The Demise Of The Sebae Anemone

Magickiwi · #1 10-08-2013, 05:56 PM

Well the title says it all, I have a sebae anemone that isn't fairing too well. He has been white with purple tips for as long as we've had him and even though he hasn't taken any large pieces of food he’s taken Mysis and Brine shrimp etc.

He’s never been comfortable in the nano tank and has wandered around the tank from the first placement to five or so different spots and then back to the first place I put him. Now he’s obviously in decline because he isn't attaching any more. I took him out of the nano yesterday and tried to give him a spot in my main tank but he wouldn't attach to any place I put him; rock, sand or glass.
Is there any advice I can get on how to bring this little guy around? His polyps (tentacles) are still somewhat puffy; not saggy and empty like when he is shocked. But no matter where I try placing him he doesn't want to attach.

Water parameters are down the middle for ideal reef settings with the exception of the water being slightly hypo-saline (1.024ish). The unit has a heater and a chiller so the temperature swings a maximum of four degrees. It’s a 24g Nano Cube with a small power head being used as a wave maker and has a 150w metal halide fixture (14k bulb).

I’m hoping to save this little guy, I hate taking responsibility for a life and have it not turn out well.

Slyguy00 · #2 10-08-2013, 06:43 PM

Personally i would just set it in a low current area on your sandbed and just keep an eye on him. As far as i know there isnt alot you can really do. But if it starts to die make sure to remove it right away as it will ruin ur tank.

ponokareefer · #3 10-08-2013, 09:27 PM

If it's a really white sebae anemone, it likely spewed all of its zooxanthellae before you got it. Typically this type of anemone does not recover from this and dies within a year of captivity.

Do you know which type of sebae it is, malu or cripa? Are you able to take a picture?

Magickiwi · #4 10-08-2013, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ponokareefer

If it's a really white sebae anemone, it likely spewed all of its zooxanthellae before you got it. Typically this type of anemone does not recover from this and dies within a year of captivity.

Do you know which type of sebae it is, malu or cripa? Are you able to take a picture?

I certainly can, just as soon as I get home that is. It is/was very white, as have all the sebaes I've seen in LFS.

ponokareefer · #5 10-08-2013, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magickiwi

I certainly can, just as soon as I get home that is. It is/was very white, as have all the sebaes I've seen in LFS.

Unfortunately that is primarily comes in to LFS's for what they call Sebae's, which are usually heteractis crispa's.

Here is a link to a tank with a healthy "Sebae" in the middle of the tank.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=54093

Very brown.

Here is what most LFS's bring in that are very unhealthy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5PQj1OVJmE

Keep trying to feed it, but if it has been continously wandering around, it hasn't been happy.

ponokareefer · #6 10-08-2013, 10:39 PM

J & L Aquatics has some decent looking ones right now on their news and noteworthy page:

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...noteworthy.php

The main thing is that there needs to be some hue of color in there other than just white. That indicates there is some zooxanthellae left.

Proteus · #7 10-08-2013, 11:46 PM

+1

A healthy sebae will have a dirty look. As in brownish. They are from my understanding a lower flow nem. The tank should be held at 80f with minimal swings.

daniella3d · #8 10-09-2013, 12:44 AM

The first one I had was very white and did not survive. It would not eat either. The second one was kind of light tan in color and it's been eating from day one what ever amount of PE mysis I give it. It has grow from a tiny 3'' to a 12'' in a year...and now it's dark brown except some part of it that does not receive much light and those are kind of light beige.

This is what mine looked like when I got it. Try to find one that at least has some trace of beige like mine and that is also eating: Also water quality is very important. 25 gallons is way too small for a sebae, as it will become 12'' and more. I feed mine each day, I rarely skip days.

And now here is the beauty, when it's fully inflated it's 12'' and more.

Magickiwi · #9 10-09-2013, 01:18 AM

Well looks like the joke was on me for buying a nearly dead nem. First time I bought at that LFS. I have to question how good they are now.

nerdz · #10 10-09-2013, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daniella3d

The first one I had was very white and did not survive. It would not eat either. The second one was kind of light tan in color and it's been eating from day one what ever amount of PE mysis I give it. It has grow from a tiny 3'' to a 12'' in a year...and now it's dark brown except some part of it that does not receive much light and those are kind of light beige.

This is what mine looked like when I got it. Try to find one that at least has some trace of beige like mine and that is also eating: Also water quality is very important. 25 gallons is way too small for a sebae, as it will become 12'' and more. I feed mine each day, I rarely skip days.

And now here is the beauty, when it's fully inflated it's 12'' and more.

Sorry to pull off topic, but your tank looks amazing!