It has come to my attention that my anemone (bubble tip) has gotten a little lighter...when I first got it its tentacles were a light brown and the tips were neon...now the tentacles are the same color as the tips and it is completely light green and glows in the dark. I feed it twice/three times a week and leave my lights on 12 hours a day. I have 108 watts on my 29 gallon biocube. What can I do or is there anything even wrong?
Anemone color
- Thread starter joker577
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Jan
Well-known member
I don't think you have enough light to keep an anemone. You could try to take it back to the store before it dies....or upgrade your lights to halide or T-5's.
Well I've had it for over a month and at night it puffs out really large so I know it's growing...and if it wasn't happy it would move to a place higher up towards the light am I right?
It's not really this bright but the camera shows it as being. It's a little more green
It's not really this bright but the camera shows it as being. It's a little more green
Maxx
Staff Housemonkey
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It could be bleaching, but based on the two photo's its tough to tell. The second one definately makes it look bleached, but you're saying the white balance on the camera is causing that.
What kind of lighting was it under before you got it? Bleaching is caused by stress....usually when you see a bleached out anemone at the LFS, its caused by the anemone not being in the best environment, (shipping is rough on anemones). If it was used to less intense lighting where you got it from, your lighting could be causing that stress. I would cut down on your photo period...bring it down to 8 hours.
Bubble tip anemones can be kept under PC lights....
Dont attempt to move it, continue feeding, reduce the photo period. What are your water parameters? What are the inhabitants of the tank?
Nick
What kind of lighting was it under before you got it? Bleaching is caused by stress....usually when you see a bleached out anemone at the LFS, its caused by the anemone not being in the best environment, (shipping is rough on anemones). If it was used to less intense lighting where you got it from, your lighting could be causing that stress. I would cut down on your photo period...bring it down to 8 hours.
Bubble tip anemones can be kept under PC lights....
Dont attempt to move it, continue feeding, reduce the photo period. What are your water parameters? What are the inhabitants of the tank?
Nick
I picked up the anemone about a month ago right when it came in the store, still in the bag. It has only moved one inch...across that crevice you see it in in that big rock....the tips of the anemone in the 2nd picture is what it looks like all over, but the actual body of the anemone is whitish so that's why it looks like that in the picture. The foot is dark brown. I feed it a medium size piece of shrimp twice a week. My tank inhabitants are 2 clownfish, 1 pearly jawfish, 10 hermit crabs, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 peppermint shrimp, 1 decorator crab, 1 anemone crab, 3 turbo snails.
Water params:
SG: 1.025-1.026
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-20(working on lowering)
Calc 400
Kh 11-12 (twelve last time I had it checked a couple days ago but i've been dosing a little less alk)
Water params:
SG: 1.025-1.026
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10-20(working on lowering)
Calc 400
Kh 11-12 (twelve last time I had it checked a couple days ago but i've been dosing a little less alk)
Maxx
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Okay,
then its definately bleaching. More light is not the answer here....
Do water changes to reduce nitrates, keep feeding regularly, (its ability to survive from light is compromised due to bleaching...which is the expulsion of its Zooxanthellae. When the anemone is in a weakened state, a sudden increase in light intensity can cause problems....it may expell its Zoox in order to survive, but it then needs to be fed regularly to survive and regrow its Zoox...),
and reduce your photo period to 8 hours.
How long has the tank been running?
Nick
then its definately bleaching. More light is not the answer here....
Do water changes to reduce nitrates, keep feeding regularly, (its ability to survive from light is compromised due to bleaching...which is the expulsion of its Zooxanthellae. When the anemone is in a weakened state, a sudden increase in light intensity can cause problems....it may expell its Zoox in order to survive, but it then needs to be fed regularly to survive and regrow its Zoox...),
and reduce your photo period to 8 hours.
How long has the tank been running?
Nick
Maxx
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You're tank isnt nearly stable enough or mature enough to handle an anemone. I would strongly reccomend returning the anemone to the LFS where you bought it from, or find someone locally who might be willing to hold the anemone and nurse it back to health while your system matures...in about 6-9 months.
If your system was mature, and stable, you might have a chance at bringing it back from its weakened state, but with such a new system, you have very little hope.
I'm sorry to tell you this, but its better for the anemone if you return it or find another more mature system to house it in temporarily.
Many people dont realize how difficult it really is to keep anemone's...IMO/IME they are more difficult than SPS corals to keep long term.
http://www.athiel.com/lib/questions/anemone.htm
That is to a rather sobering study regarding anemone success rates...
Nick
If your system was mature, and stable, you might have a chance at bringing it back from its weakened state, but with such a new system, you have very little hope.
I'm sorry to tell you this, but its better for the anemone if you return it or find another more mature system to house it in temporarily.
Many people dont realize how difficult it really is to keep anemone's...IMO/IME they are more difficult than SPS corals to keep long term.
http://www.athiel.com/lib/questions/anemone.htm
That is to a rather sobering study regarding anemone success rates...
Nick
burning2nd
Well-known member
2 months isnt enough 2 tell if its gonna be ok or not yet...
is it sticky?
when you feed it what are you feeding?
Little peaces or large chunks?
does it take the food right to the mouth quickly?
is it sticky?
when you feed it what are you feeding?
Little peaces or large chunks?
does it take the food right to the mouth quickly?
james734
Well-known member
Joker,
After reading your other posts etc. you need to slow down. You're moving way to fast. I agree with Maxx, your 2 month old tank is not mature enough for a anemone and are just going to hurt animals. Take some of the free advise up here and take your time. The animals you should not be putting into you tank will thank you.
After reading your other posts etc. you need to slow down. You're moving way to fast. I agree with Maxx, your 2 month old tank is not mature enough for a anemone and are just going to hurt animals. Take some of the free advise up here and take your time. The animals you should not be putting into you tank will thank you.
Last edited:
james734
Well-known member
nope.... need to do some research..
Maxx
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All anemones should be "sticky". The "sticky" is there cnidoblasts firing off to trap prey. An anemone that is not sticky and does not have a good feeding response, (folds up quickly to envelope food) is not healthy.
Click on my signature for the RF Resource Library. Look under invertebrates, and find info on anemones...I know there is plenty of information there....
Nick
burning2nd
Well-known member
if it holds the food and eats it then its not that bad.....
altho you do need more lighing Or a smaller tank.
you will need to feed it to maintain life.
bleached after a over dose of mag
after about a months time
altho you do need more lighing Or a smaller tank.
you will need to feed it to maintain life.
bleached after a over dose of mag
after about a months time
Sherman
Has Met Willis
I just wanted to add one more vote, as friendly as possible, to "your tank isn't mature enough yet." Anemones need a stable environment, and a timeline of one year is commonly thrown out as the minimum age of an aquarium before introducing an anemone.
And yes, it's definitely bleaching, just to second that advice. I'd really encourage you to find a new home for the anemone, and reconsider another one in a few months, as mentioned.
And yes, it's definitely bleaching, just to second that advice. I'd really encourage you to find a new home for the anemone, and reconsider another one in a few months, as mentioned.
