Begginers question on Anemone.

[shcuck]

Hi All,
I am new to this whole reef aquarium thing, so I have a question about my Pink Tip Anemone. I just got it a couple days ago, and it has been fine, until today that I noticed that it started to shrink up to the point of becoming a big ball, like an egg (see picture). Is this normal? If so, what is it doing?

Any insight on this would be great.

Thanks.

 

[Mihai]

Shuck,

WELCOME!

What are your system's parameters? How big of a tank? What lights?
Any corals in the tank? Anemones tend to need very clean water and lots of light. Most also like to eat stuff (chopped up shrimp).

M.

 

[shcuck]

Thanks Mihai.

I have a 55G tank. It has been setup for almost 2 months now and this is the first anemone addition. Currently I have 2 Clowns, 3 red leg hermits, 1 permint shrimp, 3 mexican turbo snails and 1 starfish. The water specs are: Ph 8.4, nitrate 15ppm, nitrite 0, amonia 0, SG 1.022 and temp 82F.

Tank specs as follows: Lights (not sure the name or watts) the LPS guy said they were a combo Day light and neon (dont know what that means)). I have 2 18" bulbs. also have protein skimmer, 3 power heads, Canister Filter.

 

[Anonymous]

It looks like a H.malu or H.crispa. They need strong lighting. Even if your 18" lights are VHOs you do not have enough light.

From the pic I can see she is expelling excess zoo. It may be normal. However, sometimes it is a sign of problems.

 

[Anonymous]

shcuck


Hi! I'm also new, but I can say this. I've not got much other than my Pink tip in my tank, and She's all I can take right now!!

My Anenome changes shape, color, and shrivels alot! I had the same type of scare a couple of weeks ago, as it was, I guess 'releiving' it's self. I'm sure some more experienced reefers will be along soon to help!

Anne

 

[Anonymous]

It is not a species of Heteractis as they bury their foot in the substrate. Impossible to tell from that picture but from the coloration of the base my guess would be a wandering unhappy E. Quadricolor, and it is purging itself.

 

[Mihai]

shcuck, you're probably not having enough lights to keep it alive.
Similarly probably not enough for any SPS and LPS corals. You can keep several types for softies though.

Now for the anemone - you either upgrade really fast (and that costs a lot), or you return it to the LFS (that should have given you better advice - start looking for another one) or give it to a nearby fellow reefer until you can upgrade your lights. Otherwise it will die.

Mihai

 

[Anonymous]

It is not a species of Heteractis as they bury their foot in the substrate. Impossible to tell from that picture but from the coloration of the base my guess would be a wandering unhappy E. Quadricolor, and it is purging itself.

I've had H.malu on a rock in the past. They do not require substate for their foot.


It is not a BTA.

 

[Anonymous]

The only reason I do not think it is not heteractis is that there are no bumps on the bottom of the oral disc. It could be a condy. However I cannot tell without better/more pics.

 

[Anonymous]

It is not a species of Heteractis as they bury their foot in the substrate. Impossible to tell from that picture but from the coloration of the base my guess would be a wandering unhappy E. Quadricolor, and it is purging itself.

I've had H.malu on a rock in the past. They do not require substate for their foot.


It is not a BTA.

You must have xray vision, from that picture there's no way to make an ID other than what's visible of the base and without being able to see any signs of verrucae or tentacles I would have to agree with Carl, it's not a species of Heteractis.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

It is not a species of Heteractis as they bury their foot in the substrate. Impossible to tell from that picture but from the coloration of the base my guess would be a wandering unhappy E. Quadricolor, and it is purging itself.

I've had H.malu on a rock in the past. They do not require substate for their foot.


It is not a BTA.

You must have xray vision, from that picture there's no way to make an ID other than what's visible of the base and without being able to see any signs of verrucae or tentacles I would have to agree with Carl, it's not a species of Heteractis.

Regards,
David Mohr

I know Dave that's why I posted the post before yours.


How old are you now? :lol:

 

[shcuck]

Here is another pic from this morning. Also I got more info about my lights. They are 15 W HAGEN Power GLO 18,000 K Bulbs.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh..She's so beautiful! She's just like mine!

Anne

 

[Anonymous]

It's a condy. They seem to rely on feeding more than light. Still, they need much more light than 15watts.