Carpet Anemone (help)

[starlite101]

I got a carpet anemone last week. the first picture is what it looked like yesterday and the 2nd is what he looked like this morning. is it dieing?

[Floyd]

Everyone is going to want to know
1. Tank size
2. Lighting
3. Water test results
4. How long has the tank been up.

[smidoid]

It looks poorly, for sure. But without the details Floyd points out (plus details of ALL the other life you've gotten in there) no one is going to be able to help much.

[starlite101]

the tank is 65 gallons, been up and running since jan . readings as of this morning are PH 8.1 pph Specific Gravity 1.022 temp 80 nitrate .25 ppm nitrite 0.00 ppm Aqualight Pro HQICompact Fluorescent/Lunar Light Fixtu

[zhenya]

the tank is 65 gallons, been up and running since jan . readings as of this morning are PH 8.1 pph Specific Gravity 1.022 temp 80 nitrate .25 ppm nitrite 0.00 ppm Aqualight Pro HQICompact Fluorescent/Lunar Light Fixtu

Hi starlite101,



Right from the start I can tell you one thing and it would be that your salinity/specific gravity is too low. That may contributed to the condition in what this animal appears to be now. You may wish to raise your salinity slowly to proper reef levels, 35ppt or 1.026 sp.gravity. The best way to do this is to perform water changes.
Here's a link to an article that may help some.
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0505/main4.php

[vtec si]

Hi starlite101,




Right from the start I can tell you one thing and it would be that your salinity/specific gravity is too low. That may contributed to the condition in what this animal appears to be now. You may wish to raise your salinity slowly to proper reef levels, 35ppt or 1.026 sp.gravity. The best way to do this is to perform water changes.
Here's a link to an article that may help some.
http://www.reefland.com/rho/0505/main4.php

Starlite, I would have to agree with Gene that your salinity is too low! I have to have a carpet anemone now since 1996 so 10 years or so. I can tell you this is if you did not acclimate slowly then they will do what yours is doing. Did you see it eat at the lfs before you purchased it? Also do you realize how big these guys get. I have a 300 gallon cube, so 4'x4'x30" and mine will take up a 2'x2' area when fully opened. Also they will eat your fish if they get to close. I have been lucky that mine has never taken a fish but it has taken a few cleaner shrimp. I think is due to I feed mine two to three times a week. I will post a pic of mine later today when he is fully open.

Good luck,
Martin

[starlite101]

ok just took another picture of this thing... wish it would make up its mind what it wants to do...LOL

[optical]

is it true that anemones can live forever? i heard that if conditions are right, with plenty of food and if they never get diseased that they will never die of old age!

[Ninong]

is it true that anemones can live forever? i heard that if conditions are right, with plenty of food and if they never get diseased that they will never die of old age!

Like other Cnidarians, they do not experience senescence. They may die of disease or predation but not old age. I don't know if anyone has ever found any that were thought to be more than about 150 years old. To tell you the truth, I'm not even sure how they determine the age of anemones. That's a good question.

[Ninong]

OK, that didn't take too long. Here's a quote from Dr. Daphne Fautin:

LIFE SPANS OF SEA ANEMONES

John Ottaway and Ken Sebens have made actuarial tables for anemones. Since they came up with potential lifespans on the order of several centuries, personal experience is unlikely to be a good guide.(Daphne Fautin).

Daphne G. Fautin
Professor, Biological Sciences
Curator, Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center
Haworth Hall
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas 66045 USA

[Ninong]

Joyce Wilkerson is saying that they have a lifespan of several hundred years, but she got all of her information from Drs. Daphne Fautin and Gerald Allen.

P.S. -- Joyce Wilkerson wrote a very nice book on clownfishes and their host sea anemones. It's inexpensive, loaded with pictures and an easy read. I highly recommend it. It's called Clownfishes. She's not a marine biologist, she's an engineer, but she has extensive experience breeding clownfishes.

[vtec si]

Here is the pic of mine that I have had for 10 years or so.

Your should look like this when its happy!

[starlite101]

its really pretty and looks very happy... I raised my salinity its now 1.025. the carpet seem to be opening more. it keeps moving though. here he is this morning.

[captain Jim]

Has your anemone moved around the tank much since you got him?
There have been situations where an anemone became sickly because of lack or excessive lighting, or water flow. It should find its place and open if that is the case.

[starlite101]

other than movin from the spot where i put him in the tank to the rock he really hasnt moved much. he open and closes. but never fully opens. he eats shrimp really well but still wont fully open.

[tray262]

I think if he's eating then he'll be ok. I wouldn't worry about it too much. If he start to "Melt" then you've really got problems.

[smidoid]

P.S. -- Joyce Wilkerson wrote a very nice book on clownfishes and their host sea anemones. It's inexpensive, loaded with pictures and an easy read. I highly recommend it. It's called Clownfishes. She's not a marine biologist, she's an engineer, but she has extensive experience breeding clownfishes.

I've said this before Ninong, but wouldn't you take notice of someone who actually kept a captive marine system rather than someone who learnt everything from books and blackboards? I know I would. Qualifications can be overrated.

[Ninong]

I've said this before Ninong, but wouldn't you take notice of someone who actually kept a captive marine system rather than someone who learnt everything from books and blackboards? I know I would. Qualifications can be overrated.

And how does that apply to this thread?

[optical]

im a bit confused too??? anyway, good stuff to know Ninong!

[Ninong]

Unless you claim divine inspiration, like our President, all knowledge comes from experience but it doesn't have to be personal experience. The advantage of language, and especially written language, is that it allows us as a species to accumulate and pass on knowledge. It isn't necessary for each of us to reinvent the wheel. Or the telescope.