I found two anemones and a fish...

[speg]

In my overflow.
The story: I had been missing a twin spot goby for a few days now.. and since it was a new purchase I figured maybe it was dead.. today I decided to check my nitrates and clean my filters and happend to reach my hand behind my tank to grab for the sponge in the overflow box and I heard a strange noise... as if something was rapidly slapping the water.... well there he was.. my twin spot goby.. and next to him.. a anemone.. and next to that... another anemone. One anemone is a split from my 46 gallon and one is a split from the anemone in the same tank.
The relocation: Now all that being said.. I removed them all from there and placed them back into the tank. The anemones were both attached to the side of the overflow box, so I carefully (as careful as possible) peeled (if you will) them both off the side of the box.
The problem: One of the anemones that I thought was dead because I havent seen it for... a month ? maybe longer maybe shorter.. its hard to say exactly how long its been... but anyways its base/foot is very dark brown (normal) .. its tentacles are completely white.. like as white as white gets.. it had gotten no light for maybe a month or longer.. but it musta been able to survive by filter feeding inside the overflow box (this is my only explination for it surviving in there that long).
The question: Do you think if the anemone can slowly reacclimate himself (and possibly some help from above ((me)) ) to the lights that he may be able to survive? Or once he is so far bleached its just a matter of time before he.... Also do you think my thinking is right? The part about it being able to survive without light so long.... or.... lemme know.
The ps: PS.. this was directed towards Thomas because I know he knows a lot about these animals.. but anyone else willing to chime in with personal experience or anything are completely welcomed to post

 

[viper_930]

Anemones aren't filter feeders. They can live quite a long time without light and will slowly feed off its own tissue. Feed it 2-4 times weekly with meaty foods and after a few weeks you should start to see some improvement as the zooxanthellae begin to regrow.

 

[thomas712]

Interesting delema!
My thoughts: I would think that when feeding the tank that some of the food would have entered the overflow box right?, so it may have gotten some food, it can also gain food from detritus and other waste, however the damage is done and it has lost alot of zooxanthellae. About all you can do now is place it in the tank and as viper suggests feed it 2 or 3 times per week right now. Let it get what light it wants, it may very well hide from the lighting like an albino on the beach right now until it regains its zooxanthellae. You'll have to play that by ear if you choose to reduce your photo period or what.
As to they can live for a long time without light I have no proper answer there. I would think it might be like taking a green plant and placing it in the closet, it won't die over night but it will continue to get weeker and weeker until it dies. What has died in the case of the anemone is the fact that there is no longer very much or any zooxanthellae and that is where the anemone has been getting its nutrition. In my case with improper lighting over 5 years ago my BTA was shrinking and shrinking and like suggested I think it simply was feeding off of itself and wasting away.
The question: Do you think if the anemone can slowly reacclimate himself (and possibly some help from above ((me)) ) to the lights that he may be able to survive? Or once he is so far bleached its just a matter of time before he.... Also do you think my thinking is right? The part about it being able to survive without light so long.... or.... lemme know.
Yes I would hope that the anemone could reacclimate himself and over a 3 or 4 month period with proper lighting and meaty feedings be able to be brought back to health.
I think there is a certain amount of filter feeding in an anemone, however I don't believe they can survive complety relying on that method of feeding. I think the water that they bring in can feed the zooxantheellae which in turn then provides the photosythisis nutrients that helps to keep the anemone alive, but that also means that you have to have light for this to happen.
Defintaly sounds like a bad case of bleaching and I'll sure be interested in your results.
Good luck and if there are any more questions I'll be glad to offer an opinion.
Thomas

 

[speg]

I am starting to question how long he was in there.... I noticed a while ago he was on the move and figured he'd find a good place and settle down It literally could been 6 weeks or so that he survived back there. If he comes out better than he is right now i'll post a pic. Right now he is tucked into a crevice to the point where no light can hit him.. the other anemone that was in there however is doing great and hasnt moved a inch since I put him back in the tank.