I'm at a loss here!

[DubDr]

my anemone will be big and flowing happy one min then the next looks dead. I've read so much about anemones that I now have information over load and am not even sure what species it is. I think its a long tentacle, but it's behavior is so weird some people would say it's in a splitting process but others say lta's don't usually do that here is what I'm dealing with. Any advise would be great

View attachment 571275

 

[kanders87]

Looks ok in the picture. How long have you had it? How old is your tank?

*edit* 2nd picture isn't loading for me.

 

[Amoo]

well for starters Dorensis tend to prefer the sand :P Typically a sandy place where they can stick their foot in and either reach the underside of a rock or the bottom surface of the tank. Not all, but most.

Length of ownership, when this behavior started, tank parameters, tank age and lighting are all great places to start with info we can use to try to help.

 

[DubDr]

I would say I've had him about 4-5 months. I don't think my lighting is good enough for him to sit on the bottom in the sand, so I built a live rock shelf to bring him closer to the light. I have a 120 gallon 24 inch deep tank and when I first set it up I planned on a fowlr and we all know how that turns out. It has been up 10-11 months now. My water currently is 1.025, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10-20 nitrate, kh is 11, pH has dipped 7.8, I haven't checked mag or cal yet p03 is .001. the conditioned popped up after an urchin chewed through a power head electrical cord only ones side no electricity leaching into the water but a copper wire was exposed so I removed that head so flow had changed a bit but tried to compensate with another one.

 

[zuri]

tank looks good btw ;) now that you've gone reef maybe swap out the background for all black that way the corals really pop and have definition xD...heheh was like man those are some sweet colonies how could he be lacking light!:rolleyes:

 

[Amoo]

Ok, how long after you had him did it take before he was basically inflated all the time and looking happy?

Concurrently, how long ago was the cord and flow issue?

 

[DubDr]

Ok, how long after you had him did it take before he was basically inflated all the time and looking happy?

Concurrently, how long ago was the cord and flow issue?

Cord and flow was about 1 week now and he has been upset since he was happy maybe 2-3 weeks in

 

[Salty1962]

Is that a Dorensis or an Entacmaea quadricolor. Looks like mine when it's in high flow. Are the clowns going in it? If they are they could be irritating it.

 

[Amoo]

Sorry @DubDr I'm confused as to what you are telling me and I can not understand what I need to to try to help you. Has it ALWAYS been kind of unhappy or just since the power loss on half the tank?

 

[DubDr]

This is the size it was when I got it. It has grown very fast. It's hard to explain what I'm trying to say and I can't seem to get a good photo of it when it looks super sickly. It usually happens about the same time of day evey night before my lights go to night time.

His tentacles get dark purple and ribbon flat and just fall over when it happens tonight I'll turn my light on and take a photo. I noticed it moved last night and is climbing down the back side of my rocks

 

[DubDr]

Is that a Dorensis or an Entacmaea quadricolor. Looks like mine when it's in high flow. Are the clowns going in it? If they are they could be irritating it.

It is not a BTA looks

more like the dorensis

 

[Amoo]

@Salty1962 For starters it's definitely a Dorensis, so we can put that to rest. It was very clear in the first pic, but it's definitively clear in the most recent picture. Secondly, why would the clowns be irritating the Nem?

Ok In this newest pic, I noticed your Xenia look sad, did the Nem touch them or are they telling us there is something else going on in the tank? Nem moved, Xenia look sad, something seems off.

You stated the Nem started doing this deflating thing after the power head cord got chewed through, yes? How long ago was that?

Or did I read that wrong and it has always done this and you are trying to figure out why?

 

[DSC reef]

Are we sure this isn't just typical nem behavior? Deflating and looking horrible when expelling waste is perfectly normal. Nightly closings isn't uncommon.

 

[Amoo]

yeah that's what I'm trying to figure out here @DSC reef When it started doing it or if it has always done this.

 

[DSC reef]

yeah that's what I'm trying to figure out here @DSC reef When it started doing it or if it has always done this.

Im with you, it's a bit confusing.

 

[DubDr]

I'm sorry if I'm not making sense of what I'm trying to say. The Xenia is not a worry. the nem moved to that location and is killing it but I have a larger family of it on the other side of the tank. I have seen the anemone shrink or even ball up. This looks like flat purple lifeless ribbons laying over to the side and the foot shrunken and looks like it is partially detaching. Of course it's not doing it tonight as soon as I see it again I'll turn my light on and take pictures

 

[Amoo]

Just out of curiosity #Reefsquad have any of you guys heard of chemical warfare with a Xenia?

@DubDr I'm sorry man, I think we're on the same page now. If you can at least let me know what light you are using and what your lighting schedule is that would be a start. It's obviously sufficient as the Nem is growing and looks healthy MOST of the time. Outside of maybe getting a picture the next time it does it, I'm not really too sure how to help you man, sorry :(

Just keep us updated and try to pay very close attention to every thing that happens in your house around the tank or in and out of the tank the next time you see it happen. Maybe you can find a pattern of something you weren't noticing before.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Nems are WEIRD!

So don't worry much. Honestly. If it was going to die, it would curl up in a ball and die. Or under a rock.

 

[Amoo]

Nems are WEIRD!

So don't worry much. Honestly. If it was going to die, it would curl up in a ball and die. Or under a rock.

Not to be rude, but I'm not exactly sure how this kind of advice helps advance the knowledge of those looking for it?

Nems are very strange and they all have their own quirks and they all have their own way of telling us something is off. Learning those thing and understanding what they are can often times tell you more about your tank then a test kit can. If he's confident he knows what balling up and expelling waste looks like, and this looks different, then I think he did the right thing by coming and asking for help. I don't see how being told "Nems are weird don't worry about it" is honestly very helpful.

The question directed at the reef squad was about Xenia chemical warfare.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Not to be rude, but I'm not exactly sure how this kind of advice helps advance the knowledge of those looking for it?

Nems are very strange and they all have their own quirks and they all have their own way of telling us something is off. Learning those thing and understanding what they are can often times tell you more about your tank then a test kit can. If he's confident he knows what balling up and expelling waste looks like, and this looks different, then I think he did the right thing by coming and asking for help. I don't see how being told "Nems are weird don't worry about it" is honestly very helpful.

The question directed at the reef squad was about Xenia chemical warfare.

It's very simple and common sense behavioral advice delived in a humorous way. Many OP's find it claiming if if they are truly new to the situation. It's relatable And personal and implies that we've all been there without having having to say it directly. Like telling someone to realax. It's best to deflect and be personable then redefine the situation and the low need for concern.

I did not address the needs for testing as it had already been addressed and discussed. I noted this when I read the tread and.did not feel the need to elaborate further.

The answer to the direct question is fairly simple , but all coral have the potential for chemical warfare and to pollute a tank if it dies or is in long term poor health. It some of the reasons to run carbon. Many many folks keep Xenia and Neams and is likely not a problem unless the population is quite large.

IMO the nem is reacting to chemistry of the tank but nothing a normal husbandry won't fix. The odd but common behavior is probaly not a worry as the reaction by a truly sick specimine would be far more severe.

Do some water changes , look for dead stuff, double check that you have enough light or are running them long enough to have an adequate DLI. Also don't forget flow. It helps oxygenate the water.