This Anemone has been dying since I bought it

[AstroworldFish]

So guys I bought this anemone about 3 weeks ago and it wouldn’t get out of the dark for at least the first 10 days. Since then it has just looked terrible. Everything else in the tank is doing great l. What should I do? Thanks

 

[SeaJay]

I just got my first nem and all I’ve learned is that when it comes to Nems it’s hard to tell the difference between weird weird and normal weird.

 

[Ron Reefman]

What exactly makes you think it's dying? Or even doing badly? How did it look different when you bought it?

It looks a little beat up, but most anemones are slow to settle in and acclimate to being moved. I'd give it more time. At least it's staying attached and in one place, right? If that's the case, that's a good thing.

I brought an exotic RBTA home from RAP in Orlando 10 days ago. I put it in a pvc end cap and placed it in the sand under a good led. It was fine for 5 or 6 days, then it disappeared! Where could it go in a 16g tank? It took me 2 days before I found it in a big clump of purplr/red macro algae I brought home from the beach about 5 months ago. It was between the algae and the back glass! So for the last 2 days I've just left it there.

 

[AstroworldFish]

What exactly makes you think it's dying? Or even doing badly? How did it look different when you bought it?

It looks a little beat up, but most anemones are slow to settle in and acclimate to being moved. I'd give it more time. At least it's staying attached and in one place, right? If that's the case, that's a good thing.

I brought an exotic RBTA home from RAP in Orlando 10 days ago. I put it in a pvc end cap and placed it in the sand under a good led. It was fine for 5 or 6 days, then it disappeared! Where could it go in a 16g tank? It took me 2 days before I found it in a big clump of purplr/red macro algae I brought home from the beach about 5 months ago. It was between the algae and the back glass! So for the last 2 days I've just left it there.

It definitely did look at least more green with longer tentacles. Also it’s partially attached I just have always had great results with the anemone so it just had me worried with how it looks. I’ll post a picture of it closer up. Thanks for the insight

 

[AstroworldFish]

 

[Ron Reefman]

If it's willing and able to stay attached upside down, for now (and the next week or two) I'd leave it alone.

If it lets go, I'd collect it and put it in a smaller tank/container or even just a big beer mug. Then at least 2 or 3 times a day do a 100% water change with water from the tank. If the nem still looks as OK as it does now the old water could go back in the tank. Or just pitch it and add some new to the tank, just don't use new water in the container with the nem. You want it to gett even better acclimated to the tank water.

That's just my 2 cents worth. Oh, BTW, I've kept anemones in a peanut butter jar for 8 weeks before I put it in the tank. They were rescues washed up on the beach while we were having serious red tide issues. The nems did fine and have been in my 40g cube for about 7 months now.

 

[AstroworldFish]

If it's willing and able to stay attached upside down, for now (and the next week or two) I'd leave it alone.

If it lets go, I'd collect it and put it in a smaller tank/container or even just a big beer mug. Then at least 2 or 3 times a day do a 100% water change with water from the tank. If the nem still looks as OK as it does now the old water could go back in the tank. Or just pitch it and add some new to the tank, just don't use new water in the container with the nem. You want it to gett even better acclimated to the tank water.

That's just my 2 cents worth. Oh, BTW, I've kept anemones in a peanut butter jar for 8 weeks before I put it in the tank. They were rescues washed up on the beach while we were having serious red tide issues. The nems did fine and have been in my 40g cube for about 7 months now.

Thank you for all your advice! I’ll keep everyone posted. Keep Reefin