Dying Anemone?

[jamesonwhiskey]

For the past couple weeks my anemone has looked kinda bad, not coming out from under the rock too much and not very full. My nitrates have also risen to 5 the past couple of weeks too (even after a 2 big water changes) so I figured he was dying and releasing toxins. I went to remove him just now and he shrunk up and I noticed a split down one side... I really don't have a good view as he's way up under a rock.

Is he dying, or possibly splitting? My tomato clown still loves being in him.

Someone put their hand in my tank a few weeks ago and touched the anemone could that have caused it?

 

[RARECLOWNSNJ]

Pics would help.

Touching is doubtfully the cause. It might be the clown actually

 

[bigdog1428]

pics would help alot

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

I really can't get one right now... he's completely closed up in the back of an overhang. He is still attached to the rock.

I described him pretty well, what else should I look for that could help?

What could the clown be doing? Slowly nipping away?

 

[KathyC]

Doubtful the clown is nipping at him.
When you say he is not very full..what do you mean? Are the tentacles extrnded at all? Are you feeding him and is he eating what you are feeding?

Also please tell us what kind of anenome this is?

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Made a mistake... it's a Maroon Clown that I have not a Tomato

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

It's a Bulb Tip... when I say not full I mean he used to have tentacles covering his entire top, now they only cover the outer edge of his top. The ones he does have do extend out from under the rock ledge but not as long as they used to.

I spot feed him ArctiPods when I do my corals... can't tell if he actually eats it though

 

[aznt1217]

Please take a photo. It's hard to tell what you are describing. If he's still attached he isn't dead... yet.

He could be just deflated or adjusting to your tank. This happened to me when I switched lighting and even changed tank. The second mine detached I got it out of the tank.

 

[dubs]

artipod is not anenome food i feed mine silver side or u can chop raw shrimp/fish and feed also i think u have not feed it right and now he lookin for a new comfy spot if its on the way out it will detached it self then it would be wise to take out or ur tank might suffer

 

[bigdog1428]

well from personal experiance,,,they move when there not happy withwaterflow/lighting,,,,mine was all theway up top,,and now the base is under my rock on the sand and looks like its hiding,,,,then he roames to very top and fully extends. when he is at the bottom his tentacles are short and deflated. so maybe he is goin thru some type of transition,,possibly spiltting, as long as ur paramters are right,,,and ur lights are strong enough ,,,u should be good

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

mine moved at first and settled in the spot he's in now and he was ok for a while. could he be stuck in there?

it's hard to tell in the pics but he's really in there now

 

[swimmyy]

Wow I just noticed my purple tip is looking just as you explained and my clown is still hosting it as well..But it's odd to kinda see the base with a slit I did move it from where it was set I hope I didn't do anything wrong??

 

[KathyC]

IMO you should both them them be.
You should worry and react if they no longer hold on and they release their foot. The you have a real issue.

The anenome will decide where it should be placed, moving them stresses them greatly.

As mentioned pods are probably not the best choice of foods for them. Very small chopped pieces of silversides or raw shrimp are probably best right now.

..and no, they don't get stuck. They can expell most of the water in themselves and get out of any tight spot..should they chose to do so.

 

[swimmyy]

Thank you Kathy,, I also noticed a white stringy substance that it releases from it mouth

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Thanks. What's the best way to feed... with pumps off and turkey baster? I can't see its mouth to know I'd it eats. Can I use a bigger piece with my hand?

 

[SaltyFlip]

If you're not affected by the sting go ahead; better safe than sorry though so use a tong and hand it to the tentacles. I feed mine 1/2 a shrimp from the supermarket that's been washed thoroughly in distilled water 2x every week. Also, as Kathy said it's best to let them be; further poking and prodding will just stress it more.

White stringy substance with some goop in it is probably just the excrement. Anemones only have one opening for things coming in and going out.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Well that's the thing, if you see my post above most of its tentacles are gone I think

 

[SaltyFlip]

So it hasn't extended even for a little bit? If you could fit your gloved finger/tongs into the crevice try feeding him, if he still doesn't take it don't force it. Do you have a full tank shot?

Take this suggestion with a bucket of salt:
If you see your clown being extremely rough on him, I would suggest you try to grab him and place him in a cup/container with holes held on by a mag-float or something. I think I may have had a similar issue like yours, or worst, where my clown was really rough on her so I took a chinese-restaurant soup container and poked holes in it; placed her in there and held her to the side where the flow was just right. She eventually came out after a week and found her spot; has been sitting there ever since.
Reason I had her in the container was in case she took a turn for the worst and died, it would've been an easier task to clean her up and control the tank.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

The tentacles around the edge of his crown do extend sometimes as you would expect but it looks like the ones inside are gone, not unextended.

Also just to clarify, he found his spot within a couple days of when i got him and then hasn't left that spot since. He's not moving around looking for a new spot as someone said above.

I'll post a pic once my lights are on this morning.

 

[Awibrandy]

The pic is a bit fuzzy hard to see the anemone. There are times when the clownfish can be a bit to rough on the anemone, and this may cause the anemone to withdraw. Try to feed it a small piece of silverside, fish, or shrimp. You only have to get it to it's tentacle if in fact it is hungry it will grab it, and bring it to it's mouth. You do not have to place it in it's mouth.
I don't recall, did you say how long you've had the anemone?