Trouble with Carpet Anemone

[hurrifan]

I bought a carpet on Saturday and he looked great in the store...he mouth was a little open when I bought him, but I was told the he was just regurgitating and would eventually tighten up. Needless to say he has not. The are 2 clowns living in him and they are happy, but he has not attached, will not eat, and is still very open around the middle. What can I / should I do? Salinity is 1.023, all other levels are normal, I acclimated slowly...Help, should I be worried or do I give it more time?

 

[bensenvill]

I have a rather large carpet anemone. If I ever have to move him or disrupt him, it'll take a long time before he recovers. They are very slow to respond. I wouldn't worry too much about him yet.

~Terrence

 

[odenwell]

Your salinity may be a bit low. What kind of carpet is it? If it has tenticals that are 1/4" or longer and they sometimes twitch alot, then you probably have a gigantea. These anemones typically like to live on the rocks. These are notoriously difficult to keep. If the tenticals are shorter and don't seem to twitch, then you probably have a hadonni carpet. These anemones like to live in the sand up next to a rock. These are easier to keep. Either type requires a lot of light. Metal halide may be necessary for some. These anemones ofter take a week or so to acclimate. Do not try to feed it until it is attached or you will just stress it more.

 

[hurrifan]

I believe it is a Hadonni. As of this evening he has started to really spit up stuff and the clown fish are either trying to eat it, or clean it off him. I am now more concerned then ever. I will leave him alone for the time being, but he may be going back to the store by the weekend. He still has not attached, and I will not try to feed again until he is, if he is...

 

[hurrifan]

His mouth is even more open this morning than ever. He is laying rather flat on the sand, and is no longer moving like he did. Someone suggested raising th PH, it is currently 8.2. He is still not eating and I am afraid I am going to lose him. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[jimmy n]

In order to encourage my carpet to attach, I surrounded it with small rocks in the place I wanted it. It was directly under a bulb in a little cove that I created for it. It buried its base right away and hasn't moved since.

Jim

 

[jimmy n]

Note the rock wedged around it

I moved a few after it attached.

Jim

 

[hurrifan]

Jimmy, you carpet looks a MILLION times better than mine, in fact, mine is now dead...

I must have gotten a bad one, because everything in my tank is in line. I am so upset!

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry about your loss. I am in agreement that your salinity/SG was too low. A 1.024-1.026 is best for any host anemone. However,many anemones will "acclimate" to somewhat different conditions. Hopefully you are right that your anemone was doomed from the start. Raise your SG and try again. This time try your ability at a BTA or LTA. They are easier and also readily available.

GL

Dan

 

[hurrifan]

Anemone, I took the remains back to the store and got another one in much better shape. He is full and very similar to the one in the. My only problem is that he does not seem to want to attach. Any ideas on how to expidite this process?

 

[SPC]

Hurrifan, what type of light are you using?
Steve

 

[esmithiii]

I would also concur that your salinity is too low. Natural sea water is close to 1.026, much higher than what you have. Many people suggest a lower salinity to lessen the outbreaks of ich. I feel that this is probably a myth as you need much, much lower salinity to treat ich.

I would not assume too quickly that you simply got a bad anemone and that everything else in in order in your tank. What kind of lighting do you have? How much liverock? How old is the tank? How deep is your sand bed? Remember that anemones are notoriously hard to keep.

Ernie

 

[hurrifan]

Lighting is 400W MH, tank is about six months old and I have about 200lbs of live rock and 4-5" DSB. The new anemone os doing awesome. Thanks.