Anenome just disappeared one day

[Capslock]

I picked up one of these anenomes a couple weeks ago from the fish store. It looked pretty and it was a nice deal.
http://liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Dis ... pCatId=619

So I go on a week vacation this past week, setup my auto top off and everything was good to go.

I get home, I see the top off water was near its end which was as expected and a bit of algea on the glass. All fine and dandy and the anemone was still there.

Well about 2 days after I get back and still now, I cannot find that anemone anywhere in the tank, its as if it just disintigrated and no longer exitsts.

The last that i seen was a couple days ago it was really balled up inside itself, never seen it like that before. iv'e seen it ball up a little bit but for the most part it was really relaxed and expanded.

So where did this sucker go? Is it possible for it to suck into itself so much that it appears its just not in the tank anywhere or do you think it might have died and my starfish ate in in the hours I was not home during work?

What a mystery.

 

[Len]

It could have moved behind the rocks. Anemones do that a lot :?

 

[Anonymous]

Condy move a lot when they are hungry. A week without food may make her wander. It is probably hiding in a crevace somewhere. If it died your tank would probably still stink. A dead or dying anemone smells worse than a hundred rotting snails.

 

[Capslock]

Well,

the tank doesnt smell. THe rock work is not terribly extensive so I figure I would be able to see him given its size.

Now, in terms of feeding - thats actually a good question I should ask.

I have been feeding my fish brine shrimp and there is usually left overs for the starfish and the anemone. But I am wondering if I should be feeding him directly and if so, how do I do that?

 

[Anonymous]

...If it died your tank would probably still stink. A dead or dying anemone smells worse than a hundred rotting snails.

((shudder)) oh my yes! As far as feeding, anything meaty cut to a size that it will eat will do. Frozen silvesides, clams, etc. from the LFS if you want the easy way. I used to buy fresh clams and scallops and cut them fine, then freeze them on a plastic wrapped cookie sheet. Once they were frozen I'd package them up with layers of plastic in between. To feed, just thaw a chunk in a little tank water (I added Selcon as well), rinse then target feed the anemone.

 

[Chubosco]

Had an anemone killed by a hammer once. One of the hammer's hammer? was on the anemone and it was deflated to the point it was hard to even see.

 

[Anonymous]

...If it died your tank would probably still stink. A dead or dying anemone smells worse than a hundred rotting snails.

((shudder)) oh my yes! As far as feeding, anything meaty cut to a size that it will eat will do. Frozen silvesides, clams, etc. from the LFS if you want the easy way. I used to buy fresh clams and scallops and cut them fine, then freeze them on a plastic wrapped cookie sheet. Once they were frozen I'd package them up with layers of plastic in between. To feed, just thaw a chunk in a little tank water (I added Selcon as well), rinse then target feed the anemone.

Agreed. Condy's are voracious eaters.

 

[Anonymous]

Had an anemone killed by a hammer once. One of the hammer's hammer? was on the anemone and it was deflated to the point it was hard to even see.

Yes they can retract quite small. Keep searching. If you have overflows it could also be in there.

 

[Capslock]

well I did find him. He some how got into my sump? well, thats a first for me but now I am a bit worried. Looks like I went a little ill-prepared when I bought this guy. Well he does not seem dead yet, so I guess I would fall under the bad parent category but I will believe I still have hope.


edit:
actually:

He is still alive. I decided that since he ended up in my sump that I would just contain him and feed him. I put him in a 4-cup measuring bowl. I placed some shrimp right above and touching his tenticle. Slowly but surely he took it in.

Right now he is brown and there is a spot where he is a bit green whereas when I purchased him he was bright white. I am not sure if that means he is really sick or not? I am hoping someone could chime in on this.

Once he is done eating I will put him back in the tank until I see either improvement or advised to take him out.
Let me know your thoughts and thank you everyone for your help so far

 

[Capslock]

woops double post

 

[Anonymous]

they are known to end up in the sump. The anemone being brown/green is good. Even though I feel that a condy can be white and still healthy, as long as they are fed properly,. Browning up is a sign that the xooanthallae are increasing and feed the anemone through photosynthesis.

Also I would wait a few days before moving the anemone. If you move it now you may upset the anemone, particularly because it just ate.

 

[Ben1]

But dont just keep him in a measure bowl either, unless the bowl in the tank?

Careful not to tear the foot or disc when you put him back in.

 

[Capslock]

Ive read that the brown and green is a good sign and when I first bought him he was a bright white so I was in a bit of a panic mode that he died.

So turning brown is great.

The other thing though is that he used to have his tentacles very far out and he looked very large. Now he is very...i guess.. condensed?

Is that a sign of a health issue? Since I did not feed him directly per a regular schedule I am worried he is sick.

 

[Anonymous]

Give her some time to adjust and to digest. She should get back to normal.

What kind of lighting are you using?

From what I know of condys like strong light.

 

[Capslock]

My lighting is 2-92watt - a 10,000k and a blue light....im not sure 100% what I am talking about but thats the wattage.

some veterans of the hobby have told me that is on the low end and that is fine for now. Ill be moving into a home in about a month and a larger tank will follow within the year so I have no plans to make an upgrade until then.

That said, I shifted the rock around to get the anemone at a higher level closer to the light - hopefully he will like that.

 

[Anonymous]

Sounds like PC(Power Compacts). They are not the strongest lights and cannot really be judged by their wattage. They are way on the weak side for a condy. That may be why she is wandering. Sometimes feeding more will help.