Carpet Anemone

I've had my carpet anemone for a week. How long does it take them to acclimate themselves? Sometimes it's fully open and beautiful, and sometimes it looks like it's throwing up it's insides. All levels are fine when checked, just waiting on lights to get here. I only have a 30 gal tank(which I've already been told isn't large enough for a carpet) and will be putting 130 watts of light plus the lunar lights. Is that enough for him? I paid right at $40. It's about 6" when open all the way. F. Per and Domino Damsels are already fighting over who get him. The lfs said he would give me like $25, but I don't want to get rid of him. The fish love him. Today he looks awful, shrinking to way less than half his size. I have asked numerous people and searched sites. Someone tell me what to do. I will get rid of it if I have to. But I really don't want to. lol

 

so you dont have lights for it yet? that would explain its bad condition. How old is that tank? Anemones are very sensitive to changes in water chemistry and have the best chance with at least 6 month old tanks.

and the whole expelling its insides thing; i think that is the animal getting rid of its waste...they only have one opening

 

i got an anemone without proper lighting and too young of a tank, but mine is an LTA; luckily it survived but took a VERY long time (months) to recover once i acquired adequate lighting after having it for a few days. By all means i think it should have perished

 

sorry to tell you...but it probably is throwing up its insides then. How old is your tank? A tank should be at least 1 year old before any one considers an anemone. And a carpet is one of the most light demanding ones out there.....

sorry again...

 

I have lights, just not enough watts. I have a T5 2x24 watts. The new ones just haven't came in yet. Any day now they'll be here.

 

BTW the tank has only been setup and cycled for about 4 months. I've been told this is nowhere near long enough to have the carpet. Oh well. That's what happens when you buy on a splurge cause something's pretty instead of doing a little research first (lesson learned).

 

I seriously don't think this looks right. 1st pic is of carpet after 1st couple of days. 2nd pic is how it looks right now.

 

hey happens to all of us! I would recommend taking the carpet back as soon as possible because I just dont forsee it living in your setup yet even with the lights! I tried pushing a sebea once in my old tank and it was I think 6-7 months old at that time and it moved on me and died! I was hard headed enough that I went and bought a second one and same thing happened.

I still have to fight the urge to not get one...as I wanted on last night! My new tank is not old enough now...and I am going to wait 2 years I think!

So at least you recognized there was a problem and now do something about it! Do learn to trust your LFS people however.....in regards to if they tell you you can NOT have something in your system...then you should not get it. Plus it is important to research anything yourself before you put it in your system. Ask the store to hold it for you and go home and look it up....that way you will not wind up with something that you will regret. Again..speaking from experience;D

Looking at the picture it might be getting too late

 

Thanks for the advice. Problem is, he wasn't bought from the lfs. I bought him from saltwaterfish.com. They have a 15 day guarantee, but I don't want to just take him out of the tank cause he looks like he's going to die. You know, just to get my money back. To me, that seems like murder lol. I mean, it's alive. I would fill like a killer. The lfs here doesn't take trade-ins. I can travel like a hour or so and sell him to another store. The only thing I lose like half the money I paid. But I don't want him to die either. Bad thing is, the place isn't open now. I'll have to wait until tomorrow when I get off work. It could be too late by then. If it isn't aready.

 

yeah...cant do anything tonight! It could very well just be pooping...they do turn themselves inside out to do that.....but I dont think that is what is happening.
Keep an eye on your water quality then, as he dies you are going to enter a cycle and you dont want to loose your fish also. With 30g and a new tank your parameters can fluctuate a lot faster

Anyway good luck and hopefully others can chime in on suggestions also