Can this nem be saved?

cet98 · May 26, 2026

Just picked up this unfortunate BTA for a couple of dollars in an attempt to revive the poor thing :(

It is currently in an acclimation box to insure the clowns and cleaner shrimp I already have do not irritate it. This is a well established LOWLR aquarium as I did not have an established QT tank to offer it.

Lighting is a very basic LED strip fixture set on low as to reduce any unnecessary light stress to the nem.

I have tried to feed it a small amount of mysis but it seems so weak with very little stickiness to its tentacles.

Is this a lost cause or is patience and determination in order here.

Thank you for any knowledgeable/experienced advice.

GoReefin · May 26, 2026

Mouth appears to be tightly closed and it just appears to be severely bleached. With good lighting, good water parameters it'll bounce back.

As far as feeding goes try very small amount of food with the flow completely turned off for 20 minutes. I wouldnt go bigger than a crushed up quarter to half of a krill or even some broadcast AB+ until it starts coloring back up.

Gumbies R Us · May 27, 2026

@OrionN

D-Nak · May 27, 2026

It can definitely be saved. Just adding to what @GoReefin suggested, you can also try to feed small amounts of a high quality frozen food, like LRS Reef Frenzy, Rods Food, but frozen mysis should also work (was the mysis you attempted frozen or dried?). You can also crank up the light and see what happens.

Dom · May 27, 2026

There is nothing wrong with this Anemone that can't be corrected.

Quality water, light and flow is likely all it needs.

cet98 · May 27, 2026

Thank you all

I have fed it a small amount of frozen mysis shrimp and it appears to have consumed some but extremely slowly.
Additionally, I was under the impression that in the condition it is currently in, it will be very sensitive to lighting and to keep lighting dimmed and slowly increasing intensity over a period.
Is that correct?

Thank you all again for your feedback

D-Nak · May 27, 2026

BTAs tend to be hardy and I tend to be impatient, so in the past I've just placed bleached BTAs under bright light and they did fine. That said, if you want to be careful and move slowly, increasing intensity over a period of time is definitely the way to go.