Carpet not attaching

MartinM

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I’ve had a purple carpet (Haddoni I think, maybe Mertens, though? Pardon the LED photo, it’s actually under ~14k ish and about ~150 PAR average, higher near the top, lower near the bottom) for about a month. It attached quickly, burying it’s foot, but then I realized a few days later it had grabbed my sand conch when it attached. I had to slowly tease it’s foot off and dislodge the conch. After that, it’s mouth never closed as tightly as a red carpet I have (that’s been happy and in the same spot since day 1) and has been a little open for the last few weeks. About 5 days ago it finally unattached, and has kept it’s foot relatively inflated ever since. As you can see in the photo it opens when the lights are on, it‘s sticky, and still eating (I’ve fed it twice in the month I’ve had it) but it just refuses to attach. I’ve buried it’s foot twice, and it always dislodges itself. Now I’m leaving it alone, but a bit concerned.

As I said, my red carpet is super happy, so I don’t think it has anything to do with the tank/water conditions. Should I just be patient? Thank you!

DB9E178E-B7AA-454C-BF4E-A9C88138DCFB.jpeg
 
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MartinM

MartinM

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Lights off photo, you can the foot is inflated. Btw, the anemone is not inflating/deflating

8D5EB102-3355-4574-9A47-CD2F16D223D2.jpeg
 

chizerbunoi

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That is a purple S. haddoni.

It should be fine. I find this behaviour with the foot is that it is going to expel waste and on the rampage of moving.

Since I started experimenting with haddoni in bare bottom I notice this trend. They get up and move whenever the water flow changes or after a heavy feeding. Column stacks up and release to move. One of the reasons why they end up in power-heads if they fully release.

Mine occasionally tries a tasty conch as well but then spits it up. The conch survives with no problems. That gaping mouth should close. Just keep an eye that it doesn’t expand wider and gap. Also monitor for deflation cycles. Then I would be concerned.

If your red haddoni starts deflating and declining then it is possible the purple brought a disease that infected both.
 
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MartinM

MartinM

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thanis! Neither carpets are deflating. The purple one just won’t attach well lately, it has a small grab on some rock and that’s it. At night the mouth is usually closed, with lights on, it’s gaping a little as in the photo. There was a flow change, maybe that was it. I’m leaving everything alone and I’ll see what it does...
 
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MartinM

MartinM

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Some update photos (massively excessively blue photos, actual lighting color is ~14k I’m going to buy some smartphone filters soon). I couldn’t get a photo showing the true colors of the red, will have to wait until I get a filter.

The purple one is gaping less but is now fully detached:

542FDA53-AE0D-4942-A6ED-2E175CB143EE.jpeg


BF82A940-23B7-4D06-9296-224AAA99B356.jpeg


Bad photo of the red one (it’s foot has been buried in the sand and mouth closed since day 1):

62634852-A62C-4F9B-A5B0-4E4F6CA02460.jpeg
 
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MartinM

MartinM

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From what I’ve seen diving and on videos, carpet anemones are never living in isolation, there are always clowns and damsels and shrimp living in/on them. I‘m wondering if getting some clowns (Saddlebacks) and/or domino damsels would help it adapt...?
 

chizerbunoi

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It’s not necessary if that’s your only reason. I have found that all clown species can adapt to host them. The saddles are rough on them as they like to dig into the mouth. Go for what species you prefer the most.
 
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MartinM

MartinM

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Thanks. I'm considering fish, but not sure yet. purple carpet still won’t attach and has inflated it’s foot more. Gaping is a little less though it seems. Any thoughts on running a cipro treatment? Or just wait? (Edit: Lights off photos attached)

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chizerbunoi

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Is the tentacles sticky? If yes I wouldn’t worry about it and give it more time. I find I have to have it attach to rock or wall first. It won’t attach to sand directly and then move down.

I would treat if it starts to deflate. No concerns yet though.
 
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MartinM

MartinM

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Thanks, tentacles are sticky, I feed it about once a week. With its foot inflated and curled it won’t stick to anything now, but I’ll wait and see.
 

chizerbunoi

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I never have luck with mine in the front towards the middle of the tank. They always tend to move to the sides where there is the lowest flow. They would go for a walk very often. Even with your size, mine kept ending up in the powerhead.

Right now I am trying to build an open space for them on one side of the tank. So you could try rearranging some rock and give it the corner?
 
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MartinM

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You‘re a genius! I was thinking it’s current locations as fine because it was low flow and there were rocks on two sides, but after your post I realized my happy red carpet is on the far left side near the back corner, so I re-arranged the rockwork to that the purple carpet could have nearly an identical spot in the back right side/corner. Only 30 minutes after moving it it seems like it’s starting to bury it’s foot! Thanks for the great advice. I’ll also update here when I get a filter for more photos.
 
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MartinM

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So far it’s foot is halfway buried, with the other half out and inflated. Halfway better than it was haha! Updates to come, and I ordered filters for better photos
 
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MartinM

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Love it! I love all colorful Haddonis. What lights are those?

Mine unattached again and inflated it’s foot. Fun fun.
 

sprungson

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I had a big pink nem carpet that moved a lot. It settled after it found a spot with deeper sand. Maybe 4 inches. They’re all different though.
 
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MartinM

MartinM

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Well, ~3 weeks later and no change, still gaping a bit, still won’t really attach. The mouth closes at night and gapes when the lights are on. Still eats just fine.

The entire tank has a 4-5” sand bed. Flow is relatively low (it’s a lagoon-style biotope, just zoos, goniporas, sexy shrimp, and another carpet).

Argh!
 

chizerbunoi

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I would just keep plugging away as is. If it’s still eating it’s getting healthier.

do you know for it sure it’s eating or is it spitting the food out later on?
 
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