Green Carpet Anemone not doing too good...

[SuperXdude]

I know anemones tend to shrink and expand a little, but since I placed my GPA in the tank on wednesday night, I have not been able to get him to accept any food.

He's shrunk down now, and I'm kinda worried.



any help would be appriciated.

I did have a condy last year(big diff I know), and I've seen them shrink and grow back, but this time, I'm really worried.

I can get a picture if needed.


Steve

[matt]

Well, S. haddoni, which is probably what you have, has a terrible survival rate in aquariums. You might try reading an article that Ron Shimek wrote about their habitat and dietary needs.
http://www.animalnetwork.com/fish2/aqfm/1997/aug/wb/default.asp
There's also a book about host anemones and clownfish that might be helpful.

In general, though I think these animals are to be avoided. The aquarium trade is having a fairly serious impact on host anemones, and often these animals live for decades in the ocean, only to be captured and killed within weeks. Also, every time an anemone is removed from the ocean, the clownfish in it die as well, due to being left defenseless. There's an article about their survival rates, something like less than 5% after a year in captivity, and that's only the ones that survive long enough to be sold at a retail outlet.

It's tempting, I bought an apparently healthy one a few months ago. I researched its needs, did my best to provide the right habitat and diet, and it was dead in a few weeks. I'm not going to do that again.

[kaiser]

What kind of lighting do You have? Seems to me anemones do better under PC's than MH.

[MikeP]

Carpets are hard to acquire a healthy specimen - even looking 'ok' in the store they often have tears in the flesh or severe damage to the basal disc which often preciptate a bacterial infection. S.Haddoni are supposed to be moderately more hardy than S.giantea or S.mertensi but all basically require a well aged, stable tank with excellent water quality and metal halide is really your only real option on these magnificent animals.

You face the additional problem that if these animals do thrive they can take over an immense area of the tank and will end up eating fish and invertebrates that wander too close. Neat animal but IMO best reserved for a species tank.

If you want some more ideas or information I suggest you check the 'Anemone and Clwonfish' forum on reefcentral as there are many experienced anemone keepers there who may be able to offer more assistance. Overall I agree an animal best left in the ocean.

[Tim Marvin]

They need pristine water and good chemistry to keep them healthy. Even with everything OK they get damaged in shipping or ripped off the wall of the tank at the LFS. They usually won't recover from the trauma.

[SuperXdude]

thanks for the input guys.

I brought it back to Texas Tropicals tonight.

I'll lose a little money on it, but I'd rather do that than
have the death of it on my consience.

[SuperXdude]

put it on consgnment

i'll get 50% of what they get for it

[kaiser]

You have got to be kidding! They don't back their stuff any better than that? I never been to that store and now I think I never will.

[SuperXdude]

I could lose about $10 at the most.

Small change in comparison to letting it suffer.

[matt]

Good gesture, except in this case probably someone else will buy it, not provide for it, it dies, and Texas tropical gets paid twice for it. It's not your fault that this is the likely scenario, but it underscores the problem with these animals and our hobby. But, your intention was good. At some point, MAAST should become involved in the "responsible reefkeeping" aspect of our hobby. It's not an easy thing, considering we're all participating in the removal of reef animals from the ocean.

But, let's look on the bright side; by fragging corals trading/sharing, we're promoting captive breeding in a way. Eventually, we need to really support businesses that are involved in captive breeding of both fishes and invertibrates.

[malofish]

I have no real prob. with Texas Tropical. I only deal with one person there though!!! If he's not there, I move on caue' I think he's the only honest person there!!! He has never let me astray, and none pf the fish I have ever bought from him have ever kicked the big one!!! The end, I hope alot of you know who "HE" is!!!:)

[AlienAnchovies]

the guy were talking about gave me a full refund on hammer i bough on impulse then realised i couldnt keep because i didnt have the right light, yea that guys pretty cool