How can i tell if my anemone is eating?

[hallzy]

I just got a bubble anemone about a week ago, and my clown fish are not yet hosting it. How can i tell if he is eating, and is there a way I can feed it? Yesterday he shriveled up and I thought oh great, hes dead, but a few hours later he was opened back up! I'm new to anemones so please be gentle with me! lol

 

[hallzy]

Update on the bubble, he is shriveled up again. I tried to get a pic but my camera battery is dead right now so its gotta charge for a little bit! I'll post it when I can.

 

[alabama reefer]

To answer your original question: You can feed them a small piece of shrimp or silverside. You can physically place it to it's tentacles and it should grab, hold and pull it towards it's mouth. About the deflating, there are several reasons for this and we will need more info to explain. Such as: How long has your system been running? What are your water parameters(Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrates, PH, Alkalinity, Specific Gravity, Temperature)? If you are using tap water this could definitely spell doom for an invertebrate especially an anemone. A healthy anemone will deflate to expel waste and/or flush itself so it can take in new water which is what makes it up. So that is why prestine water conditions along with strong lighting is needed to care for an anemone. If you will answer all the questions I asked we can better help you determine what is going on with yours.

 

[hallzy]

He inflated himself again and he has been inflated ever since, so thats why no picture yet. Hopefully he was just expelling waste like you said! My levels are all ok, except for my nitrates, which are at about 40 right now, but I'm doing 20% water changes to bring that down. Ammonia and nitrites are 0, PH 8.3, Specific gravity 1.021 and temp 76. I WAS using tap water, but now I have been getting water from walmart for my changes. Thank you to this forum for showing me the way! lol Also, what kind of shrimp should I feed him? I have just been feeding mysis, and that seems a little small to try and hold up to him.

 

[alabama reefer]

Nitrates are a definite problem for anemones. Doing your 20% water change should help in bringing them down. However, sometimes the water changes will agitate the anemone as well but not long term like the nitrates. Your SG is a little low(1.025-1.026) is better suited for anemones. If you decide to raise the SG do it slowly over a few weeks rather than doing it all at once. What size is your tank? What lighting do you have? When I feed mine it is usually raw shrimp that you would buy to fish with and I soak in vitamins. Just a small piece. I do squirt some mysis on the tentacles from time to time as well.

 

[spiderwoman]

What size is your tank, how old is it and what lighting do you have? Definitely try to get your nitrates down and also test for phosphates. If your phosphates are up, put in a phosphate pad or Phosban.

 

[hallzy]

Its only a 29 gallon, and I'm not exactly sure what lighting I have, but I got it at the pet store and they said it would be enough for him. Would raising the SG be bad for any of my fish? I have firefish, a clown, cowfish, and some shrimps and stars.

 

[alabama reefer]

Raising your SG won't harm your fish as long as you do it slowly over time. I think the bigger problems are going to be your nitrates and your lighting. I am thinking you probably have power compacts. Are they double tubes that plug into a single holder(look like flourescent lights)? Do you have a 29g bio-cube aquarium by chance? By the way, I too have a cowfish and he is going to outgrow your tank quickly. They can reach upwards of 18-20 inches long so just be aware that you are going to have to do something in the very near future.

 

[hallzy]

Yeah thats what my lighting is. And no I dont have a bio-cube, just a reg 29 gallon. And If my cow starts getting too big, I can always get him into my dads tank. Hes got like a 120 or something. But he wouldn't grow that big if hes growing up in a smaller tank would he? He is only a juvi now, he hasn't even started growing his lil horns yet. Hes my favorite fish, so I really hope he doesn't outgrow me!

 

[alabama reefer]

Most people are very unsuccessful trying to care for anemone under PC lighting. With the right equipment anemones are difficult to keep at best but you already have the deck stacked against you with your lighting. It is a misconception that a saltwater fish won't outgrow its environment. The cowfish will grow larger(if it remains healthy) and I was just letting you know so you could have a plan when it happens

 

[hallzy]

Ok, thank you! I will just take the advice you gave me and do what I can to keep my anemone healthy and happy! And as far as the cowfish, I give you my word that if he begins to outgrow my tank, I wont make him suffer in there just because hes my favorite! lol

I will get him out and into my dads tank. Just out of curiosity, do u know how long before I will notice some significant growth of his horns? Hes just a baby right now and has none. I asked this in another thread, but u seem to know what ur talking bout with cows, so I just thought id ask ya!

 

[hallzy]

A little update on the anemone. I took a half a piece of krill and put it in his tenacles and it slowly disappeared into its mouth, so thats a good sign! Is krill an ok diet for him? And if so how much should I feed it a day?

 

[alabama reefer]

You can feed your anemone krill but it is better to vary its diet with different meaty food. Since your lighting is not adequate you will need to feed it more often. So give it a little food every few days and see how it does. As far as the cowfish I honestly don't know how long it takes to grow it's horns. Mine already had horns when I bought it. I do know if one gets broken off it takes a lot of time to grow back.