Anem not eating, but...

[FishWife]

Our Rose BTA has gone through a couple of relocations and some aquascaping and has now settled into a nice crack, but doesn't seem to be "grabbing" the food. It does the shrink to nothing thing mid-day; it's out full in the early morning and evening. I'd say it's grown in the three weeks we've had it, but with the growing/shrinking act that 'nems do it is HARD to tell.

 

My only concern is that its tentacles are generally shortish (like, maybe1/4 to 1/2" long) and when the clownfish feeds it mysis, it doesn't show any interest. Where it used to close down on mysis, it just sits there now when the clown drops it into picture-perfect position.

 

Now, I know they don't "need" to eat, right? They are at least partially photosynthetic.... so, should I assume that if it's moving, growing, shrinking, etc. that it's fine and will eat when it's ready? Chip said at the meeting, "If it doesn't turn to mush in a week it's ok" meaning the ones he cut up... does this apply to all 'nems? If it's not mush it's ok?

Edited November 12, 2007 by FishWife

[flowerseller]

Who is it that said fish tanks are soothing?

 

It's doing it's thing as they often do.

I feed mine rarely and then not much at.

They are very much filter feeders also so unless it's turning real pale, you're fine.

 

I said fraged anemones typically are safe after a week.

I determined this from my experiences.

[treesprite]

Last time I had a nem I put food directly on it every few days, even though it was clearly catching stuff to eat when I fed the fish. I don't know that there's a guarantee that they are getting enough without either target feeding or over-feeding the tank.

[FishWife]

Who is it that said fish tanks are soothing?

 

I said fraged anemones typically are safe after a week.

I determined this from my experiences.

 

 

REALLY! (about soothing: not!) Though, really, I am calming down now that we've been up and running for over a month with no OBVIOUS disasters.

 

Right; I knew you were referring to frags, and had experience. THANKS for posting. I can get back to viewing in peace now.

[traveller7]

Combination of 1/4"-1/2" tentacle length and lack of eating are a cause for concern with BTAs.

Tending toward reverse lighting cycle is a bit of a concern.

 

I would likely shield it from some light or raise the fixture a bit. See if the mid day shrink stops. I would also check the pH and see if the values shift substantially in the morning, mid day, evening. That or see if the actions correspond with a dosing cycle.

 

If the tentacles continue to shrink over the next few weeks, it is consuming itself. They can recover, but over the next week or so it would be a good idea monitor it for changes.

 

Good luck.

[FishWife]

Combination of 1/4"-1/2" tentacle length and lack of eating are a cause for concern with BTAs.

Tending toward reverse lighting cycle is a bit of a concern.

 

I would likely shield it from some light or raise the fixture a bit. See if the mid day shrink stops. I would also check the pH and see if the values shift substantially in the morning, mid day, evening. That or see if the actions correspond with a dosing cycle.

 

If the tentacles continue to shrink over the next few weeks, it is consuming itself. They can recover, but over the next week or so it would be a good idea monitor it for changes.

 

It's shielded itself by crawling into a crack. Will do on the pH tests, thx. How DO they recover from consuming themselves?

[traveller7]

It's shielded itself by crawling into a crack. Will do on the pH tests, thx. How DO they recover from consuming themselves?

When body mass is sustainable by the amount of food captured or absorbed from symbiotic algae, growth phase will begin. I have had a few recover from golfball size tentacleless bleached unidentifiable masses, unfortunately, most do not recover.

 

Good news, you have some time if it is 3" or greater across. Just patiently ID what actions correspond with its reaction, patiently try other foods until it takes one.

 

If it does not grab food over the next week, we can meet up somewhere and I'll give you a large chunk of lancefish....it rarely fails :>)

[FishWife]

When body mass is sustainable by the amount of food captured or absorbed from symbiotic algae, growth phase will begin. I have had a few recover from golfball size tentacleless bleached unidentifiable masses, unfortunately, most do not recover.

 

Good news, you have some time if it is 3" or greater across. Just patiently ID what actions correspond with its reaction, patiently try other foods until it takes one.

 

If it does not grab food over the next week, we can meet up somewhere and I'll give you a large chunk of lancefish....it rarely fails :>)

 

thanks!

 

It is def. 3" across when extended. Here are two pics:

 

This one was after six days in our tank; the clownfish had left it alone until this day. (We got it 20 days ago.)

 

This is about a week later.

 

The clownfish is about 2" long for scale, and it's a bit "tight" in this second picture. Also, it has since climbed into the crack behind it, which I feel gives it as much opportunity for shelter as it probably needs...

 

I can upload a picture of current look, but all that's really changed is as described above: lethargic reaction to food and sort of a "soft" overall look. The tips bubble, but they aren't long.

 

What's lance fish... can I get it locally?

Edited November 12, 2007 by FishWife

[traveller7]

I have not found lancefish locally.

 

It is packaged by Gamma Foods, TMC.

Dr's F&S carry the brand, but not the lancefish.

 

I buy 4lbs at a time, might put a group buy together around Christmas time. Until then, I have a package with your name on it ;>)

 

fwiw: Maroons are nortorious for beating up anemones. I really prefer a 3BTA to 1 maroon pair ratio for long term keeping. In my opinion, picture one is pre damage, but a bit stressed, likely collection, starvation in wholesale, and shipping, fairly typical. Picture two shows tentacle damage, likely from the clown, maybe shrimp, dosing, etc.

 

Getting it some food it responds to will make a world of difference in a week. May have to chase the clown out during feeding. I have yet to find a BTA that won't tank lancefish, but it may take 5mins to respond to the food when it is stressed, hence the reason to chase out the clown.

 

btw: Nice looking maroon one of my favorites :>)

[Rascal]

Not an expert by any means, but you can also try feeding silversides from one of the asian grocery stores around here (Grand Mart, et al ...). It is just a few $ for a package with a few hundred of them, and there are a variety of sizes. Try to keep the clown away until the anemone has consumed the food. I just use the feeding tongs to ward them off. Good luck.

[FishWife]

Thanks for the responses!

 

I was warding off the clown, and it was taking PE Mysis, but then... I dunno. It stopped grabbing food. I'm not sure that its eaten in a week.

 

The clownfish, by contrast, now spits food RIGHT where it belongs, and then the anem does not grab it.

 

SO, you think two/three anems in a tank with a maroon... will it host all three? That's interesting if so... please enlighten me on that. I thought they were one-anemone hosters?

 

THANKS for the offer of lancefish! I'll PM you with a way to connect on that.

 

Meanwhile, I think I'll try silversides tomorrow... can I freeze them???

 

Here's to hopin'

Edited November 14, 2007 by FishWife

[traveller7]

Thanks for the responses!

 

I was warding off the clown, and it was taking PE Mysis, but then... I dunno. It stopped grabbing food. I'm not sure that its eaten in a week.

 

The clownfish, by contrast, now spits food RIGHT where it belongs, and then the anem does not grab it.

 

SO, you think two/three anems in a tank with a maroon... will it host all three? That's interesting if so... please enlighten me on that. I thought they were one-anemone hosters?

 

THANKS for the offer of lancefish! I'll PM you with a way to connect on that.

 

Meanwhile, I think I'll try silversides tomorrow... can I freeze them???

 

Here's to hopin'

Howdy,

 

Clowns frequently jump between anemones of the same and even different species within their territory. Keeps other clowns from moving in. It was not unsual to see the female in my pairs follow the light cycle across the length my 300gal stopping in each anemone along the way. Only species that did not do this, skunks which would not leave the anemone even if you lifted the rock+anemone right out of the water.

 

2 feeding responses to look for, the first: tentacles grabbing the food; the second the mouth actually starting to open. The first without the second may be strictly defensive.

 

Cut the silversides down to a 1cm x 1cm piece and see if you can hold the food near the mouth looking for the "mouth opening" response. With a stressed anemone, this may take a few minutes. Tongs work great for this and tend to keep the clown standing off a bit. Give the clown a piece if it wants ;>)

 

I am on the south side of the river and you have a PM :>)

[FishWife]

Howdy,

 

Clowns frequently jump between anemones of the same and even different species within their territory. Keeps other clowns from moving in. It was not unsual to see the female in my pairs follow the light cycle across the length my 300gal stopping in each anemone along the way. Only species that did not do this, skunks which would not leave the anemone even if you lifted the rock+anemone right out of the water.

 

2 feeding responses to look for, the first: tentacles grabbing the food; the second the mouth actually starting to open. The first without the second may be strictly defensive.

 

Cut the silversides down to a 1cm x 1cm piece and see if you can hold the food near the mouth looking for the "mouth opening" response. With a stressed anemone, this may take a few minutes. Tongs work great for this and tend to keep the clown standing off a bit. Give the clown a piece if it wants ;>)

 

I am on the south side of the river and you have a PM :>)

 

 

Traveler: your PM box is full... can you clear out and I'll respond? THANKS!

[traveller7]

Traveler: your PM box is full... can you clear out and I'll respond? THANKS!

Like I keep saying, it is all the hate mail :>)

[FishWife]

Ya got PM!

[mling]

Howdy,

 

Clowns frequently jump between anemones of the same and even different species within their territory. Keeps other clowns from moving in. It was not unsual to see the female in my pairs follow the light cycle across the length my 300gal stopping in each anemone along the way. Only species that did not do this, skunks which would not leave the anemone even if you lifted the rock+anemone right out of the water.

 

2 feeding responses to look for, the first: tentacles grabbing the food; the second the mouth actually starting to open. The first without the second may be strictly defensive.

 

Cut the silversides down to a 1cm x 1cm piece and see if you can hold the food near the mouth looking for the "mouth opening" response. With a stressed anemone, this may take a few minutes. Tongs work great for this and tend to keep the clown standing off a bit. Give the clown a piece if it wants ;>)

 

I am on the south side of the river and you have a PM :>)

 

 

Yep, I two tanks with more than one anemone each. One has a Black clown and the other a Maroon clown. In both tanks they both constanly move from one anemone to the other. I like having more than one anamone for just that reason -> watching the clowns move form one to the other. I never feed my BTAs. I started with one 3 years ago and it has split over a dozen time in the past year. Just make sure that it's feet is ok and you should be fine. My BTA often grab food before the fishes can get to them. Some time they shrink up and stay small for days but they always come back to their old glory. So I suggest you let them be.

[FishWife]

Like I keep saying, it is all the hate mail :>)

 

I couldn't PM you back because your box was full again! (Boy... do they hate you or what?) Any chance of hooking up this weekend?

[traveller7]

I couldn't PM you back because your box was full again! (Boy... do they hate you or what?) Any chance of hooking up this weekend?

Looks like I may be running around a bit if you are on this side of the river. If not, I will be crossing over early next week :>)

[FishWife]

We got my 'nem to eat a piece of one last night. I'm hoping for another successful feeding today. Thanks for your encouragement! Happy TG!

[treesprite]

congratulations!