I think my anemone is dying.

[blufyre3]

I got it last week. It's white with purple tips. I have others, all different and another bubble tip. No matter where I place it it isn''t happy. It dives off of rocks and if I set it in the sand it rolls over. (even when there is no current) Now it's closed up and looks like it's starving. I fed it shrimp yesterday and it was fine. I also gave it plankton. Help?

[druce]

what's your lighting, chemistry, etc...

[blufyre3]

Amonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 20, ph 8.38, phosphate 0, calcuim 440 & ORP is 287

Lighting: 5 Current Outer Orbit
2' each w/a center halide and dual Actinic sunpaqs with lunar lights

330 gallon reef everyone else is fine

[druce]

well you seem fine in that arena ;)

how'd he look at the LFS

[blufyre3]

he was open and on the sand. no other fish in tank

[druce]

hrmm, hopefully he'll settle down soon... I'm trying to think of anything else that could be bugging him

[blufyre3]

Thank you for trying to help. I have to go to my sons football game and should be home in about 3 hours. I don't know if it'll live that long.

[blufyre3]

Should I try fresh water? I have a small acclimation tank.

[druce]

dunno if the FW dip would be a good idea, may stress him out more

[dzovi]

I've never heard of giving an anemone a fresh water dip and wouldn't prescribe it. Since the anemone is floating around make sure you cover up your powerheads or anything that could suck the guy in. If the anemone ate I wouldn't think it is in too bad of a condition. I'd just wait for the guy to find a place to settle down. It may take some time.

[blufyre3]

sorry, I didn' mean fresh water, I meant freash salt water

[dzovi]

From you post above, your water conditions seem to be fine. I'd keep the anemone in the tank unless its condition looks desperate. You won't want the anemone to spoil in the tank. A photo is the most effective way to diagnosis if the anemone is healthy and to get other’s advice. Could you post a photo?

[blufyre3]

I can post a photo around 10 pm, 6:45 now. I have to go to FB game. thank you all for offering help.

[dzovi]

No problem. When you get back post a photo. Enjoy the game in the mean while :).

[t5Nitro]

nitrate 20? I am pretty sure that level of nitrate is about max right? My nitrate is 0, I don't know if that is causing it? Try that water change to see if the nitrate goes down and check out if he does better, I don't have an anemone yet so I wouldn't know but I do plan on getting one in about a month or two, good luck!

[Travis L. Stevens]

The nitrates are a little high, but that can be dealt with. What is your alkalinity? Also, what type is it? Is it a bleached Sebae Anemone or a Condylactis?


Bleached Sebae Anemone
http://www.4coral.com/images/Inverts/Anemone%20Sebae%20Purple%20Tip%2001.18.04.jpg

Healthy Sebae Anemone
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/reefs/guam/guamimg/cnidaria/Images/15.jpg

Condylactis Anemone
http://www.akvaryum.us/reefresim/Condylactis_sp.jpg

[mrongi1]

Yeah make sure your powerheads are covered. And make sure you keep feeding.

[bman2221]

He just may not be able to find a place to settle yet. Like everyone else said just give it a few days and make sure your power heads are covered. Once he settles in a spot things should start looking up.

[blufyre3]

It's a Bleached Sebae. I don't have an alkalinity test but, I had my water tested for that and phosphates 2 weeks ago and they were fine. I have all other tests and ran this morning. He's just not happy. He won't eat anything and his mouth is gaping open. I'm going to give more plankton. I'm having camera issues so I'm still trying to get a pic uploaded.
Description: tentacles drawn in and it's laying on it's side. a couple of tentacles have a little movement.

[blufyre3]

I loaded the pics into my gallery. This morning the Sebae looks like an oyster on the half shell. Not good at all.

[gigiba]

is the mouth wide opened? from the picure, I can't tell.

[katpurdy]

is it still sticky? How much light was it under at the store? it might need to be light acclimated. make a circle out of rocks for it to sit in...place it there and see what happens.

[z_rivers]

from the pictures in your gallery i would just toss it out now. any anemone ive ever seen like dies shorty after. IME if an anemone does not attach to something within 12 hours its most likely a gonner.

[jimsha]

Definately dont get rid of it....I had a similar problem with my BTA. It does take time for them to settle in a place they feel comfortable. Actually mine looked worse than yours does . Once they find a place they like and feel "safe" he will open back up.

[druce]

how's he looking today? any better?

[z_rivers]

Definately dont get rid of it....I had a similar problem with my BTA. It does take time for them to settle in a place they feel comfortable. Actually mine looked worse than yours does . Once they find a place they like and feel "safe" he will open back up.

even if the anemone is not happy where its at, its foot should still be attached and it should not look like it does in the picture. anemones that are not healthy when introduced into the aquaria have a dismal rate of survival.

[blufyre3]

I lost him. He completly inverted and wasn't moving at all. Thank you all for the concern and advice. The funeral was at the beach today. I'll try again soon. Thanks again, Meg

[hodsgod]

I bought a bleached sebae anemone (Ithought it was a beautiful colour) how new was I.

Today after 9 months it is a beautiful brown colour. You need to take time. I am not an expert but if it is feeding all is not lost. Make sure you have the correct lighting, mine is 24" below a 150W 10k metal halide. I fed it every few days with squid,shrimp,mussle and octopus.

Good luck, and give it some time.