Carpet anemone question/placement

lizarddoctor · 03-07-2007, 06:33 AM

I have a carpet anemone that is trying to move, but I realize that the shelf that I have it on restricts it's movement. On the otherhand, I have one flower pot coral that is on another same-depth level of shelf and is quite beautiful, while the one on the top shelf doesn't expand as much even though it is bigger to begin with.

I have moved the carpet anemone before from a smaller shelf to the current one and it started to spit out what looked like smoke and don't want to do it again without a second opinion. Is this black smoke just a waste product that it is expelling or is it a defensive poisonous reaction to my 'attack' on it?

Last thing I want is to disrupt the tank, but I think that the overall tank atmosphere would benefit if I switched the anemone and coral in placement. Also it would give the anemone more room, better lighting, and better current.

lizarddoctor · 03-07-2007, 11:29 AM

I know I read somewhere that we are supposed to edit in if we are responding to a post, but this is an unexpected development...

My previous post was before I left for dinner. I moved the ball coral to another spot on the top shelf just to see how it would react, but left the carpet anemone alone. When I got back, this is what I found.

A budding polyp and a new plant sapling spreading from near the former base of the flowerpot coral on the top shelf. Unexpected to say the least since the tank is now on day 28. Something must be right in there. I have decided to leave things the way they are, but if someone knows anything about the smoke like substance that comes out of the carpet anemone when moved... it might be a big factor on me ever trying to move it again.

Achilles · 03-07-2007, 10:02 PM

Its really better Not to move your anenome, there pretty fragile and there going to move pretty much where ever they want to anyway. They will pick the spot and if you keep moving it it may end up dyeing on you. The black stuff is either a waste product or defense mechanism. Either way it will be much happier if you done move it. Also carpets are pretty aggresive, i had one that ate my Achilles tang among other fish. Good luck
Todd

lizarddoctor · 03-08-2007, 05:52 AM

I really would like to leave it, but I do see that it is trying to climb over the edge of the shelf every day. There is a good 6 inch drop from the shelf and it just turns around to try again tomorrow. That is the only reason I had considered it. The first time was within the first few days of being in there and I had realized that the first shelf was just too small for such a big thing. Now that polyps are going to start growing off the top shelf on their own so soon... I have just scraped the idea and am going to leave things the way they are. I do have a cleaner wrasse that has been hidden or missing for nearly 2 weeks... maybe the anemone got it while I wasn't looking

Chitown1 · 03-08-2007, 07:06 AM

Unless you really think it will fall, I second leaving it alone. It may just be turning to get more light in a additional spot. As for the discharge, it is prob. the remnents of the wrasse, what are you feeding it?

lizarddoctor · 03-08-2007, 12:08 PM

A couple of days with tubiflex worm squares for the fish per week and one big doze of live brine shrimp that I pick up at a local store. One smaller bag of nearly 100-120 brine shrimp per week is costing me about 8 cents. I have seen them in the tank swimming around for up to 3 days before they all get eaten. Also, I am adding a vitamin and mineral solution to the water that I got from the store that is supposed to be for coral and plantlife once a week. I am trying not to overfeed the tank with the big dose of shrimp, but I do have a larger selection of corals and anemone that I hope are getting their fair share. They seem to be looking quite healthy, just that carpet anemone seems to want to climb off the shelf and it can't with the current setup I have.

Achilles · 03-08-2007, 11:56 PM

He needs something like a raw shrimp about once a week, make sure its not been deveined, you can also get stuff like crab meat or anything thing like that. He will like that better than that little tiny stuff.
Todd

lizarddoctor · 03-21-2007, 06:19 AM

I have been feeding all of my anemone peeled raw large shrimp since your post Achilles and what a difference it has made. It only takes a few minutes and the shrimp disappear down their hatches

. How much would you suggest feeding them though? I drop two a piece for the smaller ones and 3 for the carpet and my larger green one. They seem to be waiting for more, but I don't want to get too crazy.

On a side note/question... Do the anemone contribute to the bioload since they create waste or is their waste just considered processed food for other inhabitants in the tank? I asked in another thread about corals and anemone affecting the amount of fish I can put in the tank and everyone seemed to agree that they don't.

Thanks again

Chitown1 · 03-21-2007, 07:07 AM

I feed mine once a week, 1 silverside each. The bio load created by a anenome is min. at best, I do not add them or my clean up crews to the bio load used for stocking my tanks.

Achilles · 03-21-2007, 08:54 AM

I feed mine twice a week, And its worked well for about 3 years. Hes bigger than a dinner plate when hes open. Glad its helped out. And like Chitown said the bio load they contribute is minimal.

Oh yea also like Chitown said the silversides are a lso a Great thing to alternate feeding with!!
Todd