have? Mine sit toward the top under 350 par and love it.

I Have a Radion XR15 Blue - the weird thing is that its positioned itself UNDER an archway so is well out of direct light.

This was it when it first put itself there but as you can see from the above pic it doesnt come out anywhere like this now

 

[Sdot]

Yep it needs nitrates and phosphates from the water man, the photosynthetic part of an anemone works like that of a coral. It requires nutrients in the water. Having both undetectable is asking for issues.

DO NOT FEED IT.

A healthy nem will feed just fine. Most people dont directly feed their nems. BTA can get all the nutrients they need from the water and good lighting.

I agree with your comment on nitrates and phoshates in the water.... however....if the animal is starving you do need to slowly feed it to get it back healthy....and then observe. Once healthy and long as your water parameters are fine then you shouldnt need to feed.

I had a similar issue with a mag. If i didn't feed it, it would have perished.

Went from this

To this

To this

To now this

 

[UKReefer67]

I agree with your comment on nitrates and phoshates in the water.... however....if the animal is starving you do need to slowly feed it to get it back healthy....and then observe. Once healthy and long as your water parameters are fine then you shouldnt need to feed.

I had a similar issue with a mag. If i didn't feed it, it would have perished.

Went from this

To this

To this

To now this

Wow! Thanks so much for the reply - OK so, first of all I need to get it into a QT - will do that tomorrow. Next - what and how did you feed it in that state?

 

[ThomasNanoReefer]

Reef Roids (also helps with your low phoshates)

You can dose nitrates to get them higher.

If you are running your lights very blue, check out these threads about light spectrum:

What lights are you running for your anemone specific reefs? Could use help planning a 250 gallon mag specific reef.

Here is a picture of the tank I hope to acquire for this Magnifica dominant reef. The current owner has it set up as a shark/ray tank with center overflow. He's building himself a bigger one and will pass this beauty on to me! I plan to remove the center overflow and install an external...

www.reef2reef.com

A look into Anemones and white lighting

Hello - I understand that general consensus is that corals only use blue/red/uv and white light is used for our viewing pleasure. Anemones are not corals and lately I’ve been doing a little experiment on this. My early findings are that anemones (bubble tips in particular) absolutely benefit...

www.reef2reef.com

If he is still attached, probably best not to QT him.

Good luck!

 

[Bucs20fan]

I would also highly recommend treating with ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic. An anemone in this state is highly susceptible to bacterial infections.

 

[Sdot]

Wow! Thanks so much for the reply - OK so, first of all I need to get it into a QT - will do that tomorrow. Next - what and how did you feed it in that state?

My anemone had a bacterial infection which is why it was in quarantine. However, the second picture...notice it was smaller and bleached. I had to slowly feed it to get back to health...it was fine after. If anemone isnt healthy it needs to feed.