Wandering Bubble Tip Anemone

[cwbrier]

I just added a green BTA to my tank. The tank is about 3 month's old. It is 36" X 24" X 30". I have about 120lbs of live rock. My water conditons, temp and lighting are good for the BTA. The live rock wraps around the center return and has a leg that extends from the left side of the center return to the left front corner of the tank. The rock is arranged in away that allows the fish to swim through the rock and inbetween the center return and the wall of rock. This gives the animals a place to retreat and hide. I also so have a sea swirl attached to the center return.

The BTA was introduced and quickly secured itself to the ledge that was in the left front corner. The BTA was in a high water flow area and kind of secured its self into a crack between 2 rocks. I woke up the next day and could not find the BTA anywhere.

After looking closely, I found it at the bottom of the tank in between the wall of rock and the center return. It must have detacted and the water current sucked it behind the rock. The BTA is considered large. He is at a place where I can not get to It. I would have to dismantle the rock. Even if I dismantled the rock, my arm is not long enough to grab him. It's been there for a couple of days. It has not eaten in 3 days, it gets no light and the clowns seem to be hammering it down there. What should I do? I am afraid it will die and foul my tank. Any advice?

 

[Jolieve]

Well.. first off, I would have waited another 9 months before adding an anemone for your system to become "established". Anemones just do better in older tanks where conditions have been stable over a long period of time.

Second, the clownfish going into the anemone is normal behavior. They aren't hurting it. It's never wise to purchase an animal and put it in your tank without understanding their natural behavior. Clownfish live in anemones in the wild.

I would very carefully lift the rock out of its way so it can climb back up to the top of the rock on its own (by carefully, I mean make sure you have a GOOD grip on the rock and do not drop it! You will squash your anemone!). Then I would get some chop sticks and feed the anemone a small piece of shrimp by hand. If it seems to want to stay there, leave him there. He will eventually move out on his own if he wants more light.

Good luck,
J.