Hellp with a Long-tentacled anemone

[Otters]

Well 6 weeks ago I bought a gorgeous light purple Long-tentacled anemone, and it was very open and bright, tight mouth and strong tentacle grip, and I feed it a medium size goldfish,(one of those that you win at a fair or carnival), every week. But, lately this past week it hasn't been open as wide, and the tentacles are dark purple, and it has stayed in one spot for awhile not near to the top. The conditions of the water is:

pH:8.2
Specific Gravity: 1.021
Power of Light: 60 watts

Is it the SG thats affecting it?

[leebca]

Hi Otters!

You've posted a question about anemones in a fish-only forum. I'll move it to the reef forum where it might get more attention from people in the know.

Hope you'll also feel free to post in the new Marine Fish: Care, Health and Disease Treatment Forum when you have fish questions!

[leebca]

I don't know a lot about anemones, but I do know that you don't feed marine life with freshwater life. Marine life can't digest and utilize the nutrients in freshwater foods very well, so the goldfish feedings have to change for sure. Don't know if this is the cause, in whole or in part, to the problem.

You might want to post your:
Alkalinity
Ammonia
Nitrite
Nitrate
and a list of other tank inhabitants.

[blue hippo]

anenomes need alot of light and if you wnat to feed you anenome something i fed mine just raw shrimp from the grocery store and he loved it so you can try that but anenomes inflate an deflate alot

shawn

[BubbaWPB]

60 watts in a 46 gallon aquarium is not a lot for an anemone...

[Saltie]

Hi Otters,

I have a long tentacle anemone as well, They do need a lot of light, I have 280 watts for my 50 gallon tank. When they are not happy with water conditions or light they tend to move around the tank in search of a better location. Has yours been on the move at all?

Also, stay away from feeding it freshwater feeders, it may create problems. I generally feed mine a shrimp off of one of those shrimp platters (the anemone gets one, I get the rest). I also add iodine, and other trace elements to the eater.

[John Hamilton]

I have been feeding mine shrimp pellets.

[zhenya]

Hi Otters,

Is it the SG thats affecting it?

Your spesific gravity is definately below what is recommended for the reef aquariums(1.025- 1.026), and yes, it may be one of the problems that contributing to the stress you see you anemone exibiting. I would certainly up the salinity in the course of a week or so and see if that helps.
Another problem, which Leebca had addressed already, is the food you providing for your animal. Instead of goldfish try feeding it some raw, store bought table shrimp, cut it into smaller chunks and offer it to the anemone. I know that it is stressed right now and may not accept it, but I would suggest experimenting with various food items(shrimp, silversides,krill).

Also, like others had pointed out, the lighting will have to be upgraded as well. Some T5 or VHO, even single metal halide bulb(175 watt) complimented with VHO or T5's could do wonders.

Good luck!

[Ninong]

pH:8.2
Specific Gravity: 1.021
Power of Light: 60 watts

Is it the SG thats affecting it?

Yes, the specific gravity is much too low for an anemone. Raise it gradually to 1.025-1.026. You can do that by simply using saltwater for evaporation replacement. Also, your lighting is grossly inadequate for an anemone. You can find good information on anemone husbandry in this article by Dr. Ron Shimek in RHO.

For additional study, here is a complete book about host anemones and clownfish online.

One other problem that you will eventually be up against is the fact that your anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis) will outgrow your 46-gal tank. That may not happen for several years, assuming you provide it with adequate lighting and food in the meantime. If you don't increase the lighting and the salinity, it will gradually die within a matter of months. It will simply waste away.