Anemone In Trouble?

[bg7003]

Hey,

I have had my sabae anemone for about 4 months and i fed him about 2 weeks ago. I put in two small pieces of cod and my clown fish took it down to him. After that he completely deflated when i got home from school. Then the next he was still deflated, with brown stuff comming out of the mouth.(Poop right?) So then it inflated bigger than ever three days later. But since a couple days ago it has been looking really bad. Its deflated and its mouth is really open. Sometimes its insides look like there comming through the mouth. But this morning i looked in and hes huge. He keeps inflating and then deflating. Is this normal? i dont think the gaping mouth is good though...

 

[Crazy fishes]

Hey,

I have had my sabae anemone for about 4 months and i fed him about 2 weeks ago. I put in two small pieces of cod and my clown fish took it down to him. After that he completely deflated when i got home from school. Then the next he was still deflated, with brown stuff comming out of the mouth.(Poop right?) So then it inflated bigger than ever three days later. But since a couple days ago it has been looking really bad. Its deflated and its mouth is really open. Sometimes its insides look like there comming through the mouth. But this morning i looked in and hes huge. He keeps inflating and then deflating. Is this normal? i dont think the gaping mouth is good though...

The brown stuff is probably zooxanthelles and he is on track to being a dead anemone really soon. Sorry to be the barer of bad news but that is how it is with anemones.

Regards

 

[Lynden]

The brown is either poop or zooxanthellae. When an anemone does either it is actually a good sign; the needs of lighting/food are being met and in the former case the anemone needs to get rid of excess zooxanthellae. The do not "bleach" by oral excretion as far as I am aware.

The gaping mouth could be a cause for worry, but the inflation pattern you describe isn't. My anemones (now eight in number) used to follow a similar pattern after feeding, but once they "got used to" the feedings it has become less noticeable.

Is your anemone brown or white/yellow? Can you give us other stats re: lighting, filtration, tank size, tankmates, et cetera?

 

[bg7003]

Right now the anemone is in my 20 gallon reef tank. I have one 65 watt blue atinic and a 65 watt daylight bulb, about 6 watts per gallon. He isnt white in color more of that brownish grayish color i think there supposed to be. I have a bio-wheel for up to 30 gallon and a nano fission protein skimmer. The tank mates are his gold banded maroon clown, a damsel fish, cleaner shrimp, hermit crabs, lawnmower blenny, scooter blenny and some corals.

 

[Crazy fishes]

I am interested now....... how do they expel zooxanthelles if don't do it via the oral disc?? I can understand the inflating and deflating of tissue is a cycle much like that occuring in corals (LPS have the most striking variation in tissue hydration), however why would that start are feeding and not occur before??

Many thanks

Regards

 

[SkiFletch]

Pics?

 

[Lynden]

I am interested now....... how do they expel zooxanthelles if don't do it via the oral disc?? I can understand the inflating and deflating of tissue is a cycle much like that occuring in corals (LPS have the most striking variation in tissue hydration), however why would that start are feeding and not occur before??

Many thanks

Regards

If I remember correctly the zooxanthellae simply leaves the tissue directly. I could be wrong, though.

The inflation and deflation has to do with the digestion of food and the expulsion of wastes, which is why the frequency of it increases after feeding; in my nems, at least.

 

[bg7003]

I'll try to get some pics of it deflated and inflated

 

[bg7003]

bad news.... the anemone died today... the clown fish doesnt exactly know where to go now.. any suggestions for an eaiser to take care of anemone?

 

[Lynden]

That sucks. It would be wise to bring the tank into top condition before trying another (high light, good skimmer, ect.), which should be a bubble tip, a Stichodactyla haddoni, or a sebae; but dark in colour, not light. The clowns will be fine in the mean time.