New Print and eBook on Amazon:   Anemone Success Doing what it takes to keep Anemones healthy long-term by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Anemone Question for Bob       2/8/18 Hi Bob, <Hey Nishad> Hope all is well in your world. One of my large anemones exhibited some odd behavior...thought you may have some ideas on it. Please see attached pictures. Thanks so much...Nish <Yeah; have seen this sort of expression on occasion; and heard/read various theories advanced as cause/s. I urge the usual checking re water quality issues, perhaps a double/triple dosing (one time) of iodide, the addition of a few grams of simple sugar (glucose best) and nothing else. In most all cases this "bubbliness" solves itself in days to a couple weeks. Bob Fenner>

Rock flower nems     3/18/17
Hey guys how has it been.
<Fine Tom; thanks>
Have a quick one about some rock flower nems that we have been getting and shipping in. We are having a large number melting the second or third day in. Cal 440, Mag 1350, alk 8 no3 5. They seem to be expelling a large
amount of why looks like green brown stringy material almost like a small hay.
<Mmm; trouble>
They are still solid feeling when introduced to the system.
<Alive up till then likely>
Could they have an issue with the substrate ?
<Doubtful... something/s else. Are they shipped one to the bag? Are their pedicles intact; i.e., not torn?>
We acclimate them with :30 float and :30 drip.
<I'd be dosing (over; like three plus times) with iodide-ate and lowering the spg of the acclim. water a thousandth or two>
Have kicked around putting them in a bare bottom and doing water changes ever hour till they quit expelling that material.
What chemicals can be used to help with these issues
<As above... plus poss. a simple/hexose sugar... as detailed by Hans Hass decades back and myself in recent ones>
Thanks again
Tom smith
Aquascape Chicago
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>
Re: Rock flower nems     3/18/17
<Can't read this>
Re: Rock flower nems     3/18/17
Sorry about that
The nems all looked in tack in the bags and were shipped 5 per med sized bag.
<Mmm; I'd only ship one per... ALWAYS>
Just found the writing on the simple sugar treatment
What type is sugar works
Cane
Corn syrup
Simple cheap white ?
<Glucose is best... look for this at the supermarket for folks that do canning. Bob Fenner>

Anemone Help   2/2/06 Hi Bob, <Hi Michele, James here today.> My name is Michele Laurita. I was wondering if you could possibly help me. I have a very small reef tank 25 gallons. I have in it a yellow tang, clown wrasse, a tomato clown, <Problems coming up, tank much too small for these fish.> several small hermit  cleaner crabs, 2 banded shrimp, and many other corals and live rock. The tank has been established for over 1 year. It seems every anemone I purchase dies due to the same cause.  It appears that they get I guess for lack of a better term "ulcers" open wounds that appear white fleshy openings on the stalk and interior of the anemone. Why is this occurring? I have already lost 1 anemone and I really love the one I have now yet it has these symptoms as well. Can you guild me to what I may be doing wrong. I certainty would appreciate any guidance you could provide. I read your web site and feel as though you would be able to help , Thank you Michele. <Michele, first off, anemones are not easy to keep to begin with.  A large tank, pristine water quality, good water movement and intense lighting are all required to keep them alive for any length of time.  The fish you have in your tank are creating poor water quality in the amount of waste they produce.  The other problem is that water parameters in a small tank can shift too fast, another negative for keeping anemones.  You will just be wasting your money buying anemones until you can provide the requirements/needs for them. James (Salty Dog)>     

Lugol's Solution   1/30/06 wow bob it was so nice to meet you and talk to you here in Irving TX  today. I really enjoyed your lecture. ok can you give me the name of that iodine   again, you said 10 drops in a 75 gallon tank, this will not harm corals or fish is   that correct. <Correct, and name above> am the one that was telling you about my rose bubble tip anemones   not being big like they use to be. you also said they were in competition with all my leather corals correct. wow what a day it was to hear all you speakers speak. ill have to do some research and find some of your books. thanks again for  an unforgettable day ill remember this for along time. Mickey white <Pleased to meet you again Mickey! Bob Fenner>

Here is a pic of these RBTA   1/30/06 well what do you think. they have turned a pink color and been right their   for several months, they don't get big like they use to, will try the iodine you   suggested. thanks <Mmm, let's re-state... the Iodine/ide will help, as would using activated carbon (once a month pouch, leaving in for two months), and improving the lighting (the MH you mentioned, switching out the two white PCs)... the Sarcophyton/Leather is really too much here... and you would do well to "frag" it... or cut it in half, give half away. Cheers, Bob Fenner> Mickey white

Do appear dyed eh? Color loss from simple dilution/division?

Re: Lugol's Use ok ill get some Lugol's solution this week,10 drops for a 75 gallon   tank, should i do this ever so often or just one time only. thanks  bob Mickey white <Best to use in concert with your water change activity... every week or two when you change water. Same dosage. If you want to use more frequently, you need to get/use a test kit for iodine. Please read over this area: http://wetwebmedia.com/iodfaqs.htm Bob Fenner>

Saving an anemone 9/20/04 I looked all over your site for some help, but kept coming up empty.  I have a rock anemone that looks like its on its way out.  Its lost all it's zooxanthellae...  Looks bleached with light green tips.   <this animal needs to be fed and fed often... several times weekly... to save it and maintain it. If it hasn't been getting this sort of feeding up to now, it is the reason for the poor health in large part at least> The problem is:  He is in a hole in a rock about his circumference  in the back of my tank.  He moved there during a power outage.  The rock is a base rock for my reef.  If I remove the rock, a lot of other problems will ensue.  Any suggestions? <for now focus on feeding it... use a feeding tube (soft tubing and a plunging syringe for food slurries/paste> Right now he "shriveled" up in the hole. Chris <I see from your e-mail addy you are from Kentucky? Have you visited the local club LMAS.org? Please do so if not... very good fellowship to be had in local clubs. Anthony>  

LTA quarantine I have searched your info and can't seem to find quarantine procedure for anemones, if their is one. <Here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anempt2.htm> I have bought a LTA and the LFS is holding it until I find out a correct quarantine procedure--I seem to know more about fish than the LFS if you catch my drift--which is scary.  I consistently quarantine my new fish and would like some help on this anemone.  Please advise.  Thanks <Bob Fenner>

Anemone - Dead and Dying Days.. >I have a new anemone and I'm concerned about it, they have odd behavior as it is but today I noticed it had what looked like gravel stuck to it and it has been tipped over on its side for several days... >>NEVER a good sign. >...so I picked it up to move it, and what looked like gravel seem to be mush, almost like it has busted open on the orange part of it's "body" I have a few blue legged hermit crabs and 3 star fish could they have harmed the anemone? What should I do? KJ >>Not at all likely to blame it on the other inverts, MUCH more likely that water quality, possibly combined with mishandling, has ensured its demise. Remove it NOW, it is a "goner". Marina 
Anemone, Dead and Dying Days... Follow-up >Marina, I appreciate your quick response. >>Most welcome. >I came home after work and it was tossed, I must tell you that I have not touched it since I put it into the tank, and my water was tested the day that I bought it, all was ok. >>Different species have differing requirements, not to mention the importance of acclimation. IF the water is pristine, NSW (near sea water) in quality, a small tear can be healed. Unfortunately, hobbyists and fish shops cannot always test for everything that affects such delicate creatures. >But I have added 3 new fish... >>At the same time, sans quarantine? I don't recollect you mentioning the size of the tank, water parameters, etc., but with the exception of very large systems (large to us, that is), even three small fish can bring about just enough of an upset to push the more delicate species right over the edge. Please do quarantine. >...and I do have 2 other anemones, one is doing great and the other one I have had for 6-7 months and is very small, that one seems to move around a lot and does not open up much. >>Do use our Google search tool, it's important that you know what species you have so that you can best provide for their needs - not all anemones are created equal. One that moves around may be in search of something: better flow, better light, better food, better digs... >But it looks somewhat healthy too. I bought 2 clownfish (percula) in the hopes that they would take to one of them.  >>Never predictable, and if tank-bred/raised, they seem to "forget" what anemones are for. >I'm new at the anemone thing. Any suggestions?? Thank you, KJ >>Oh yes, use our Google tool, read all you can. Know what you have, and read up on them. Take care mixing, especially different species, go from there. Marina 
Anemone Dead and Dying Days Follow-up >Marina, >>Karol.. >Inventory of livestock is as follows: 1 neon Dottyback (tank raised) 1 canary wrasse 2 percula clowns (tank raised) 1 lyretail Anthias 1 longnose hawk All aprox 1 inch in size with exception of the lyretail, almost 2 inches. 3 starfish all caught in the Keys. I have never actually Identified them, they are bumpy and a gold/brown color I have had them for over two years. And a few very small blue legged hermit crabs. My tank is a 45 gal tall with 2 of the largest Emperors (forgive me). I have never invested in a wet/dry but to be honest I have done very well with the system I have. >>Emperor FILTERS (better clarify for readers), not Emperor angels! This is a perfectly good filter, and if it works, well then, hey. However, this size tank is a little on the small size for most all anemones that Clownfishes host. I will highly recommend that you go with the bubble tip anemone - they're being "bred" (asexually) in captivity, have pretty darn good survival rates, but can (and do) become rather large. Also, don't mix anemones (mobile invertebrates) with sessile invertebrates. >Water quality has always been good. Have it checked when I do my water changes, which can vary. but I usually do them every other month. >>You'll likely need to be a bit more stringent with this schedule when you acquire another anemone. Know also - hobbyists and fish shops simply cannot test for all that affects the quality of water. >I am going to do a small (10%)water change today, the anemone left some undesirable debris behind. >>Personally, I'd do a minimum 30% water change, even if the remaining inhabitants appear healthy. Dead anemones really do a number on water quality. >I think my biggest mistake was not checking into the anemone that I bought first. Like so many saltwater aquarist I get impulsive....bad move I know. >>Lessons learned, yeah? >Again, thank you for your timely response and your good advice. Do you ever go home?? Have a nice day. KJ >>I "work" from home, remember, we're an all-volunteer service. Pretty neat, I'm sitting here looking at my snowy back yard with a cup of coffee. Take care, and do that research on the anemones, look into the BTA I suggest. Marina P.S. Remember to learn about acclimation procedures for invertebrates!