LTA Strange Behavior

[Twin_II]

I recently received a new LTA (Macrodactyla doreensis) it arrived on Wednesday morning. Once opened the bag had a slight smell but it's tentacles stuck well and I slowly acclimated it over several hours. Once in the tank my maroon clown took to it happily and it smeed to settle into the sand bed. However, late evening the LTA removed itself from the sand and was laying on it with it's column attached to a rock. I figured it wanted a different spot then what I pick out, so I let it be.

Beginning Thursday early evening it started to turn it's stomach out and still hadn't buried it's foot (still in the same area, hasn't moved to a new location). Friday evening, it still hasn't buried it's self and it is pretty much inside out and laying upside down. To top things off the total ammonia NH4 had risen to .15 but free ammonia NH3 is stable at 0 all other parameter are stable sg 1.023, ph 8.2, Alkalinity 3, NO2 0, NO3 0.

This morning (Saturday) it looks somewhat smaller and a bit slimy. My maroon clown is paying some attention to it, but is no longer staying by it's side and is spending more of her time in her old location). Current ank parameters sg 1.023, ph 8.2, Alkalinity 3, NH3 0, NH4 0, NO2 0, NO3 0

This is my 2nd LTA (the first sadly after 1.5 years decided to move and got sucked in my power-head and then slowly disappeared into nothing). I've had a rose BTA for about 8 years, which expelled it’s stomach a few times but only for a shot time and not to the point that it looked insideout (BTA is in a different tank which resides at different location).

I've attached pictures, as I have never seen this behavior before (to this extreme, completely insideout, for 24+ hours). Any thoughts on what it might be doing is appreciated.

Thanks,
Sarah

 

[Ben1]

That's is too bad, it looks pretty bad. The clown if anything at this point would just be bothering it, so maybe its good he has left it be. If it was in my tank I might be tempted to flush it, or stick it in a QT for a bit. Some anemones IME can be similar to certain picky fish, in that the hardest part is the first month or so.

 

[leftovers]

It's dying as I would suspect its foot was badly damaged - not usually visible to the naked eye, it could also have a bacterial infection and will most likely not survive

The best way to purchase BTA's these days is from clones from other tanks or from dealers healthy stock.

 

[Anonymous]

It looks like a goner. I would remove it.

 

[Anonymous]

Last ditch effort, if you can, as I've seen starfish saved this way. Remove it to a QT system, lower light levels right now, then treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic. I never thought that you could save disintegrating starfishes with antibiotics, but the fellow I worked under at Long Beach Aquarium taught me differently. This was quite a few years ago, so I don't remember the exact regimen, and just recall that it was a broad spectrum Tx.

That, along with LOTS of water changes may allow it to recover, but it will be a good bit of work for you. Otherwise, I agree with everyone else, it's done for.