Question about bubbletip nem?

[Batmanjay28]

I have two bubble tip nems. One looks very health and the other is getting smaller, the "bulbs" are getting fewer, and I gets shviled up once a day with it's mouth completely open.

What the heck is going on?

[Batmanjay28]

What happens if the nem dies in my tank?

[Batmanjay28]

Here is a pic of my health nem.

And a pic of the other.

Nitrates--a little high, can't seem to get them down.
Nitrites--0
Ammonia--0

[beeven]

Batmanjay,
I just posted a similar topic on here about my bubble tip. I only have one (its my first) and I've been noticing that it deflates just about everyday... only to come back full size a few hours later. Someone replied to my post saying that bubbles have a tendency to deflate, although he said daily is a bit much. Considering that you have two and one of them seems to be doing fine, I'm left thinking that one of them must be unhappy. From the pics it looks like one gets more exposure to the light than the other. This could be a factor. Another factor, and I'm assuming the same is true for my bubble, is that the alkalinity might be off. I know that I havent been checking this but I'm about to buy a test kit tomorrow.

[beeven]

Forgot to answer your question about if its dying. My brain is going through a slow death now and I've been asking the same question. From what I hear dying corals release chemicals that are dangerous to other corals. I'm not entirely sure if this is true for all corals and anemones so if I'm wrong I'd like to know. But from what I've gathered so far, it seems like a good idea to dispose of any dying corals instead of trying to save it. Sometimes they're too far gone to save and it just does damage.

[fish guru]

only some types of corals release toxins. but anemones do not. just keep up with the water changes if your anemone dies. also how often do you change the water? its sort of strange that you have high nitrate levels, and you cant get them down..

[Batmanjay28]

I know. Maybe I need to do more frequate WC. I really only do water changes every 3 to 4 weeks.

[Reefscape]

I would change your water change routine, to probably 10% per week...But thats just a preference of mine...

[Amphiprion]

only some types of corals release toxins. but anemones do not. just keep up with the water changes if your anemone dies. also how often do you change the water? its sort of strange that you have high nitrate levels, and you cant get them down..

Not entirely true. There is more and more evidence that many (if not most) corals release some form of allelopathic toxins. Anemones don't release toxins per se, but they do shed copious numbers of nematocysts. Also, two specimens are also able to "know" each other is present, so there is some form of chemical interaction going on. I am beginning to think, however, they indeed are capable of releasing some form of noxious compounds, especially in stomach contents and spawn material (that is out of experience, though).

Added water and more frequent changes, running fresh carbon, etc. certainly won't hurt. I wouldn't blame the anemone's condition on nitrates, either. They are far more tolerant of nitrate and phosphate than most corals are. Unfortunately, it could be any number of reasons as to why it is "unhappy."

[salty420]

how is the nem looking? the gaping mouth seems concerning to me...

[Batmanjay28]

I think that he's on his way out...don't understand why because my other nem looks great...

[Amphiprion]

I suspect prior problems with the anemone. They are tricky animals and unless you know what to look for when buying one, they can get the best of you. As you gain more experience with your current anemone, it will be easier and easier to spot good specimens. I rarely see very good specimens of anemones. I would say 1 out of 50 (maybe less often) may come in good condition in your average LFS. 1 out of 100 or so actually live. A very small percentage come in excellent condition.

[Batmanjay28]

THanks for all the help and advice...this fourm has help me out soooo much!

[salty420]

how is the nem looking tonight? is the mouth still gaping like it was? has it inflated at all?

[40galreefman]

3-4 weeks between WC's?!?! i'd definitely change that to once a week, could be your problem, i might be wrong, but it's just an opinion

[Batmanjay28]

it's only normal looking about 4 hours a day.