[RBU2]

I recently put a bubble tip anemone in my tank. It has been in for almost two weeks. I have been feeding it a regular diet of siversides. It seems to stay in one area all the time. For the most part it just changes from the top of the rock to the bottom. It has been on the bottom of the rock for two days now. He seems to deflate quite regularly (daily) is that normal? I thought he was dead today. He was deflated and just hanging with his mouth open and I noticed this stringy smoke looking stuff coming from him. I figured he was dying. Now tonight he is back to looking normal. I gave him two silversides he enjoyed no problem. What could be going on???? I appreciate any help. Also is there a good book I can read about anemone behavior? THANKS for the help

[Samper]

Please tell us what lighting you have on your tank and what your water params are. I keep a rose under pc with no problem although some might argue that. An anemone will deflate somewhat during the night time and while digesting food. I feed my anemone a small piece of shrimp once a week and let the light and my clown do the rest. 2 silversides at one time might be a bit too much but then again I don't know what size your anemone or your tank is. Typically I wouldn't recommend feeding him anything bigger than his mouth.

[RBU2]

Well I have 4x96 watt power compacts. I have been cutting silversides in half and feeding two a day. I have been told that if the anemone is full it will spit the fish out. The clowns I have in the tank have not hosted in the anemone. I hope they do. They have only been in the tank for a week. The tank is a 75 gallon with 100 pounds of live rock.

[RBU2]

sorry water is all zero's across the board as far as PH, Amonia Nitrates and Nitrites. I have not really gotten into tesing calcium and stuff yet. I have a calcium test and have done it one time. I think the reading was around 350. I added a little calcium reactor by kent marine. But that was before the addition of the anemone.

[Reefland]

How long has your aquarium been set up? Also, what is your temperature and salinity?

[RBU2]

2 months temp 78 salinity 1.023

[Samper]

The anemone doesn't even use the calcium but swings in salinity can affect one.
I do feel that you are over feeding and I hope some other more experienced guys back me up on that. Your lighting is ok imo. How long is your lighting cycle and what sort of bulbs are in the pc?

[Reefland]

The temperature is a little low and the salinity is as well for a reef tank. A temp of 80F and a salinity of 34-35ppt (or 1.025 - 1.026) would be much better. The problem is you don't want to go right in and raise to these levels do to the impact the sudden change would have, but a gradual change would be something to consider.

How did you acclimate the anemone?

[Ninong]

Entacmaea quadricolor (Bubble Tip Anemone) should be kept in full strength seawater, 34-35 ppt (1.024 - 1.026 SG), for best results. They should be fed two or three times a week, every other day max! I would not feed it every day because it has an unusual anatomical problem if you do that. You see, it's mouth and its anus are the same opening.

It is not a natural host for Amphiprion ocellaris but they will usually accept it in captivity. It may take a while.

Here is an eBook that you can read for FREE: http://biodiversity.uno.edu/ebooks/intro.html

It's a field guide to clownfish and their host anemones.