Tipped Over Condy Anemone - 04/25/05 Hello, <Greetings> your site is great, I spend all my free time reading on it. Anyway,  I got a Condy anemone the other day, and it was doing fine, it moved off the  rock it came with and found a piece of live rock to perch on.  At first it was at the top, then it was sort of on the side so it would stick  out to the side instead of straight up. < Not uncommon when introduced to new surrounds/lighting/flow > Then this morning I found it all  shriveled up with some orange stuff coming out of its mouth. < This in itself is not indicative of a problem.  The "mouth" also serves as the anus...likely the anemone was performing a water-change and expelling waste. > It looked  pretty much dead, but when I got home today I noticed the orange stuff was gone and it looked big again. It looks perfectly healthy, but the only problem is that it is laying on its side on the sand not attached to anything.  My clown is still in it, not really minding the new location, but it worries me why it isn't stuck to anything.  I have plenty of lighting and my nitrate is at zero.  I am sorry if an issue like this has been brought up before, but please try to explain to me why it is just laying on its side.   < If the anemone is not damaged/injured, it may just be looking for a more desirable location. I have seen these anemones sink their feet in to the sand rather than attach to rock.  Also, please be aware these are not hardy/easy anemones to keep, just (unfortunately) cheap and rather easy to come by. > Also can you tell me if any kinds of hermit crabs prey on Condys?  I heard that red legged ones are their natural prey. < I have not heard/read this, but do consider the crabs to be opportunistic and likely to prey on anything, especially if on a decline.  Regards, Eric R. >
Tipped Over Condy Anemone - Revisited - 04/25/05 Thank you for this information.  If you would like to see a picture of it now: go here: _ http://pokemon706.com/sick.jpg_ (http://pokemon706.com/sick.jpg) < Doesn't look promising my friend >   I was telling you that it was clearing up, but now more is coming out, and that picture is starting to look good compared to what it looks like now. < Not looking good, likely this animal will not survive. >   Could it be doing this because I fed it too much?  (I put in a cube of frozen food and my clown just carried it to the Condy for him to munch on)  I have learned my lesson to put smaller pieces in my tank.   < Indeed, feed diced, meaty food stuffs.  THAWED Mysis shrimp/plankton. > Also how do you recommend feeding them brine shrimp? < I don't.  Mostly water, very little to no nutritional value. >   When I let the cube thaw in some  water it just breaks apart.   Should I use a syringe and inject it near it,  just like you would use the project "MicroVert"? < Yes, use a syringe (Turkey baster) to "gently" release food to the anemone, although this one looks to be beyond that. > Also today I did a water change, I hope it helps it.  Also, you said these aren't the easiest to take care of.  Should I try a bubble tip anemone instead?   My LFS always has the green ones in.  They seems to look very healthy. < I wouldn't, I don't usually recommend anyone acquire an anemone.  None are "easy" to keep in my opinion, and should only be attempted by the most experienced of hobbyists. Regards, Eric R. >
Tipped Over Anemone III - 04/26/05 Hello it's me one more time.    < Hello again! > This morning when I woke up, the Condy  was done excreting that orange stuff.  It is actually looking up.  This morning he is semi-inflated and his foot looks like its regaining its shape.  So maybe with proper water quality (and the help from my clown) things could turn around? < All good to hear, hopefully you will prove me wrong and be able to save this animal <G>.  Do have a read starting here to glean more info << http://www.wetwebmedia.com/condylactis.htm >>.  Also try doing a Google search re captive care/husbandry for this animal.  Good luck, and do let us know how things go.  Eric R. >
Tipped Over Condy Anemone IV - 04/26/05 Me again, anyway, I got home from school today and I noticed that he is deflated. He still looks alive though, and it seems that his foot is stuck to  the glass a little bit today.  Maybe things are starting to look up. < We can hope. > But maybe not.  My mom also said that during the day his foot got really big.  I don't know what that means. < Possibly a manifestation of some physical injury. > For a 10 dollar thing this thing sure is a lot of trouble.  *looks at bubble tip anemone through store window* *drools* < Wrong attitude my friend!  You obviously have some concern or we wouldn't be having this conversation, but do reconsider how you view the life under your care. > Also I have heard that anemones must have iodine in their water.  What is the purpose of this? < All living creatures require iodine to live.  Some aquarists will dose iodine due to its rapid depletion from skimming/uptake by the animals, but dosing iodine can also be easily overdone.  Best to replenish nutrients/trace elements through frequent partial water changes, many benefits to this. > Thanks as always. < Welcome as always, Eric R. >
Tipped Over Condy Anemone - It's Alive! <evil laughs>) - 04/27/05 Hello, right now it is fully inflated, and it is stuck to the side of the glass (may be moving now) But best of all its pointing upward, its not on its side or anything. < All good signs. > It seems to have responded to when I gave it some micro-vert. < Not likely.  Micro-Vert is geared towards FINE FILTER FEEDERS, not appropriate for this animal.  You need to feed fine meaty foods as discussed previously. > I am so happy and wish to share you with a before and after photo... But it is night time and I don't want to disturb it. (Plus its  much better during the day.) Anyway does this make me an expert now? You said only experts can take care of them). < Not what I said, but close enough for the sake of argument.  Are you an expert?...hardly my friend.  But if you're serious about learning to take care of this animal, and are willing to dedicate the time to research and study, you could become "expert".  Regards, Eric R. (who doesn't consider himself an expert after more than 30 years of keeping wet pets) >  

Condy anemone is tipped over Hello I have a Condy anemone I just purchase, it is doing well, and eating and such, but it is tipped over to one side. I touched the bottom of its "foot" that isn't touching the rock and I noticed it isn't sticky. Is it possible that part of its "foot" lost its stickiness. Or is this just a normal thing they like to do? <Not normal... not healthy. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/index.htm.  Scroll down to the Anemone section... re anemones period, their systems, health... and particularly the Related FAQs on Condylactis in particular. Bob Fenner>
Re: my Condy anemone is tipped over - Stop Resending! Hello, I guess my anemone lost all its stickiness, b/c when I woke I found it stuck in my powerhead. It was not a very good sight. Do you recommend bubble tip anemones? I have heard you say that they are hardy. If so does it matter what kind? Or are all bubble tips good? <Uhh, reading is even better... please stop writing... and read... what you ask is posted over and over on WWM. Bob Fenner>

Condylactis Anemones Hello,  <Good Morning> My name is Savanah and my brother has recently started a saltwater tank. He got a Condy Anemone and it was doing fine. Then one night when we got back from dinner the anemone was in a ball and there was no tentacles showing at all. Is it dying? What do we need to do? Please help us if you can.  <Savanah, you don't list any specifics on the tank...size, lighting, etc. Condys do what you describe occasionally. Also, check your ammonia and nitrite levels. Do a Google search on the Wet Web, keyword "anemones". There you will find information on keeping these anemones. James (Salty Dog)>

My Husband the Condylactis >I posted this on your chat forum site as well, but thought I would email you directly. >>I personally don't usually visit the forum, let's see what you have for us today. >My husband (who is like a little kid in a candy store at our LFS)... >>As have I been in the wholesaler's. >...decided to buy some clownfish over the weekend. We have a 55gal tank w/approx. 60-70lbs of live rock, and live sand. About 10 snails, and 10 crabs. The tank has completely cycled and we just started adding new critters last week. He brought home some xenia and a couple featherdusters early last week. And then just like an impatient 2yr old, he went back and bought 2 clownfish and a Condy anemone a few days later.  >>You do have your hands full, don't you? My fianc?and I are delaying a new tank because we keep arguing over stocking (what) and husbandry. >He said he was told by a girl at the store that the fish would use the Condy as a host, which I have since found out, sounds highly unlikely.  >>NOT unknown, but then again, Clownfishes have been known to host powerheads. This is not, however, their natural state, as the Condylactis as an Atlantic native, and Clownfishes are Pacific only. >The girl also didn't bother to ask him what else was in the tank, and my idiot didn't offer the information to her either. >>Well, she probably wouldn't have known what to do with the information had he given it to her anyway. >My problem now is that the Condy is basically attacking our xenia!!!  >>Uh oh! Time to sell it back to that girl, methinks. >I don't know what to do.  >>Remove it. We really do discourage people from placing motile, stinging inverts, such as anemones, with sessiles for exactly this reason. >We move it to the opposite side of the tank, and the next morning, it's back on top of the xenia again. Is this going to kill my xenia?  >>Very well could, or at least greatly limit its growth. >Or what should I do with the Condy?  >>Send it back. >It basically sounds like the Condy is just going to be a nuisance to our tank. Are all anemones like this?  >>Essentially, fundamentally yes. >Do we even need an anemone for the fish? >>Not at all! Also, many folks are finding that their tank-bred/raised Clownfishes don't seem to KNOW what to do with anemones. This won't harm or affect the fish negatively at all. >I'm apologizing for my husband's childish behavior in advance.... He now understands why it is important to read up on everything before you buy it! Robyn Sampson >>Short, swift, sweet lesson. Not so much childish as impulsive, and I suffer from the same malady on more than a few occasions myself. Marina
My Husband the Condylactis - Follow-up >Thank you very much for you helpful insight. Glad to say the Condy is on its way back to the store. >>Robyn, you're very welcome. A warning to be prepared, when people get into this hobby it can quickly become an addiction. Impulse control is the biggest problem. Marina 

Condylactis anemone Hello and I thank you in advance for your help!! My husband and I set up our salt water tank about 6 months ago.  It is a 29gal.  We used live sand and live rock... we have 2 damsels, 2 emerald crabs, 4 hermit crabs, a cleaner shrimp, a clownfish and an anemone.. a Condy (I think).  The anemone has a orange/peach body with white tentacles that have a small purple dot on the tip of each tentacle.  << Sounds like it. >> For the first few days it looked perfect.  We test our water regularly and find no major shifts or abnormal levels.  But one morning I woke up to find it had unattached itself from a piece of rock and fell behind the rocks.  It was completely withered.  It looked very dead.  My husband picked it up and moved it to the center of the tank where the lights are bright and by the next morning it looked perfect again.  We thought it was a one time event due to temperature...It was up to 80 due to the heat turning on in the house.  (First cold night of Fall and we failed to think to adjust the tank heater.)  But within a week I noticed it withers again.  It has continued to wither every few days.  We have fed him several times and for the most part appears very healthy.  But he continues to wither often. Please help us... we have tried to figure out what we are doing wrong or if the anemone is unhealthy and should be removed from our tank.  << Well the biggest question is what type of lights you have?  I have a 29 gal with two 150 watt halides.  I'd recommend at least four 55 watt pc lights in that tank. >> Our local fish shop says it is normal, but I can't see how this is normal. << My Condy does the same thing.  But it withers once every few months, so this may be a problem. >>   I thank you again for your time and help in solving our withering anemone mystery. << Please check lighting requirements and see if that is the problem. >> Becki Varner <<  Blundell  >> Condylactis anemone in new hands 9/9/04 I got a Condy anemone that came with some LR and I have no idea really what they eat, how to feed them or how to know when to feed them I have been doing tons of research but cant find what I need <look harder my friend... the information is sitting there in the archives and beyond. Use the Google search tool on the home page (wetwebmedia.com) with key word/phrase searches for things like "anemones feeding", "Condylactis", etc> I wasn't planning on an anemone for a few months at least also its kinda turning a little brown and I'm wondering if its my lights I only have 2 18 watt lights which I know is way to low <this is very low light indeed... concerning. And the anemone is turning brown from the waning of UV reflective pigments and or the increase in zooxanthellae trying to catch the weakly available light> is there even a chance of it making it with those lights <not likely my friend> cause I'm only 15 and cant really get the money all that quickly to buy new lights but any info will do it seems to be doing somewhat good but I really don't know any help is good <understood... do try to keep this anemone in the top 10" of water for maximum light exposure... and feed it finely minced meaty foods (krill, mysids, plankton, etc) a few times weekly> Thanks Andrew <best regards, Anthony>

Anemone In Distress? Hi <Hi there! Scott F. here today> Have recently purchased a Condylactis anemone. Brought it home, and it was doing well for about a week.  Now his tentacles seem to shrivel up.  Why does it do this?  It seems to do this to all areas of itself so I am not sure if something is wrong or not. I took a sample of my water to a fish store and everything checked out.  Please help.  Thanks <Well, there are many factors that affect anemone health. Water chemistry parameters are just part of the equation. Look into nutrition, etc. as well. Lighting is another very important factor, perhaps the single most important factor. Light intensity, specifically. Re-asses your environmental parameters, and adjust as needed. We have lots of good information here on the WWM site! Good luck! Regards, Scott F>

Splitting Condy Concern  Very important question for you. I have this Condy anemone and it seems to have split overnight  is it ok??? <Without a picture I cannot be certain, although it sounds like your anemone has reproduced asexually. Provided it's in a good environment, it should recover just fine. You shouldn't worry about it unless the clone moves towards neighboring corals.> how do i help it  <Observe it for several weeks and watch its overall condition. Feeding it krill, squid, shrimp, or other meaty foods will help benefit the anemone.> also how does this happen/ why??? <Asexual reproduction is common in some species of anemone- it's a way to make an exact copy of the original anemone as its offspring.> thanks for your help <No problem. Keep in mind that a picture of the anemone would really help in this situation, as I cannot be completely sure that the anemone is asexually reproducing. If you can take a picture of the anemone and send it to us it would help out a lot. Take Care, Graham.> Thomas Wood