Bubble Tip Anenome?

Question

I bought a Bubble tip anenome about a week ago, and a couple of days ago it got into the spot it likes, but it is wierd, it will be fine at night, and for a hour or so in the morning once the light comes on, but then it will become all small, and it's tentacles no longer are bubbly, but are kind of shrivelled, and are greenish instead of a healthy pink. Like i said, it is odd because there are times when it looks just beautiful, and nothing wrong, and then at other times it looks like this. My water quality is fine, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 10 or so nitrates. Any comments, is this normal? Also, my True Percula Clown hasn't gone over to bond with it, will it take a long time? How likely is it that it will never host with it?

Answer 1

Many anemones (say *that* ten times fast!) have "cycles" just like people do. Your anemone is probably just acclimating to its new surroundings. Make sure there's a large enough surface for it to cling to; many anemones and corral, etc, don't like little rocks (sorry, Arkansas!). ;)

It might not eat for a little while, though you probably should put something directly on the tentacles, just in case (don't touch the tentacles either directly or with an implement, as you may hurt yourself or the anemone).

If it doesn't look healthy after another week, consider putting it on a "shelf" in the aquarium, so it is closer, but not exposed, to the surface; it could be that the other fish are picking on it, and this would give it a bit (no pun intended) of a respite.

It could also be that your anemone doesn't like bright light (a little odd for a, presumably, tank grown creature, but not unheard of).

In a tank, it isn't important for clown fish or anemones to bond, since neither has any enemies to worry about (or do they?). ;)

Answer 2

For a bulb tip and should you hold him toward the highest fo the pile that are meant to be enough. Most different clownfish anemones want a lot more than that, however the bubble tip can tolerate lesser lighting like yours. And there is not a lot distinct among the output of a CF and the output of a T5, however the T5 runs slightly cooler. If the anemone will get overly stringy, it demands extra meals, if it loses colour it demands extra gentle.