Half bleached LTA?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 1, 2025

I have an LTA that I asked about identifying here a couple of weeks ago. It is doing fine, and I’ve recently been feeding it fresh clam, but it is still half bleached, as it was when I bought it. I’m wondering how long such half and half scenarios continue. I have no objection to the look, but I sort of expected it to get better (or worse) by now.

Thanks for any comments.

dvgyfresh · Jul 1, 2025

I’ve found feeding bleached anemones zooplankton helps them create the zoox a bit better - small amounts of reef roids or straight up dosing zooplankton

OrionN · Jul 1, 2025

A long as the color spread, it will be just fine. I already start to see color in the lighter half already

bradleym · Jul 1, 2025

The anemone anatomy is split into (I think) 6 sections, sort of like looking down at an orange slice. The “wedges” will greatly slow the movement of zooxanthellae around the disc. But even then, coloring doesn’t return quickly. I would expect 3+ months to get anywhere near normal coloring again. Just gotta be patient.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 2, 2025

Thanks folks. I’ll just keep watching it! :)

dansyr · Jul 2, 2025

Not a half-and-half scenario so it's not exactly what you're looking for, but it's not necessarily super long to at least get some zoox (sections infecting other sections definitely slower, but it can happen relatively fast). This was mine a week or two after getting it:

and this was exactly 1 month later

It took another month or two to get peak density but after another ~1 month it was acting normal. I noticed providing a bit of shade (by putting a small piece of printer paper or paper towel) on my lid directly over it to cut some light helped it look less photostressed and I noticed qualitatively quicker regeneration of zoox during that time (i.e. more light than petco, less than full strength for several weeks).