Carpet anenome rejecting food... problem?

[Anonymous]

My carpet is having eating problems (?).. last night I tried to feed him a small piece of prawn, had to fight the other inhabitants off for 20 mins while he slowly opened his mouth. Took the prawn in completely (no visible trace, moutn completely closed) and I thought that I was done..... 10 mins later he had 'spat' the piece out again... is this a problem? He was lat fed on Sun morning- small piece of rock lobster that (I think) he digested. The food size is not an issue, the smaller sand anenome has eaten the same size piece of the same food with ease. (Water is 100% on parameters and livestock is thriving) The carpet went thru a bad patch on the weekend where I thought he was going to die, looked all shriveled up- changed the flow a bit to give him a bit more and that seems to have fixed that but I am not sure that its so simplistic.... The only livestock I am battling with at the moment is a leather coral that refuses to open after 2 weeks- not holding out hope there....

 

[Anonymous]

Very possibly a problem. Most carpet anemone species are extremely difficult to keep alive long term in our tanks. The water quality must be excellent, parametes spot on, flow perfect, lighting excellent and you also must have good luck on your side. Try feeding small pieces of fish flesh instead as that seems to be the preferred foods for them.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice David!
Just rushed home at lunchtime as I wont be there tonight and the carpet looks better than I have ever seen him, he has moved into some more flow and climbed up the LR structure a bit, now fully extended and looking fantastic. It worries me a lot that he has such big swings in general appearance. I am also battling to get my clowns to host on him- if you have any advice about that :? . I have gone as far as to get a pair of wild caught ones as my existing occis are captive bred and have never seen an anenome. Will change the diet as suggested and keep an eye on him. Parameters remain very stable at undetectable levels for Ammonia, Nitrate, nitrite, general water quality is excelllent. I suppose it is a waiting game although I feel a bit helpless ....

 

[SAreefer]

andy i sent you a pm