What happened to my anenome?

newbie2022 · Oct 3, 2022

A newbie just at 1 year. 32 gallon tank, anenome was one of first inhabitants, 11 months ago. Two pics from yesterday. I noticed a detail by the foot - looks like a worm? This morning, nem is gone - no residue, no blob, nothing, ... like it climbed out of the tank. My question is, could a worm do this? That fast? Corals, shrimp, snails and fish all seem fine. Where did the nem go?

Rtaylor · Oct 4, 2022

That’s a bristleworm and no it wouldn’t harm your anemone. It probably just moved somewhere you can’t see. It appears to be desperate for more light by the way it’s stretching. You likely need to upgrade your lighting.

newbie2022 · Oct 4, 2022

Thank you for the observation on the light. Our tank is a 32 gallon biocube and the nem is no longer an occupant. We even picked up the rock and the nem is gone.

Cell · Oct 4, 2022

It's likely shrunk into a hole or crevass in your rockwork. A healthy looking nem like that does not just disappear overnight.

Bucs20fan · Oct 4, 2022

ITs probably under a rock in a gelatinous blob decaying. Does your water smell? Thats a bristle worm and poses no threat to a nem.

Cell · Oct 4, 2022

Bucs20fan said:
ITs probably under a rock in a gelatinous blob decaying. Does your water smell? Thats a bristle worm and poses no threat to a nem.

Why would you think it's decaying? No indication of that in the pic provided.

Bucs20fan · Oct 4, 2022

Cell said:
Why would you think it's decaying? No indication of that in the pic provided.

Because he says it is gone without a trace. A nem can hide and start to decay in hours. The pic is previous.

Rtaylor · Oct 4, 2022

newbie2022 said:
Thank you for the observation on the light. Our tank is a 32 gallon biocube and the nem is no longer an occupant. We even picked up the rock and the nem is gone.

They can shrink shockingly small. It’s in there somewhere. It’s possible it somehow got back into the back chambers if you haven’t checked there.