calling all anemone experts!!

[Lynn]

I bought a long tentacled on Friday. He looked healthy and dug in and buried his foot through the 6" DSB. I offered him a small piece of silverside on Sat. and a krill today...both which he didn't even try to take, he just let it kinda float away??? His mouth is also open?? here's a picture of his mouth, is this normal? should I be worrying?
thanks

 

[Entacmaea]

Keep trying to feed him, everyday.

The open mouth could be a few things: usually it is the anemone ejecting waste material after a meal- shell, and other indigestable material. However, I have not seen this happen for more than a day at a time- and it is usually accompanied by the anemone contracting the rest of its body, shrinking itseld dramatically, which, by your picutre, it does not seem to be doing.

I also see you have a resident porcelin crab, looks like. I would see if you can seperate the two until the anemone is eating regularly. Your anemone might just be acclimating...

A good indicator of health is the general "stickyness" of the tentacles. A healthy anemone will have enough energy to produce nematocysts and fire them (stickyness) whereas a stressed or nutrient deficient animal will not spend the energy making them (very energy costly to make and use nematocysts)

if you haven't already, please get and read Dr. Shimek's "Host Sea Anemone Secrets"...

Keep trying to feed him though, even helping by gently holding the food on or near the mouth for 5-10 minutes.

HTH, Peter

 

[kevinpo]

Your anemone doesn't look bleached (a very good sign). Also burying it's foot is very good. From your picture it looks quite healthy. I think it's just settling to it's new home. My H. crispa will be 7 next month (I will have owned it 7 years ). If the tentacles are sticky to your touch it is fine and is just not hungry or is adjusting to its new home. Under good lighting anemones can go months without feeding. Personally I feed mine only every 2 weeks so it will not get too large. Once or twice a week is OK if you have the space. They prefer small pieces about the size of an eraser on a pencil. Raw shrimp is cheap and easy to get (you can also fry some up for yourself too ). Very large anemones will eat larger/more pieces of course. Macrodactyla doreensis (LTA anemone) will get to 20" in diameter.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[Lynn]

Thanks guys! I have read Dr. Ron's article's, but not the book. Well this morning it is uprooting itself and it's probably going to find a new spot. I'm still uncertain how much water motion he likes??

 

[Entacmaea]

Lynn, when you read Shimek's book you will notice that he stresses regular feeding, a lot of feeding, several times a week. While I know people have varied results, I would caution you on taking the above advice that anemones can go months without feeding, this is clearly not what happens in nature, nor what we should replicate in our tanks. Good lighting only goes so far...

 

[kevinpo]

Sorry if I was that unclear. I did not intend that you should feed your anemone once a month. A couple of times a week is good. I just didn't want you to think that because it did not eat it would starve to death in a couple of days or even a week.

Regards,
kevin

 

[Lynn]

LOL! Oh, I realized that! I have done lots and lots of reading on them. It seems that alot of the experts don't want us to overfeed them. Everyone seems to agree on once or twice a week.
I don't know whats happening now, he is trying to move a inch or so closer to a rock background. He is all shriveled up?? but the underside of it is kinda climbing up the rock. He is really something, God! I hope he makes it.