This Heteractis Magnifica Look OK to you?

[mwarf]

Hi all,

I added two Heteractis magnifica from my favourite LFS yesterday, one is thriving with my clowns flocking to it immediatley - the other, well - I'm not much of an anemone guy - but I thought I'd send some pictures.

Is this normal?
http://static.flickr.com/85/221234268_9d725baf4a.jpg
This look OK to you?
http://static.flickr.com/72/221234285_770ac0023e.jpg
How 'bout this one?
http://static.flickr.com/81/220500905_b206b21e6a.jpg
My Clowns love this one and it's pumped up nice and fat.

[OCDP]

Hi all,

I added two Heteractis magnifica from my favourite LFS yesterday, one is thriving with my clowns flocking to it immediatley - the other, well - I'm not much of an anemone guy - but I thought I'd send some pictures.

Is this normal?
http://static.flickr.com/85/221234268_9d725baf4a.jpg
This look OK to you?
http://static.flickr.com/72/221234285_770ac0023e.jpg
How 'bout this one?
http://static.flickr.com/81/220500905_b206b21e6a.jpg
My Clowns love this one and it's pumped up nice and fat.


I don't want to sound like I'm flaming you at all here.. but if these two are your first anemones, please return them. H. Magnifica is one of the hardest to care for anemones along with S. Gigantea. The first one does not look well at all. What kind of lighting and flow are these anemones under? Please know that H. Magnifica requires MH or HQI and nothing but. They are one of the most light and flow demanding anemones out there.

They like to be placed on top of rock works, as closest to the surface of the water (to obtain as much light and flow as possible) In the wild, they are usually found on top of rock piles.

As mentioned, if you haven't kept anemones before, and this is your first (or one of your first) I would return it for a differenct species. They have a VERY low survival rate in captivity.

These anemones are extremely sensitive to tank changes, the smallest change often stresses these guys out. They may appear to be doing well (well, the second one) but they will slowly decline in health given they don't have proper tank conditions and other requirements.

They are from my understanding , quite the challenge to keep for the average reef keeper. This is not meant to sound like a flame at all.. but I would advise against keeping it if it's your first try at keeping anemones.

Go for a bubble tip, very hardy, easy to care for and to the average reefer just as amusing as a Magnifica.

Also, 4 clowns may cause problems later on... they are all juvi's right now, but once they start developing into male/female.. you may run into some problems there.

Scott

[AJ_77]

umm, the first one looks normal for one that's "on it's way out" - doesn't look too good at all.

the second one looks OK for now, but it wants the spot the sick one has - high up on top the stack of rock, with all the light and flow you can throw at it.

look for posts by Delphinus about these - his is a legend in itself...

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Long Tentacle & Bubble Tips are the recommended hosting species for new to anemone reefers because they have a much higher survival rate. The ideal is a clone out of somebody's tank.

As to your question, anemones often look like that for a day or two. Mine usually does after I feed it. Even my really healthy large Rose BTA goes like that for no reason once in a while, & then it'll perk up as if nothing has happened.

Can you post your system setup please, if you want more detailed, construction advice because without knowing the age, the equipment, the lighting, tank size, etc. it's hard to really say.

Anthony

[mwarf]

Hey - thanks for the advice!

I've had two anemones previously - both LTA - one that thrived for almost two years before I traded him off to another tank.

Lighting isn't super - I'm runing a combination of power compacts (260W) and flourescent (100W) together.

The tank has a fairly high flow rate - but I'll have to check the stats on the new pump (just upgraded it weeks ago). The tank is 120gal dual overflows, powerhead beside the white anemone with a 75 gal sump, skimmer, uv sterilizer, etc. 90lbs Live Rock. Purple, Powder Blue, Regal Tangs, Emporer Angel, Flame Angel, 5 Clowns, Copperband Butterfly, Blue Star, Blue Crab, Cleaner Shrimp and asst hermits and snails.

Original Tank up three years - Upgraded from 90gal w/ smaller sump three weeks ago - transfer to new equipment didn't was stable with no major spikes.

Hope that's enough info?

Thanks,
M.

[mwarf]

I really like your suggestion of the bubble tip, wish there was a better selection here in Edmonton of that particular variety...I've had good success with LTA as well.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Did you tell the LFS that you are not running MH because as OCDP (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Person :) ) stated, this species really needs MH to survive. LTAs & BTAs are lower light requiring creatures, which is one of the reasons they do relatively well in captivity.

Anthony

[mwarf]

Yep, the store also setup my equipment - so they have an good knowledge of the conditions the anemones are going into. I'm inclined to keep the one that's adapted with my clowns, and coax him a little higher up on the rock, and exchange the white one for a bubble tip.

I'm really looking for an anemone that's easy to keep, but also quite colouful - most of the LTA and bubbletip I've seen have been boooooring brown in colour. ;-)

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Too bad. I have a purple LTA, a bright light green with neon orange tips BTA, & a couple of RBTAs. Yup, love living in the Lower Mainland.:)

[mwarf]

>sigh<
got any pics?

[mwarf]

Alright, I took your advice and moved the big one with my clowns in it all the way up to the top of the tank with a ton of movement from both returns and a powerhead.

http://static.flickr.com/84/221349993_fb1947e44e_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/76/221349917_41062f90ca_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/90/221349892_cdb5cc8ea9.jpg

[OCDP]

What's the mouth look like on the healthy Mag? Is it gaping? Or closed? If closed, is it tightly closed? If it's nice and puckered up then that's a good sign. The more open it is, the worse. Definitely a wise choice to move it to the top like that. I still suggest finding someone with MH or if the LFS has MH take them back. Either way, they won't last long-term under that lighting .. at least it's my understanding they need nothing but MH or HQI.

OCDP = Orange County Drum & Percussion :razz: :mrgreen:

[danny zubot]

and exchange the white one for a bubble tip.

I wouldn't add a different species of anemone to a tank that size. You'll run the risk of chemical warfare. I'd be inclined to just return the sick one for a refund or store credit. You never know when a store credit will come in handy.:biggrin:

[mwarf]

I actually returned the big one, the sick one I put higher in the tank and it seems to be bouncing back, the clowns are really digging it too.
http://static.flickr.com/96/222974671_6bf308a4b4_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/67/222974747_25b4ef3267_o.jpg

[OCDP]

:( I think you should have returned the sick one if anything! Remember these anemones are extremely hard to have bounce back, it will take lots of TLC and time.. as you can see, it's white.. therefore it is bleached. Once H. Magnifica show signs of bleaching, they can be very hard to convince to bounce back if you will.

I really think you should do yourself a favour and return the sick one, and try a whole new species that does not require Metal Halides or HQI lighting.

I am sorry, this anemone just won't survive under these conditions long-term... with the bleaching already, you've got your work cut out for you.

Sorry to sound like a brat, but really... the chances of survival are LOW... really low. These are the facts, not just me being an arse.

The clowns at this point, are not helping the anemone... if anything, only making it worse. The anemone is almost completely bleached , there is little zooaxenthelle (sp) remaining.

If you insist on keeping it... get ready to fork out some cash for a lighting upgrade and try feeding this anemone finely chopped up silversides... anything meaty. If he accepts food and does not spit it out, continue feeding 2-3 times per day.

Good luck... you've definitely got your work cut out for you at this point :)

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

I feed mine scallops & prawns. My anemones love those. Never used silversides.

[OCDP]

I feed mine scallops & prawns. My anemones love those. Never used silversides.

I've used silversides, mysis and shrimp. All my anemone have eaten it all up.

[fortheloveofcrabs]

Sorry to jump in here, but you said the place that sold them to you was well aware of the setup - low light and all - and STILL sold them to you open hearted? That's awful. I had a similar porblem with a store (I won't name names but it rhyms with 'barium delusions') that sold me a 'very easy to keep' alveopora. Groan. LFS, I find, really need to watch what they say more.

[mwarf]

I'm going to try to work with the white one for a while and see if he continues his upswing. A previous reply asked about circulation - My pump is rated at approx 1350 GPH and powerhead is about another 200 - 250 GPH. My LFS is aware of my setup, but since they also have weekly access to my tank - and that I'm not a customer off the street - they made an exception and thought I could give it a go (I can easily return them if need be - I feel nothing but love for those guys).

I'm feeding Krill right now to the anemone, I'll keep you posted on how it takes it.

I did have AI service my tank previously and have heard lots of differing opinions on that store - one thing I'll give them credit for is a good quarantine setup - mixed reviews on the staff.

Thanks,
M.

[mwarf]

If anything, I hope the forum members are enjoying the pics?! :-)

I ended up returning the second one today out of guilt, however I wonder if the shock of transporting him back to the store and into another tank (albeit with better lighting & general conditions) did more harm than good ;-)


M.

[AJ_77]

hey. props to you for taking steps to improve the chances for the one, and returning the other. and your pics look great - really. :biggrin:

did you say somewhere you had an emperor angel? would like to see that!

[mwarf]

I do have an Emporer, a large juvenile just starting to morph.

Here's some pics:
http://static.flickr.com/83/220500949_0d71be63ea.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/71/220500927_a0b6600d7f.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/92/220500827_6ad41db707.jpg
and the tank in the wall
http://static.flickr.com/59/204072815_71d4141732_o.jpg