Anemone Problem

Could anyone tell me why my BTA keeps doing this? I have had him for 2 months now and he does this every day for several hours. Is this normal behavior for a BTA?

 

No not normal at all and not a good sign.

Basically when anemones have problems you start with the lighting and parameters questions, age of tank........

Are you feeding the anemone, not required if you have appropriate lighting.

 

Definitely dead or very close to dying!

 

It has done this since we got it. It only does it for a few hours out of the day and then comes back to normal.

 

Is the clownfish residing in the anemone?

When you see gapping like that it is usually a sign of an anemone in trouble.

New anemones will do this while acclimating but after a couple of days the oral opening should return to normal size.

 

I am going to go against everyone here and say that it is exchanging water and or pooping when you see it do this. Since you said he doesn't o it all the time, I don't think he is dieing yet.

What is your lighting and what are your tank parameters (be specific please)?

 

Might the 'nem be getting stung by the Eupy. (torch or frogspawn) that is right next to it?

That would not be surprising as the sweeper tentacles from the torch or frogspawn look like they will be getting close enough (judging from one out of focus picture) to sting it.

Especially if it does it every day - it is probably inflating itself with water in the morning and the torch/frog extends its polyps and they meet in the middle. The 'nem must not have any adverse affect on the Frog/Torch as it looks fine.

But if it happens every day - does it always happen an hour or two after lights on? If so, I'd say a relocation of the torch/frog is in order!!!

But it would also help if you posted your water paramters, filtration, tank size, tank age and lighting method.

 

It looks like he said it's happening every day . . . .

 

When I had nems, one did it from everyday to every other day for the first 2 weeks I had it.

 

Interesting . . . . do you think it could continue for 2 months tho?