Anemone is shrinking, why

[marxsman]

I have had these anemones (2) long tenacles for about five years, now they just started shrinking and will not grow, are they dieing? I have had the one for five years, it has reproduced several times, but now it looks horrible

[Reefland]

Hi marxmans, Welcome to Reefland!

The obvious question, has anything changed or there been any recent additions that could be irritating it?

[marxsman]

The answer is no, the tank is five years old, no new fish or coral, the anemone just shrank and stayed small, about the 2 inches round, it used to be about 10 inches round. I just changed the bulbs in hope that would help. two power compacts, one blue and one 100%. im baffled. I have been in the hobby for ten years. the pair of yellow banded marrons are over 8 years and the also the anomone.

Hi marxmans, Welcome to Reefland!

The obvious question, has anything changed or there been any recent additions that could be irritating it?

[Reefland]

Is that all the lighting you have over the anemone, 2 PC's? Did you feed the Anemone on a regular basis?

I'm not sure, zhenya is our Anemone expert but it could just be that over the course of time in captivity, the Anemone is now showing signs of dying.

[marxsman]

Yes, 2 pc's over a 55 gal, 36 inch and 6 inches above the tank, I hope not. My clowns love this thing and it has brought me over 10 clones. I do feed it but the clowns also feed it. Is there any chemical or other thing to do to stimulate the growth?

Is that all the lighting you have over the anemone, 2 PC's? Did you feed the Anemone on a regular basis?

I'm not sure, zhenya is our Anemone expert but it could just be that over the course of time in captivity, the Anemone is now showing signs of dying.

[Reefland]

No, no chemicals available. Well something might be sold but it's not the answer. I don't think theres much you can do but try to make sure the water parameters are ok, that nothing is irritating it and continue to try to feed it.

[marxsman]

I do appriciate the help, by the way, this is a very informative sight and I will frequent it. What about an over abundance of mushrooms?? My tank is overwelmed with them. what do i do? just take them out??

No, no chemicals available. Well something might be sold but it's not the answer. I don't think theres much you can do but try to make sure the water parameters are ok, that nothing is irritating it and continue to try to feed it.

[flip_3_6_0]

I havent heard of LTAs splitting before. Is this common?

[marxsman]

Mine seem to split every six months like clock work. now they are ill and shrinking so I don't know what to do. I always sold one and kept one but I kept the two this last time and both seem to be dying even though they are in two different tanks. as for common, it was for me but I don't know the answer to that.

I havent heard of LTAs splitting before. Is this common?

[zhenya]

Mine seem to split every six months like clock work. now they are ill and shrinking so I don't know what to do. I always sold one and kept one but I kept the two this last time and both seem to be dying even though they are in two different tanks. as for common, it was for me but I don't know the answer to that.

As far as I know the one other anemone that has dual modes of reproduction is Heteractis magnifica. It seems that in nature, some anemones like the Emtacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis magnifica, found in the deeper parts of the Ocean and in shallower water as well. The shallower-water dwellers are usually smaller in size and are the ones undergoing asexual reproduction,remaining smaller in size and genetically identical to one another.Staying very close to each other they form a larger looking animal and anemonefishes that live in them treat them as one large animal.

Now, are you positive that your anemone were indentified correctly?

Also, as Scott has pointed out, the lighting may be insufficient but more than likely it is not the primary cause since you had the animal for five years and it done well for you. However, shrinking in size is not a good sign and I would love to see a picture of the animal, preferably from before the fact and another the most recent.
On a side note, how is the color of the anemone? Is it getting lighter in color or remains the same and just "shrinking" in size in oral disk? You also mentioned mushrooms dominating your tank, it may very well be the case that they release some toxins that affect anemone. I would recommend doing a water change and run some carbon to see if this will help your anemone to improve.

[Ninong]

I have had these anemones (2) long tenacles for about five years, now they just started shrinking and will not grow, are they dieing? I have had the one for five years, it has reproduced several times, but now it looks horrible

Interesting cloning observation if it's really Macrodactyla doreensis. Does it split longitudinally through the oral disc? Do you have any pictures?

I pulled these pics using Google. Just thought you could take a look at some of them to make sure we're talking about a long tentacled anemone: http://images.google.com/images?q=Ma...=Google+Search

It should have white lines radiating out from the mouth and the verrucae should be oval shaped and non-sticky.

P.S. -- If an anemone is truly shrinking, that means it is consuming itself and is on its way out.

[marxsman]

I will get some pictures to you asap. but as for the color, I bought the one years ago and it was almost white. It changed to a darker purpleish color. but it has opened up to about 10 inches round and stayed that way until it splits. I get 2 about five inches and always sell one. then the cycle starts again. As for the light, I have the two pc's and leather and finger corals as well as mushrooms thrive. it was just recently I had a problem, so now im answer searching.

As far as I know the one other anemone that has dual modes of reproduction is Heteractis magnifica. It seems that in nature, some anemones like the Emtacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis magnifica, found in the deeper parts of the Ocean and in shallower water as well. The shallower-water dwellers are usually smaller in size and are the ones undergoing asexual reproduction,remaining smaller in size and genetically identical to one another.Staying very close to each other they form a larger looking animal and anemonefishes that live in them treat them as one large animal.

Now, are you positive that your anemone were indentified correctly?

Also, as Scott has pointed out, the lighting may be insufficient but more than likely it is not the primary cause since you had the animal for five years and it done well for you. However, shrinking in size is not a good sign and I would love to see a picture of the animal, preferably from before the fact and another the most recent.
On a side note, how is the color of the anemone? Is it getting lighter in color or remains the same and just "shrinking" in size in oral disk? You also mentioned mushrooms dominating your tank, it may very well be the case that they release some toxins that affect anemone. I would recommend doing a water change and run some carbon to see if this will help your anemone to improve.

[conda]

Any new info on this problem? I've been watching this thread because my anemone has closed and will not open. The only thing that changed for me is that my two cleaners shrimp died since my Nitrates went to 20--don't know why that would kill them, but that is the only thing that changed. Then I got another cleaner that took over the anemones cave and then he closed, moved, and never opened. It's been about 4 days now.

[marxsman]

just an update, there was nothing new with this problem. The anemone does not appear to be dying but is staying small and will not grow. All parameters are still in check. I even moved its clone to another smaller tank to see if that would help but it has turned completely white and srank even smaller to the size of a dime. It still looks healthy except for the size.

The clowns still play in it and feed it.

but the other answer, when it splits it splits at the opening and actually has two mouths for a few days and then gradually splits apart.

[Kmon]

hope they get better not to drop your hopes but had a long tentacle once did the same thing was fine for the longest time then started shrinking and woudnt open up fully anymore didnt make it. The levels were fine in the tank had a bubble in the tank also it was fine hope you have better luck.

[conda]

Mine is still closed, but he eats.

Whatever goes into his tenticles, he eats. But will not open.

[alaskazoro]

I feed mine fresh shrimp that I buy at a local supermarket. (fresh only..not canned) that will kill them. I cut it up into pieces about the size of a dime.
I freeze a baggie full of this, and take out a piece and let it thaw for about a 1/2 hour in a small bowl that has water that I take out of the tank. I use a 1/4" x 3' small round dowel that I bought at a local hobby shop. I sharpened the end so I can just stick the small piece of shrimp on it. I than lower it slowly into the Anemone's tentacles....he uasually grabs right onto it and pulls it in. I feed him every other day, and he is a happy bugger!
I also use the dowel to keep the cleaner Shrimp away from the Anenome for about 5 mins until he has it down in his mouth. Otherwise the Cleaner Shrimp will go right in and steal it from the Anenome!
Good luck!

[Reefland]

Hi alaskazoro,