Given a Free Anemone: Now What?

[SaltyMix]

Hey Reefers!

I went to do my monthly fish errands and ended up at Petco for reef salt since my chewy order hasn’t arrived and I want to mix water tomorrow/tonight. I’m friendly with all the expert fish people at every pet store and the expert was there and she asked after my tank.

I told her how it was going and that I’m thrilled my parameters haven’t shifted much other than some summer temperature shifts from 76.7-78.8f and she said that was great to hear since she thinks she has a dying anemone and had hoped I’d be in.

She knows I’m pretty serious about reefing from previous conversations and offered me the anemone since she thought with my stable tank I *might* be able to rehab it.

I was upfront that I don’t know I can, I don’t know anything about nems, only petted them at the local big aquarium in their tidal pool room.

I read previous posts about what to feed it, but I have no idea what kind it even is or what else to try to help it. I’m sure it’s got a chance since it’s holding on to the bit of rubble. It was also buried in sand when she pulled it out. So I’ll plan to do the same.

Also, as if this doesn’t complicate it. I’m mildly allergic to shellfish (clams, etc.)

So what can I feed it that I don’t have to buy frozen shrimp or scallops?

 

[SilverGryphon]

What kind of anemone is it first off, that'll help with care. For now don't feed it, it is bleached and stressing it more now will likely kill it.

 

[SaltyMix]

What kind of anemone is it first off, that'll help with care. For now don't feed it, it is bleached and stressing it more now will likely kill it.

I have no idea what kind of anemone it is. The Petco tag said condy, but it doesn’t have a red foot, and it sort of give bubble tip or LTA more than anything else.

But the Petco associate really also didn’t know and there were other people waiting. So I mean for a free invert not a bad deal, but right now I have no idea.

I’ve included a picture of now when I’m almost done drip acclimating. (7hours might be too long buuuut I’m trying to be super gentle with it).

It’s active and opens and closes (the first time it did I thought it was for sure dead). When it closes it looks like white mochi.

 

[SaltyMix]

Here’s a better picture of it fully open now.

I know bleaching is super unhealthy but, I don’t think this little guy is done. It’s handled today so well!

 

[SilverGryphon]

Hard to see the mouth in that picture. Is it gaping or closed? If closed you might still have a chance with it.

 

[SaltyMix]

Totally closed! It also moved overnight to a new position. In the sand. I still don’t know what it is.

Hoping for help identifying it. I’ll start offering it some mysis tonight, I was thinking. Or is that too soon to feed it?

 

[SilverGryphon]

Too soon, give it a couple weeks to settle in. If it plants its foot and keeps the mouth closed it has a decent chance of surviving.

 

[SilverGryphon]

How's it looking today?

 

[SaltyMix]

How's it looking today?

The same! It hasn't changed much at all. Maybe I'm imagining it, but it might be darkening a bit in the tentacles. Some seem to be elongating a little. It might be wishful thinking.

I still can't figure out what it is. I'm almost certain it's not a BTA.

Since it's happy in the sand under that rock, I'm thinking it's a seabae or beaded anemone.

I don't think there's any possibility of it being a Condylactis since it has a pale foot. I'm hoping it's a beaded anemone since it sounds like they stay small. If it is a seabae, I'll get it fully recovered and growing, then rehome it since it will probably eat my clowns, and I'm attached to my black clown.

Here's what it looks like now.

(P.S. Thank you so much for checking in on me. I'm so new still, and I don't want to mess this up!)

I'll also keep this thread up as I progress with the anemone. Hopefully I can nurse it back to some kind of color.

 

[SilverGryphon]

It could be a RBTA with how the tentacles are puffed up. Might be a bacteria infection, but I'm not nearly knowledgeable enough to determine that. Anyone else want to chime in on this?

 

[Nezareth]

The same! It hasn't changed much at all. Maybe I'm imagining it, but it might be darkening a bit in the tentacles. Some seem to be elongating a little. It might be wishful thinking.

I still can't figure out what it is. I'm almost certain it's not a BTA.

Since it's happy in the sand under that rock, I'm thinking it's a seabae or beaded anemone.

I don't think there's any possibility of it being a Condylactis since it has a pale foot. I'm hoping it's a beaded anemone since it sounds like they stay small. If it is a seabae, I'll get it fully recovered and growing, then rehome it since it will probably eat my clowns, and I'm attached to my black clown.

Here's what it looks like now.

(P.S. Thank you so much for checking in on me. I'm so new still, and I don't want to mess this up!)

I'll also keep this thread up as I progress with the anemone. Hopefully I can nurse it back to some kind of color.

Any update?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

How is it doing today for you?