Anemone Fading Quickly, More Information Needed - 11/20/07
<Hello Amber, Brenda here>
We are new to this fish tank thing and are getting by very well so far. We have had the tank for maybe 5 or 6 months. The salt and nitrates are at a good level.
<I need actual numbers here.>
We have a 40gal tank, with live and dead rock. My boyfriend does water changes every couple weeks with a vacuum thing. There are about 8 blue leg hermits, 2 larger hermits (don't know the name),
<This is too many for a 40 gallon tank. I am not a big fan of hermit crabs, but if you must, no more than one per 10 gallons. Keep an eye on them, they are known to kill small fish, snails, polyps, and pester anemones.>
2 Nassarius snails, a scooter blenny, the pink tip anemone,
<Your tank is a bit small for an anemone, and borderline in age. It is best to have an established aquarium, 6 months to one year old. One year is best. Do you have a sump? If so, how big? What species is the anemone?>
a sponge, and we just traded our 1 yellow tail damsel and 2 sapphire damsels in for yellow fox face.
<A 40 gallon is much too small for a fox face.>
But any way back to the question. The anemone keeps shriveling up and going inside of itself. Is that normal?
<No, it is stressed! It likely won’t last long unless you find and fix the problem immediately. Anemones are difficult to keep. I don’t recommend keeping them until you have a full understanding of their care.>
For a couple of days the sponge and the anemone were stuck to one another is that ok?
<No, a sponge can be quite toxic.>
And it can't seem to find a place that it likes to be... It keeps hiding in the rock sometimes where there really isn't too much light, is that bad for it? Any solutions?
<I need more information. In addition to the above questions, I need your exact water parameter, including salinity, temperature, nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, calcium and alkalinity. I also need to know what lighting and skimmer you are using. How much flow in the tank? I need to know the species of the anemone. Was this anemone shipped? What lighting was it kept under previously? How long have you had the anemone? What are you feeding it?>
Thanks,
Amber
<You’re welcome! Brenda>

Exploding Anomone <Anemone>... An Out of Body Experience for Our Readership...  7/22/07
HI.
<Hello, Mich here today.>
I am new to saltwater tanks. I have one set up for about three months now. It contained two clowns, a dory,
<Cringe.>
two green fish with large red eyes
<WHAT???? I am not The Amazing Kreskin! You need to at the VERY LEAST learn the common names of any living creatures in your tank!!!!>
and a yellow and black algae eater.
<Again, this is UNACCEPTABLE.>
I also had two anomones <anemones>.
<A huge mistake, in my opinion.>
One is small and brown with small tenticles <tentacles>. The other was a large pink-bodied anomone <anemone> with many, many white tenticles <tentacles>. The clown fished loved this one.
<And the mistakes multiply.>
This morning, I checked the tank as I do every morning before going to work.
<And hopefully you monitor tank parameters as well.>
Everything was fine.
<Vague.>
The clowns were basking in the anemone. When I got home, I found the water was so cloudy that nothing could be seen, even the large rocks.
<Yikes!>
I changed out about 40% of the water, after reading about sick tanks.
<You should have done a larger change, and you should do a few more, quickly!>
I also cleaned the bio filter and changed the charcoal filter. When the water was clearer, I found that the large anomone <anemone> was in thousands of pieces.
<YUCK! To quote ScottF.: "An anemone bouillabaisse!">
The yellow and black algae eater was also dead.
<Not surprising.>
The dealer told me that the yellow fish had a dorsal fin that had poisonous stingers at the tip. You could see them when the fish flexed the fin during swimming.
<Without a common name, I have no idea what fish you are even referring to here.>
My questions concern both fish.
<You should have many concerns my friend... You have a big problem on your hands.>
From what I described, can you tell me why an anomone <anemone> would explode?
<The actual cause? I don't know. Were all you intakes covered? It could have gotten caught in an overflow, sucked through a powerhead, perhaps this was some kind of catastrophic allelopathic reaction... These animals can be quite fussy and should never be kept by beginners. You mixed species in your tank... this is a disaster to begin with.>
And why the algae eater would die so quickly?
<You're lucky anything survived! Anemones can be very toxic and can wipe out entire systems. My friend, you have much work to do if you hope to stay in this hobby for any length of time. You have a lot of learning ahead of you. Please, I implore you to stop buying any more living creature and start reading and researching. There is much that you can learn from this website alone. Bob and many others have dedicated hours upon hours of our lives to build this site and hopefully provide a useful source of helpful information. Now you need to sit down and spend several hours edifying yourself.>
thanks
<You're welcome, please educate yourself, I beseech you to become a conscientious aquarist. Mich>
 

Possible Torn Anemone – 8/19/07
<Hello, Brenda here to help!>
I have a rose bubble tip anemone and I lifted the rock he was under but half of him was connected to it and it looked like it pulled him away a little.
<Ouch!!>
I'm not sure if I did something wrong but I laid it back down when I saw what I did.
<Yes, you did something wrong. However, it is not likely fatal if the anemone was in good health to begin with. When you say the anemone was “under” the rock, are you saying it was hiding and not getting any light?>
I lifted the rock slow but when I could see him I noticed the small part pull away. Help me please. My finance will kill me if he dies. He is a week old.
<I have to confess! I have done something similar! I have also witnessed another crew member/friend do the same. You may have torn the foot. Don’t try moving the anemone anymore. Keep your water parameters perfect! The anemone may end up splitting, giving you two. Many anemones have survived going through unprotected powerheads. You should know in a day or two if the anemone is going to split. Do not try feeding the anemone for a few days. If it does splits, wait a week to 10 days to give the mouth time to heal before feeding. I hope this helps! I’ll keep my fingers crossed! Let me know if you have any more questions. Brenda>

Re: Help! Bleached Sebae Anemone, - 7/4/07 7/6/07
We have an 80 Gallon tank that we have had for about 2 months. This was a tank that was already established, as it was given to us by a family member and had been going for a couple of years. It has approximately 60 lbs. of sand and 80-100 lbs. of rock. The light is a T5 with four bulbs that we have had for approximately 1 month.
<My guess is that this is not enough lighting for this anemone, but I would need to know how many watts these bulbs are, and their “K” value. Please read through the FAQs regarding T-5 lighting for a better understanding.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/T5fluorFAQs.htm >
We have 23 snails, 35 crabs, 2 starfish, 3 ocellaris clownfish, 1 sebae clownfish, 2 domino damsels, 2 blue and green Chromis, 3 yellow tailed damsels, 2 four stripe damsels, 1 spotted mandarin goby,
<You are overstocked for 80 gallon tank. It is also too many crabs in my opinion. Crabs have been known to be predators.>
1 peppermint shrimp, 2 polyps, a sea slug, and a rock anemone.
<I don’t recommend mixing species of anemones. There will likely be chemical warfare between the two.>
Our water looks like this PH 8.2, Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0.2, Nitrate 10, Alkalinity DKH 7, Salinity 2.0-2.3.
<Are you using a protein skimmer? Your Nitrites and Nitrates need to be zero. I’m not sure you are measuring your Salinity correctly. Salinity for anemones is best kept at 1.026. Here is a link for a better understanding: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/spg_salinity.htm At this point I recommend returning the anemone, or finding someone local to care for it until you have a better understanding of its care and a better understanding of your new aquarium. Brenda>

Sick Anemone, Bleached, Zooxanthellae – 6/17/07
<Hello Elaine, Brenda here>
I have a pink sea anemone in my 2 month old, 14 gallon Bio Cube.
<What species? Your tank is not large enough for an anemone. It is also not old enough. Anemones need established aquariums, six months old minimum.>
A month ago I bought a 2.5 inch tomato clown and a white anemone that she was living with from the aquarium.
<A white anemone is a bleached anemone. It has expelled its zooxanthellae. It needs an adequate environment to recover from this.>
All was well for a while. In the last week or so, the clown fish has been rubbing on the white anemone very hard and the anemone retrieved to the rocks.
<Maroons are known to be rough on anemones. It is recommended that the anemone be three times larger than the Maroon.>
I also noticed that the clown fish has been taking food away from her original partner and feeding it to the pink anemone.
<This is not uncommon.>
Now the white one looks limp and shrunken. I have put it in a breeding cage with adequate water flow but it would not eat even when I feed it. It would hang on to the food for hours and then let go, probably because it could not hang on to the food any more. Help!!!
<Your anemone is rapidly declining. It needs to be fed a tiny piece of meaty foods daily. You may want to consider returning the anemones, or finding someone local with experience in caring for a sick anemone.>
Elaine
<Brenda>

Re: Sick Anemone, Bleached, Zooxanthellae - 6/17/07 – 6/19/07
Thanks Brenda. I have given it to a local Aquarium store to be looked after.
Elaine
<You're welcome! Good luck to you! Brenda>

Shrinking Anemone – 5/13/07
Hi there,
<Hello, Brenda here>
First I have a 159 gallon tank with two 150 watt metal halides and two actinics, salinity is at 1.024 I bought an anemone a few months ago.
<You’re salinity is a bit low, gradually bring it up to 1.026.>
I think it is a Heteractis sp.
<Which one?>
or, gelam.
<Not sure what that one is.  Your lighting is a bit low for keeping anemones in that size tank.>
It lives in a rock that I bought with the anemone.  It doesn’t look very good it seems to be shrinking and the tentacles don’t inflate anymore.  I feed it frozen brine shrimp twice a week.
<Brine shrimp has little or no nutritional value to anemones.  Try feeding it some silversides.  You can also try krill, raw frozen shrimp, Mysis shrimp, or lance fish.  I suggest keeping the silversides as its main diet.  You can also try soaking the food in Selcon for some added vitamins.>
I have a clown fish that cohabitates with the anemone.   I also have been feeding it frozen plankton.  This last week it didn’t seem to hold on to the food very well.  Pleas help what is wrong with my anemone?
<Sounds like you have a few things going on here.  I would definitely consider upgrading the lighting soon.  Good luck!  Brenda>

H. malu changing colors, possibly dyed. – 4/28/07
Hello!
<Hi Nicole, Brenda here>
I purchased a H. malu anemone about 3 weeks ago and I'm still trying to figure out whether it is healthy or not. I believe it is, but upon doing research, I've come across somewhat conflicting info. I hope you can help me sort this out.
<I will try.>
Color:  My anemone currently has a pinky-peach column with magenta splotches and a yellowish tinge toward the top.  It also has magenta stripes radiating from its mouth and magenta rings around its pinky-peach tentacles.  That sounds OK, however, the very tip of its tentacles are white and there are about 5 inner tentacles with the bottom half stark white and the top half pinky-peach.  Also, some of the outer tentacles have a yellowish tinge to them.  Does this sound normal or is it recovering from a bleaching?
<I would really need to see a picture.  The different color is making me believe you may have a dyed anemone.  There is more information on dyed anemones here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dyedanemfaqs.htm >
Waste or Zooxanthellae: I've come across info regarding the gunk that anemones expel.  I've seen the nasty, crusty looking white stuff coming from its mouth as well as a transparent sack.  I also noticed a couple days ago long dark brown stringy stuff coming from its mouth.  Again, I've read that the brown stuff is waste but I've also read that it is the anemone losing its zooxanthellae.  Which is it?
<I have seen anemones expel waste that is white, black and brown.  If your anemone is loosing color and turning white, it is loosing its zooxanthellae.>
Feeding:  Because I was concerned by its coloration (white and yellow areas) and felt it was a recovering bleached anemone, I read that it is important to feed it every 2-3 days until it is healthy again. (I've been feeding it silversides and scallops. Sometimes I soak the food in  Zoe).  I also read that healthy anemones can be fed from 2-3 times per week to once a month.  What is the appropriate feeding frequency for a healthy H. Malu. (BTW, mine is still small with a column about 1.5 - 2 inches in diameter.
<I recommend feeding 2 to 3 times per week.>
Is it correct to determine its size by the diameter of its column or the spread of its tentacles?
<I have always measured by the spread of the tentacles.  However, I am not sure that is correct.>
Will an anemone always take food that's offered or will it refuse if it is not hungry?
<A healthy anemone should always grab onto the food.  However it may not eat it if it is not hungry.  It may also eat it and regurgitate it later.>
Location:  When I first put the anemone in my tank, it buried its column into the sand and then it realized it wasn't happy and walked for a second and tipped over and leaned on a rock.
<That doesn’t sound good.>
During a water change, the current floated it toward a cave and it eventually placed itself between the rocks and that's where it has been for about 2 weeks, though its column is not buried in the substrate.  I was happy because I read that an unhappy anemone wanders around the tank and a happy one stays put.
<Some anemones are just too sick to wander.>
But then I read that happy and healthy anemones like to be in the light and are on rocks or buried in the substrate in the current to catch food.  And unhappy/ unhealthy anemones put themselves between rocks and hide from the light.  Well, which one is it?  Is my guy happy but shy or sick and sensitive to light?
<It sounds like you have a sick anemone.>
Last question(s): It turned green!  Recently I noticed that its tentacles were turning green, were shriveled up and its column scrunched down.
<It is not uncommon for an anemone to become darker in color when it shrivels up.  This is typically when the anemone is expelling waste.>
I changed the water thinking it was giving me a clear sign that the water was getting too dirty and it did open up a little bit immediately after the water change.  But after a little while it shriveled up again, still green. The only thing I could think to do was to turn off the power head assuming it was the current irritating it. Well, sure enough, it opened up again after I turned off the power head. Its tentacles retained the greenish color for a little while and then went back to being pinky-peach.
<I have not heard of this.  I don’t recommend the use of power heads with anemones.  Many anemones have lost their lives to them.>
The thing is, I hadn't changed the position or strength of the current so why did it suddenly begin to bother the anemone? And why/how on earth did it turn green?
<I don’t know.  I would love to see pictures of this.>
I look forward to your responses and suggestions.  BTW, great website!
<Thank you!>
Nicole
<Brenda>
 

Anemone tentacles falling off?  - 03/24/07
Hi there
<Hello to you>
I have had my anemone for 3 months. It has done really well, and situated itself in a corner in my tank. I have a very small 80 litre tank with two clown fish and a shrimp.
<This is a very small and most likely inappropriate tank to keep an already challenging animal>
My anemone
<What type of anemone is this, as this information is crucial?>
has flourished sometimes looking like a tree with a long stalk waving its arms. When suddenly yesterday it almost turned inside out and started bubbling and completely deflated it's tentacles. Now it seems they have discoloured and are falling off.
<Uh-oh>
He has a few left and still stretching himself out like a long stalk. I have noticed that he tried to move around the tank yesterday, and he keeps climbing the glass walls of the tank.
<The climbing and stretching may be a search for extra light/water movement. More tank details would help – lighting specifications along with filtration, substrate, circulation etc..>
I did notice that my nitrate level has shot up in the last two days.
<Actual numbers would be more useful along with details of other parameters – pH, Ammonia etc..>
I have however been trying to add Calcium, by boosting it and adding Calcium daily?
<What way were you dosing; Kalk, Two Part Supplement, “Turbo Calcium” – Calcium Chloride supplements?>
Maybe this has been too much?
<Probably not the root cause, although a test on calcium would show this..? Did you witness a “snowstorm” effect at all?>
I did a 40% water change the minute I saw my anemone looking poorly. The nitrate levels are back to zero.
<Good start and good to have a definite figure>
My question.
Will he die if lost his tentacles and do they grow back?
<Without knowing other details of the tank and only knowing the size of the tank it is very hard to tell.
Although as I’ve said the size of the tank is much to small to keep this animal in and it is sadly very likely that it will not survive without an upgrade and I fear this may be too late now. In this volume of water it is also highly likely it will take your other livestock with it. Regeneration is possible however, a slim chance>
Is there anything I can do?
<Send along further details and maybe a picture, would be very helpful. I would also suggest moving your other animals to another tank for their safety>
How do I add calcium to my tank safely?
<Noted on WWM - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/calcalkmar.htm
A reply with the above suggestions on your species and tank may let us help you further and I hope we can try and do
something more to save your animal and your system, Olly>

My white anemone shrunk.  Is it dying?   – 3/13/07
<Hi Heather, Brenda here>
I am a fairly new owner of a saltwater tank. We bought 1 white anemone to go with our clown.
<A “white” clownfish hosting anemone is a sick anemone.  If your tank is less than six months old, your tank is not ready for an anemone.>
Today we left for a couple of hours and came home to find him all shrunken up.
<Anemones will shrink up to expel waste.>
He had maybe 3 or 4 of his arms at regular length and all the rest were sunken in to his body and gray.
<Gray does not sound good!!!>
What is happening with my anemone????? Please help. I'm afraid that this is a sign that he is dieing.
<That is my thought also.>
If that is the case, I am assuming that I should remove him from the tank ASAP, yes???  
<I would at least move it to a quarantine tank or a bucket.>
Please help!!!
Heather
<Please research before you purchase.  Anemones are delicate creatures, and need special care.  Brenda>

Re:  Bleached Sebae Anemone – 3/12/07
<Brenda following up>
Thank you so much for such a quick reply on specific help for our anemone!!!  
<You’re welcome.>
We will give it our best care and hope for the best!   I did think of one other question.  I understand that it is very important to remove a dead anemone as quickly as possible from the tank to keep from harming other inhabitants.  Is it obvious when it is dead?  
<If the mouth is gaping for long periods it is likely on its way out.  Once it is dead, you will likely see some build up of slime and it may look like it is melting.>
Because frankly there are times we thought it was dead only to see signs of life later.  Is there a time frame we are looking at as to when we should remove it when we are fairly certain it is dead?  
<Time frame, no.  Anemones can live a long time being bleached.  They can also parish overnight.  Given the fact that this is a new anemone, it may be still acclimating to its environment.  Anemones can also look pretty bad when they are expelling waste.  It is best to always have premixed saltwater ready for an emergency water change.>
Hopefully it won't come to this!  And on the upside, it actually has attached itself for sure to the front, bottom (glass) of the aquarium.
<Great!>
Not a great spot, but at least it's alive.
<Not only alive, but it also has the energy to attach itself.  Many times sick anemones are being tossed around in the current.>
Thank you again!
Drowning in tank info
<You’re welcome.  Brenda>

Anemones getting darker......not a good mix of animals   3/4/07
Hi,
<Hello.>
    I have a 50 long with 40lbs of live rock, 50 lbs of base a whisper 60 filter, and a 192 watt ho florescent lighting.
<No skimmer?>
    For fish I have a yellow tang, a cinnamon and gold clown, a percula clown, 2 chromes,  2 yellow damsels, a checker goby, and a neon goby.
<The mixing of the clowns and the residency of the tang are a no-go long-term.>
    For invertebrates I have 21 turbo snails of different varieties,
<Too many, 1 per 10 gallons is plenty....too much still, 1:20 gallons is usually plenty.>
a sea hare,
<Be aware of this one and toxins.>
  18 hermit crabs, 2 sally lightfoot crabs,
<Have a few horror stories about this one.>
emerald crab, a cleaner shrimp, afire shrimp, 4 peppermint shrimp, 4 anemones of various types
<It is not good to keep multiple of anemones of the same species in a single aquarium barring the exception that they are clones of each other in an aquarium tank...you also should not keep anemones with sessile invertebrates and you ESPECIALLY shouldn't keep anemones of differing species together.>
and a few polyps.
    All my anomies are turning brownish in color, they look healthy in general and have had one of them I've had since the tank cycled. Is there any way you cold tell me what to look for here?
<Not without knowing the exact species and more tank details...water parameters, no I cannot honestly not tell you.  My guess is that they were bleaching when you bought them and are now producing more zooxanthellae to compensate, and thus becoming darker.>
thanks John
<Adam J.>

Concern re Incorrect Information on a FAQ Posted.  Could a note be Added? <<Mmm, yes. RMF>>, there are NO naturally white Heteractis species  - 02/21/07
Hello Mich,
<Hello again Brandon!>
Here is the image that seems to be lost in the stream of bits, bytes, one's and zero's that we call the Internet.  I was a programmer before I started messing with water.  
<Oh!  Do you know anything about placing rotating banner ads?  We have been trying to place the ads on our site and have run into multiple issues.  I received the image with the other query.>
As promised here is the text that I found that concerned me as well,
<I will inform the powers that be, of your concerns.>
"*Sebae **Anemone*
Hello Again, (It has been about 1 month since my last email, heehee) The tank is running perfect with the RO water changes and the Prizm, (I don't know about a 90 gallon, but for my 26 it's pulling out tons of dry skim, only complaint is a little noise, a good compromise though.)  I had a sebae anemone surprise delivered to me in a ordering mix up, I contemplated sending it back but didn't know if it would survive the shipping again so decided to keep the freebee.
Its white, which scared me at first, but then I realized that all the pictures of bleached anemones appeared translucent, mine is sort of a creamy off white sheet rock color.  It has purple tips.  It attached to my rock in the lower areas of the tank and hasn't moved yet (1 week).  It responds well to being touched (shrinks away) but doesn't feel sticky as it probably should.  The only thing that it would eat was a little squid, no Mysis, fish fry, or krill.  I have 130 watts of brand new lighting right on top of the tank.  Do you think this anemone has expelled its algae or can I salvage him. Oh he's about 3 inches diameter and my Percula shows absolutely no interest.
I know clowns have a tendency to fight but could I add a small Clarkii?  Thanks a ton guys.
Eric
<<<Many Sebaes are naturally white so he should be fine.  The lighting will be sufficient for this anemone also.  Please read here for more info on these guys:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm Cody>>>"   <Wrong. RMF>
This alarmed me because I have never heard of a H. crispa, H. magnifica, or any other Heteractis spp. for that matter, being white.  Also it would seem to be in conflict with a statement that Mr. Calfo made that went something along the lines of, " <<<<this is a common reality/problem my friend. Your anemone is dying... and it was not a good candidate from go. Frankly (not berating you), your merchant should have known not to sell this animal and you should have known not to buy it (as an educated consumer...
research your livestock's needs before you buy them). This species of anemone is naturally dark in color (usually brown) with dark purple tips. Yellow is not a natural color and indicated an animal that is bleached and/or has been dyed. It will be dead within days. Few live weeks beyond import. I really don't know why merchants pay for these things when they are shipped to them. If they stopped paying for them and if consumers would stop buying them, then the collectors would get their acts together and stop
shipping them unhealthy. Please read more about anemone health and car in our archives. Be sure to follow the links at the top of the page too. Best regards, Anthony>>>>"  It would at least appear to me that you all seem to advocate not buying the white specimens in lieu of tan or deep brown specimens.  
<Yes.>
Mine is a very deep brown/tan color.  I have not made up my mind as to the pigment, it seems different every time that I look at it.  
<Happens.>
As for the attachment, I was trying to narrow this guy down to subspecies.  I know that it is of genus Corallimorph, I am strongly leaning toward a species of Rhodactis, I really would like to know if this is correct, and if so what subspecies is it.
<Yes is a Rhodactis.  More in other query.>
I bought it mistakenly as a type of leather coral.  What I get for listening to the people at the store.  From what I have found I am not quite out of my league, as I am regularly hand feeding a Plerogyra sinuosa, a Trachyphyllia geoffroyi, a Heteractis crispa, two colonies of Tubastrea spp., and now the mystery Corallimorph.  I introduced food into the tank and a mouth appeared.  It was quite large, so I fed it. The mouth consequentially went away, after taking the Mysis of course.  
<Yep.>
Also I am going to quote the address of the offending page,
<http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sebaefaq2.htm the 12th query down.>  
perhaps it should be looked at with some scrutiny, again guys I am not trying to undermine the work that you do.  It is as I told Mich, you very wonderful and dedicated people are often the last line of defense against, haste, lack of knowledge, and general disregard for common sense.  But, I would hate for someone to see this and think that all was well, when in fact it is not.  
<Thank you for your observation.>
I would love to help you guys out in any way that I can, and if there is ever something that I could do please do not hesitate to let me know.
<We are still trying to place rotating banner ads on the site and have run into numerous problems.  Any chance you are knowledgeable in this area?  Any assistance here would be most appreciated.>  
With the utmost gratitude,
Brandon R. Foster
<Thank you, -Mich>
B <<Got it>>
The photo that he is referring to was sent in another query and was place on the FAQ’s from 2/20.  His note is quite lengthy, but his point as I understand it is: the response that was given is incorrect and he would like to see a note added stating as much so other aren’t mislead.  It is the 12th query down on this page http://www.wetwebmedia.com/sebaefaq2.htm  
Below is the text he take issue with and the justification.
<Many Sebaes are naturally white so he should be fine.  The lighting will be sufficient for this anemone also.  Please read here for more info on these
guys:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm
Cody>"   <<Is not a factual stmt. RMF>>
This alarmed me because I have never heard of a H. crispa, H. magnifica, or any other Heteractis spp. for that matter, being white.  Also it would seem to be in conflict with a statement that Mr. Calfo made that went something along the lines of, " <this is a common reality/problem my friend. Your anemone is dying... and it was not a good candidate from go.
M

Joes Juice for Aiptasia Control Versus BTA, Entacmaea quadricolor - 2/4/07
Hello,
<Hi Sharon, Brenda here>
I have 3 BTAs and an Aiptasia problem. Before using Joe’s Juice, I would like to know if this will harm the BTAs.
<There is mixed results with Joe’s Juice for Aiptasia control.  To answer your question, too much at once may harm your BTA.  If you choose this route, I would not use it near your BTA.  Start out slow and watch your livestock closely.>
My first thought was to move the infested rock to a bucket filled with saltwater and zap them there, but all of my rock can be removed. Help!
<An alternative that I have used is Peppermint Shrimp, Lysmata Wurdemanni. Unfortunately others have had mixed results with Peppermint Shrimp.  There is more information on both here:  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/aiptasia_impressions/aiptaisia_impressions.htm >
Sharon
<Hope this helps.  Brenda>

How can I tell if my anemone is beyond help?    2/2/07
Dear WWM crew,
<Jane>
Thank you again for the fabulous web site and all the advice you have given me in the past.  My question today is simple, but here is a little background info.
<Okay>
An LFS had received a blue carpet anemone (Stichodactyla Haddoni) a week ago.  I do not buy carpet anemones from stores since I do not want to encourage their collection and the likely subsequent death.
<I am in agreement with your practice>
But I figured there would be no harm in visiting it now and then.  Well, yesterday it was upside down, shriveled up and the mouth was severely gaping (I mean, open about 3").  It was oozing stuff.
<Very bad signs...>
I pointed it out to them and they were about to toss it out.  I asked them to give it to me so I can try to rescue it (I do know how slim the chances are).  At the time I had estimated it would be dead within 3 hours.
Well, I have it at home in a 100 gallon tank all to itself (although it only has 3" of water in it right now).  I can not tell if it is dead or alive.  I have had it for about 16 hours now.  It looks terrible (covered in slime) but there is a small section of the tentacles that still looks alive.  The mouth is still wide open and its surface ("skin") is all cracked and torn.  The whole anemone keeps oozing whitish stuff.  It does smell somewhat bad, but I can not tell if it is the anemone itself or all the goo coming off of it.
<All part of the same>
  Oh, and last night when I was gently transferring it into the tank, one of my fingers went right through its oral disk.  I am guessing it is a bad sign.  In retrospect, I should not have picked it up with my hands...
Also, can a dead anemone still have sticky tentacles?
<Yes>
I have heard that the Portuguese Man-O-War can sting creatures long after it's dead, but what about anemones?  This one still have slightly sticky tentacles (at least in some places).  It is also bleached (the blue tips are still there, but the brown undertone is all gone).
I do not want to give up on it until I KNOW for sure that it is dead.
<We are in agreement here as well>
But how can I tell, aside from waiting until the whole thing disintegrates all over the tank and spreads its aroma throughout the whole house?  
<Mmm, not really, but the reality is that this animal is highly likely dead, or as the line goes in the William Goldman "Princess Bride" movie, mostly dead>
I have been praying and doing water changes.  Hope it helps :)
Thanks to you all
Julia.
<I think you have given this situation your "best shot", but this animal is gone. I would siphon it out to waste. Bob Fenner>

Anemone Dying?  1/1/06
Hi there, I have a problem.  I have a Sebae anemone who seems to have shriveled up and died.  I checked my water parameters and noticed a small amount of ammonia (.25).  The tank had been cycled and is fine, no other death, etc.,  so I removed the piece of live rock that the anemone was on and placed it in about two gallons of water from my tank (enough to keep it covered).  The problem is I can't get the anemone off the LR.  This piece of rock is the largest in my tank and I really don't want to lose it.  The anemone almost completely withdrew into the rock (you can just see a bit of it sticking out).  First of all, is there any way to get it out?
<In your situation, best just to leave it die and re-cure the rock.>
And secondly, once I do, do I have to cure the rock again now that it has been out of my tank and had a death on it?  How long would I need to do this, and how would I go about it?
<Best to cure in a tank/tub large enough to submerse the rock.  I'd direct a power head in the area the anemone is in.  Your curing process will be complete when ammonia levels have dropped to zero.  To speed the process up, a small water change could be done on a daily basis.>
Thank you for your help.
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>

How do I know if my Anemone is still alive?   12/15/06
I’ve had a green purple tipped anemone for 2 weeks.
<Mmm, likely a "Sebae"... Heteractis crispa>
It seems to have
attached well to live rock.
But then two mornings ago I found it just floating around the 50 gallon tank.
<Maybe another species of Heteractis here... magnifica does this behavior quite commonly... Even in the wild... thought to be a mechanism for dispersion>
It seemed huge! with every tentacle engorged.
I lifted it a little out of the water
<... not a good idea>
and it sprang a leak! of water from one of the tentacles. I placed it back onto the live rock and it quickly collapsed into a tight ball. But a few hours later it was open and re-attached. My concern is that it no longer moves its tentacles. It does elongate and shrink back but there in no action in the tentacles. I feed it frozen shrimp – twice since I purchased it. I feed it again 2 days ago, but it didn’t hold onto the shrimp with its tentacles, unlike the previous feedings.
I have a maroon clown fish that calls the anemone home. Otherwise I have damsels, snails, hermits, a sand star.
My nitrites are slightly up to 0.3 from <0.3. Ammonia levels are 0. Other chemistries are fine.
I’m confused by its lack of independent movement of tentacles and feeding, but it does change shape.
Is it dead?
Is it dying?
Do anemones usually leak?
Do I need to un-attach it and get rid of it?
Do I just wait and see what happens?
<Mmm, no, maybe, not usually, no/no, yes>
Thank you very much for your time.
Stewart Blandón, MD
<Need to ascertain which species this is... Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm
and then on to the species coverage (linked above...). There is much more to be discussed once the species is discerned... its needs, your system, water quality, nutrition. Bob Fenner>

Re: How do I know if my Anemone is still alive? Not reading...   12/17/06
thank you for the super fast reply.
<Welcome>
I contacted the store where I purchased the anemone - the Lucky Goldfish in Oakland, Ca. USA. They said the species was HAITI.
> searching your site I think it looks most like this one - http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Cnidarians/Non-Condylactus_anemone.jpg
It is a green/purple color.
Still the same - doesn't move, but hasn't shriveled. No spikes in Nitrates. Clown fish still calls it home.
The guy at the store said to just watch and wait. That it was not dead.
Your opinion?
Thank you,
Stewart
<Read on my friend, read on where you were referred. RMF>