It's a long road back to health!

[candlebizlover]

Back in July I got a Sebae (?) anemone. It spent the first 6 weeks in my 10gc nano, and then was moved into my 30 gallon. Initially I got 2 small perc's for it (from same tank at LFS). After 4 days, came home from work to find one dead with a ripped off fin. The next morning the 2nd one was on my floor :( Neither, ever went near the SA. I waited a couple of weeks and got a Tomato clown. The clown hosted the anemone as soon as it was released in my tank. In the first few days I could see a huge difference in the anemone, more aniimated, lively, etc. Over the last 6 weeks it has been slowly changing color. The picture does not do it justice, but if you look closely it's turning a tan color with solid white tips. I can't hardly wait to see what it will look like when it is completely healthy! The tomato clown feeds it, and was throwing out everything I direct fed to the SA. Good little housekeeper, grrrr! Now, I shoo the clown away to feed the anemone, give the SA a small piece of shrimp or scallop close to the mouth and one piece on the tentacles for the clown to take care of. It's fun to watch because the clown will pull out the meat, the tang steals it from the clown, the clown steals it back and stuffs it in the anemone. When the tang swims away the clown pulls the meat back out, only to go through the process again until that piece of meat is all gone!

July picture:
http://www.candlescentgourmet.com/ane1a.jpg

Now:
http://www.candlescentgourmet.com/ane4.JPG

For the tang police: The Blue Hippo will be moved to the 100 gallon tank at my favorite coffee shop when it gets too big. Right now, it's fat, happy & thriving. Yeah, it will be sad when I have to move it, but know it's the right thing to do!

[raoul]

I'm glad it's recovering for you! It's always a good feeling to know you must be doing something right!

Just curious, do you know the scientific name of your nem?
Sebae is a general term and it's applied to a couple different kinds of nems.

Keep up the good work and good luck!

[traveller7]

Anemone appears to be E. quadricolor, aka Bubble Tipped Anemone.

Keep up the good work.

[OrionN]

That look like a BTA to me.

[James11]

I just got a bubble nem from my lfs and its needs soem help, it looks bleached. What all have you done to help yours recover? I plan to feed it shrimp. Anything you got will help, thanks.

[candlebizlover]

Thanks for the help with the "new" ID. I never could find another photo of a Sebae that looked barely close. Having a BTA is just fine with me too!

Not sure how to answer "how" I got it to recover. I have good lighting, good water flow, LSB & lots of LR. I feed twice a day brine/mysis and/or a flake veggie food. Every 2-3 days I feed DT's. I let the algae grow on the back & sides of my tank, cleaning only the front (lately that's been hard because I like the blenny kisses on the front of the glass, lol) A water change every week, fresh water top off at night. My salt fluctuates between 1.022 to 1.025, 0 on Ni, NA & AM. PH is 8.2. Lots of pink coraline. As much credit needs to go to the Tomato clown too. It fed the BTA, and took care of it. When the crabs always got what I gave, I just stopped giving it anything. Frankly, I think it survived on good lighting and Tomato clown poop! The relationship is pretty incredible between these two creatures. (we humans should be so lucky :))

This is another of the earlier photo's when I first put them in them
into the 30gc. The anemone hunkered in under that ledge and stayed in the dark for at least 2 weeks, then slowly started coming out to the light.

http://www.candlescentgourmet.com/squirt.JPG


Just got a new overflow for Christmas so now I can move the equipment down to a sump under the tank.

http://www.candlescentgourmet.com/tankdec.jpg

http://www.candlescentgourmet.com/toadstool1sm.jpg
http://www.candlescentgourmet.com/yellowleathersm.jpg

[James11]

Thanks, my clowns took to it after about 5 min in the tank, my female loves it. I hope some good food and a loving pair of clowns can get some color back into it. I'll try and get a pic up soon so you all can see it.

[BiggySmalls]

u sure that isnt a tomato clown

[candlebizlover]

Yes, it is a Tomato Clown, but right now it's a little ****! It bit me while I was feeding the anemone! Think it's on to my trickster ways
and instead of hiding like it usually does when I shoo it away, it held its place and nipped my hand! Now that's truly biting the hand that feeds it!

[JamesJR]

That tomato clown is still pretty young, wait till it loses its second stripe than its true attitude will really come out!