Anemone question. What is it doing?

[user 26995]

I am guessing it is expelling zooxanthellae.
But not sure.
I thought it was dying for a while.
I got home yesterday and the tank was fine. It was like 10 minutes later I noticed the tank was getting cloudy and noticed a cloudy substance coming from the nem.
Here is a video. Click on the image.

 

[user 26995]

About an hour later The anemone was looking REALLY bad.
I thought it was dying.

 

[user 26995]

I added a carbon filter to the tank.
Did a partial water change.
The fish were not affected by it in any way.
This morning the nem is looking great again.
Pic was taken while lights were still out

 

[user 26995]

Well he's not looking real good again.

 

[user 26995]

I did water tests last night.
ammona 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 5-10 ppm
ph 8.0
temp 77
salinity 1.025

I've had this anemone for just over two years in this tank.
It was about 3" in diameter when I got it. The clowns were 5 month old when I introduced them about 1 year and 7 months ago. They have taken good care of it as it has grown to approx 10" in diameter. Nothing has changed in this tank since I added the bably clowns. Oh, I added the clam back in february.

 

[leena2674]

In your first photo, it appears to be spawning. There are several web videos out there, if you google a bit. Perhaps you could compare those to what yours was doing? Zooanthellae typically appears brownish when it is discharged, and your anemone appears to be expelling a whitish substance. My BTA has never spawned, so I can't help with what it should look like after, but I hope he turns out ok!

 

[mercenary-grunt]

They look like that when they poop.

Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk 2

 

[user 26995]

Okay, I guess I was worried about nothing. It has probably done this before without my knowing.

I just got home to find it is just fine.

 

[user 26995]

So it was either pooping or spawning. I didnt think they spawned. I thought they just split.

 

[user 26995]

In your first photo, it appears to be spawning. There are several web videos out there, if you google a bit. Perhaps you could compare those to what yours was doing? Zooanthellae typically appears brownish when it is discharged, and your anemone appears to be expelling a whitish substance. My BTA has never spawned, so I can't help with what it should look like after, but I hope he turns out ok!

Oh wow...I checked out a video on youtube of a RBTA spawning and that is exactly what it was doing.

Thanks

 

[mcoomer]

I'm thinking a spawning event as well. Even when the nem was contracted the colors were good, not bleached. I think you'll be fine.

Mike

 

[user 26995]

Thanks everyone.
It seems to be back to its normal self. Another spawning event that freaked me out!
I'll have to look into it a little more when I get a chance. Do they expel "eggs" first and then fertilize them? Or is it just spores like what aiptasia expels? Boy, glad that wasn't an aiptasia spawning event.

 

[Boomer]

leena is correct, it is spawning, male

 

[user 26995]

leena is correct, it is spawning, male

You say male! That means there is such a thing as a female and would need one to have little ones?

 

[Boomer]

Many anemones and corals are sexual.