Ripped anemone

dcaribewolf · 01-30-2008, 09:02 PM

Placed my anemone in a nanocube. He was doing so well, eating well and all until he got stuck in the filtration system. Wanting to move him, I pulled on him to get him out only to find out I had ripped him in half leaving his guts spewing all over the place with half of his body in the filtration system and the other half in my hand. I felt so sad.

I placed him in another tank, closed off filtration holes in that tank and hoped against all odds that he would survive. Water parameters are within normal limits. Should I feed him how? He no longer has a mouth. Can I place phytoplankton in water, maybe he can absorb this? what frequency? Here are some pics of the tragedy which I myself accept total responsibility for. I would appreciate any feedback which you can provide.

**Amphibious** · 01-31-2008, 05:37 AM

This is one of the problems and a too common event with anemones and power heads/filter intakes. It's likely he's done for, although not a sure ending. Your best bet is to leave him alone, let him recover (or not) on his own. He's not interested in food at this point.

Good luck and , by the way, pay close attention to water parameters during this time.

Dick

veriann · 01-31-2008, 06:54 AM

hey welcome to TR anems have been around for a very long time as a species, not having a functional mouth part will hinder for awhile, but you'll be surprised at how resilient some can be. Lighting will be the only source of food if its ripped in the wrong spot. Just keep in mind anems split themselves, so have alittle faith in the animal i guess. & you could at least buy a get well card considering your jack the ripper..lol

dcaribewolf · 01-31-2008, 09:05 AM

Massacred anemone the day after. Will not feed. It has not moved however.

**Amphibious** · 01-31-2008, 09:17 AM

Looks like he will recover. I'd also say he needs lots more light. He is a bulb tip and the only time I've seen them this light in color is when they have lost their Zooanthillae. Anemones don't need to be feed every day. Let this one rest for a week before attempting to feed.

Dick

**CarmieJo** · 02-01-2008, 07:53 AM

Hello Wolf and

to TR. The anemone being inflated is indeed a good sign. I would try to make sure he has plenty of light by moving or adding a light, not by moving the anemone, he is already stressed enough. Please tell us a little about you tank and lighting and we will be happy to make recommendations.

dcaribewolf · 02-06-2008, 12:17 AM

I dida water change, only like 1.5 gallons and the anemone was dead the following day. I guess the stress was just too much. I got another bubble tip now, but this one decided to go into a splitting phase. I am not feeding him until its over. or should I? let me know. He has not split yet completely, however it is like ripped down the side and it has like two feet now.

veriann · 02-06-2008, 06:57 AM

yep i did tell you only my corals like the beer treatment did i? lol

sorry to hear that bud, im shocked cause i thought the animal might make it with alittle TLC, however 2 things you didn't elaborate on, - what was the state of the tank you moved him to, & how long he had been without bacteria within the body?

Now you've purchased a clone thats split straight away, what are the chances of that happening in the same week? lol

First question, what colour is he when you bought it?

second & equally important as question one, what are you tank parameters & normal maintenance schedules.

Thirdly, have you bought another species of coral over this period, im thinking possible chemical warfare onsets.

dcaribewolf · 02-06-2008, 02:24 PM

The anemone was all closed up from one day to another. He was doing so well. I installed a uv light to cut down on algal growth. The anemone's trunk is not blanched but now he is all closed up and has everted (is inside out). Tank parameters are no2 0 no3 0 nh3 0, spec grav 1.022. I do water changes like once a week and more frequently if nitrates get wacked out, but that has not happened. The only change that has happened in that tank is that the uv has been put in. I have not been feeding him since he was splitting, now he is just closed up and shriveled up. I dont know what to do.

dcaribewolf · 02-06-2008, 02:32 PM

Well I took the anemone out of the nano cube and dropped it into the big 55 gallon tank that has been going for about 5 months. All parameters are essentially the same. both have uv sterilizers for cutting down on algal growth. the 55 gallon is presently being weaned off of AzNO3 and NO3 is between 0 and 5 on any given day. I just checked on the anemone and he has opened up although he is in the corner and does not appear as stressed. Will leave him there and see what he does. I do have a question however. Lets say the parameters (NH3, NO2, NO3, Calcium, Iodine, etc.) are all the same and the only difference is that one tank is about 4 months old and the other about 1 month old, why would time make a difference?

**CarmieJo** · 02-08-2008, 09:07 PM

Here is a podcast on Tank Maturity - Podcast Episode 12.

There are lots of things that we can't or don't test for. Chemicals and micro-organisms immediately come to mind. It is one of the reasons why the rule of thumb is to only add anemones to mature tanks.

veriann · 02-09-2008, 04:11 AM

bring your S/G up to .025 - .028 for a start. Id only keep my S/G that low in a fish only tank.

Do you use NSW or dry mix to do water changes.

I applaud you for the weekly water changes. Your sure to run into less problems with strict schedule's like that!

Did i ask if you put anything new in the tank, chemical warfare in some cases be a common occurance untill its discovered. Your animals will act weird or is some case die off completely, which is why i ask.