Miss Mouse

Hey guys, i got myself a malu anenome this week and he seems to be a bit sad - he's open but definitely shrinking. Help!

agsansoo

OK ... Check water par's first ...
Is it shrinking with lights off, low or high. Mine shrinks when the lights are off.
I think you have a sebae, right ? He need lots of light ...! Have you feed him anything yet ?

Miss Mouse

I've noticed he's shrinkled up day and night - not just at a certain time. He has settled just out of the direct light but still has enough good light reaching him. He's a purple tipped malu anemone.

I fed some shrimp to him and he ate it yesterday.
This morning I cannot tell if he is upside down or the right way up - he seems to have something protruding both ends! Looks like he has 2 feet basically..

Miss Mouse

Oh my ammonia, nitrates and nitrites are all 0. They were before I bought him and I just checked again - they're fine. The only thing that has changed is the tank got a bit colder the last 2 nights cos I left a window open - it was at 22 degree this morning rather than the usual 24.
I've just looked it him again and he seems to have filled up soe of his tentacles again - I read that it's quite normal for them to change shape and shrink and inflate again after first being introduced into a tank so I'm hoping that he's just getting used it it.
Will keep you updated!

agsansoo

Yes, all quite normal. Post a picture if you can. Feed him a little each day until he gets use to his new home.

Miss Mouse

Thanks I have just got home and he looks better - he has replanted his foot in the sand and he's fully open again. Maybe he just had a bad morning

Bonochick

I hope he continues to do better!

agsansoo

They also deflate when they have to poo ! They inflate when hungry. If the mouth hangs open ... he sick. If he's loosing color (like mine), he
needs more light. (mine is very bleached ... it was a rescue purchase)

Miss Mouse

This morning he's almost all gone! He is normal colour - just hardly any tentacles - he seems to have sucked them all in.
I have been watching thinking maybe a fish or crab is bothering him but I havent noticed any of them harrassing him. I'm hoping he will come out again now that the light is on.

agsansoo

Mine will completely disappear between the rocks during the day, when the lights are off. It is very normal ... What kind of clown do you have again ?

Miss Mouse

No I mean he has all shrivelled up - he has been better since the lights came back on but he's still little and ill looking. Do you think I should put him in QT tank incase he dies? Save me doing a lot of water changes etc

agsansoo

Look at my anemone photos in my tank photo thread ... See if your looks like the second photo. Can you take a photo of yours ?

Miss Mouse

Ok this is him on day 1 -

agsansoo

Oh I forgot ... Do not move him to QT ...! This will only stress him out even more. Wait it out.

agsansoo

He is what we in the states call a Sebae Anemone (Heteractis crispa). Are his tentacles falling off ?

Miss Mouse

ok wont move him then - this is the pic of him today - i switched off the light just to get a better pic of him because he doesn't show up with the light so bright on the white sand. To give you an indication, when I first got him I think he was about 9 or 10 cm's across and now he's about 5 cm's across.

Miss Mouse

No the tenticles are definitely not fall off but they're shrivelled up and small - there are a few poking around but not as full as they were when I fisrst got him

agsansoo

OK ... Is he eating ? Can you feed him ? Has he eaten anything ?

Miss Mouse

Yes he ate some flakes and shrimp the last 2 days. I am going to get him some fresh shrimp and muscles today when I get my RO water.

agsansoo

Good ... His mouth looks open .. is it ?

Miss Mouse

It was in the picture but he has closed it again now

Miss Mouse

I just checked salinity - it's up to 1.028/38. I think this is because of the increased evaporation since having my new light.
Do you think it could be why he is sick?

agsansoo

Good ... I think he is just stressed .. I had a Sebae ... The guy at the LFS told me it was a Bubble Tip ... I never went back to that store again.

Miss Mouse

Thats a shame - well hopefully if I just keep in eating and keep him stable he'll come out of it.
I'm hoping the RO water will help him out a little more because I've been using tap water.

agsansoo

Yes ... it's could be another. My tank has been losing about a gallon a day this week. (it been hot here)

Miss Mouse

OOOH thats a lot!! At least it's cold here but I do hate the cold
Well I'll keep you updated - thanks for your help Ag

agsansoo

Yes get some RO top-up water. Our tap water is very bad here.
Here is what mine looked like.



He only lasted 4 days. My tank was only 6 weeks old at the time.

agsansoo

Hope he gets better ... Talk to you later Ursula ..

Andy
(agsansoo)

Miss Mouse

Morning Andy!
Today he is a transformed anemone! He is looking really happy and healthy, fully open, all tentacles full. I think the water change and some fresh prawn helped him a lot. I'm SO relieved

Thanks for all your help and support - speak soon

agsansoo

That's good news ! He just needs to settle in to his new home. I also found out anemones live over 100 years old. Keep us posted on his progress.