Why does my nem look like this?

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

However I did buy the tank used... maybe some leftovers?

 

[reef lover]

Is the silicone dyed blue at all? Tell tale sign it had copper in it at some point.

 

[davocean]

I do not know but I do think it does as sometimes it has a chlorine-y smell to it. Tds always reads 0 though. I buy fish from an LFS that uses low dose copper. But don’t think that would be an issue considering lots do that. Hmm... I could rest for cu though. Definitely never dosed cu in the tank.

You should be able to find out from the city what is in your water,whether chlorine or chloramines, it's good to know.
You can also test a tank for copper, it may not always show in silicone, especially if black.

Never let any LFS water into your tank.
A QT helps avoid that, or even FW dips if you bypass qt.

Those are possible issues that could hinder keeping certain animals including anemones.

FWIW I've been doing this and keeping anemones 34 years now, and I have lost animals along the way, it';s a bummer but it happens, don't let it stop you from trying.

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

You should be able to find out from the city what is in your water,whether chlorine or chloramines, it's good to know.
You can also test a tank for copper, it may not always show in silicone, especially if black.

Never let any LFS water into your tank.
A QT helps avoid that, or even FW dips if you bypass qt.

Those are possible issues that could hinder keeping certain animals including anemones.

FWIW I've been doing this and keeping anemones 34 years now, and I have lost animals along the way, it';s a bummer but it happens, don't let it stop you from trying.

Thank you. I don’t QT (it’s just not an option but I’m trying to build out a rack that will let me squeeze in a QT). I just do a standard acclimation in a bucket and scoop the fish out with a porous net to let as little of their water in as possible.

I’m going to order a copper test.

Would my SPS show dislike for the copper too though? Everything except the montis are nicely colored. Though they are young. Goniopora (which so many say is sensitive) is absolutely thriving.

I moved the gBTA with the same symptoms to a makeshift hospital tank with good lighting and kept it for about a month and noticed no improvement. This was with an entirely new batch of water and a new tank so likely no copper.

Well, anyways, it’s another variable to test for. I do appreciate the encouragement; I’m sure with everyone’s help I’ll be able to have a thriving anemone :)

 

[PDR]

When was the icp test ordered? It showed no copper so if it was done recently I wouldn’t think that would be an issue.

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

When was the icp test ordered? It showed no copper so if it was done recently I wouldn’t think that would be an issue.

LOL, literally last week. OMG I already forgot hahaha thank you

 

[drtrash]

Not the only one, on a regiment of cipro ssuming its a bacterial infection

 

[PDR]

Any update?

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

From me? Not much. My nitrates are consistently testing around 1 though which is great. I noticed my montis are coloring up and growing even faster now. Nem has no tentacles but is actually looking good? Like fully inflated and facing light... but no tentacles.

 

[PDR]

From me? Not much. My nitrates are consistently testing around 1 though which is great. I noticed my montis are coloring up and growing even faster now. Nem has no tentacles but is actually looking good? Like fully inflated and facing light... but no tentacles.

Sounds slightly better, hopefully if you keep nursing him along, he'll bounce back.

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

Well I’m glad I didn’t give up on it. Over the past 10 days it has shown a dramatic improvement including a strong feeding response. I have a couple of theories:

1) beating back GHA (constant battle rn) allowing more stuff in the water
2) changing foods
3) more consistent husbandry/water changes

I’m leaning heavily towards 2 as my nitrates and phosphates are still around 0.05; barely registering (though I have noticed an improvement in color with my montis which is telling).

My fish are going absolutely nuts over food now (even just basic frozen mysis). They would go nuts over the LFS food too but this is on another level. I see them begging at the tank now where before it was just a reaction.

Seems like some strong clues pointing towards food here! It’s still brown/faded; I’m not out of the woods yet but I’m hoping everything keeps improving.

 

[PDR]

Awesome! Glad to see it is starting to recover!

I would also recommend getting some reef frenzy and fish frenzy to add to the mix. My fish love that stuff.

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

Sorry to necro this thread, but I wanted to update. The nem is looking very healthy now, all tentacles back. Though appears smaller (probably because it’s not reaching for light now).

I stepped up feeding to 1-2x a week krill and stopped feeding the food blend from my LFS and instead started using hikari products.

My nitrate and phosphates are still near 0, before and through a GHA outbreak, and didn’t seem to affect the nem in any way.

Carbon on or off made no difference, same with skimmer.

I did move him to his own tank with an a160 over it. Same intensity as my a360s but shallower tank. So not sure if more or less light. However the improvements did start to come beforehand moving him.

By process of elimination I’m convinced it was the food from my LFS bothering it. I posted back to update anyone else reading this having this issue. Try switching food! Not just nem food but whatever it is you’re putting in your tank!

(Please excuse the wrasse, he was in timeout. He has been sold but normally lived in the big tank).

 

[reef lover]

Awesome!