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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/26/2007 8:47:43 PM
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My pink tip Haitian anemone began squeezing off its tips on Sunday. It seemed to strangle the end of the tentacle about 1/8 – 1/4 inch from the top, then within about 1-2 hours the tip would come off. It did this to over half of its tentacles. I collected 3 of the tips and they are still alive!
The little clones behave like an anemone – they scrunch up and turn greyish when touched. Normally they are greenish in color and have retained their pink tips. They are the size of the lead at the end of a pencil – too tiny to manipulate and glue onto a little rock (suggested by someone on a forum).
The anemone has been a very happy camper since purchasing from you – very plump and happy. Four days ago I introduced a toadstool and maze coral, and a maroon clown who immediately bonded with the anemone. I did rearrange things, which I know was disruptive and stressful, but the anemone seems to like it's new spot. Maybe the almost constant stimulation of the clown has triggered this behavior?
On the mama anemone, after the tentacle would expel its tip, it created a white scab. By the next day (yesterday), almost all the scabs were gone, replaced by new pink tips. Today overall it looks normal, tho 4 tentacles have little white dots attached to their sides within 1/4” from the top. Not sure what that’s about and hope it’s not a disease.
I have fotos, but don't see how to upload to this site without a url. Unfortunately it did not occur to me to take pictures early in the day when at least 5-6 tentacles at a time would be engaged in “shedding.” But I do have some shots of a single tentacle doing its thing. Also pix of the babies, tho they are so small its hard to really see them.
I should also mention that one of the tips on the anemone has two heads, but this happened sometime after I purchased it (Oct 30, 06) and has been like that for a couple months. I mention this as it makes me wonder if this expelling of tips has happened before.
Do you know anything about this process or can you direct me to where I can obtain more information? The three little tips are still alive and I want to know what to do with them... Thanks
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/26/2007 8:47:43 PM
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| it could just as easily be a clownfish, damsel, crab, etc harassing the tentacles (often at night). The tips will break off... they will "live" for some days... and they rarely survive. That said... it could be a propagation strategy (other cnids do this or something similar... like Euphylliids) but it too is very poorly successful and often stress induced.
. Anthony Calfo
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/26/2007 8:47:43 PM
Posts: 3,
Visits: 12
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The little tips that the anemone squeezed off are about the size of a pencil lead and are still alive. I have 7 in a net on the top of the tank and there are several hanging out on the bottom. All are green with their pink tips and respond to nudging by turning grey and shriveling. This is day 5, so one would think they'd have begun deteriorating by now, but some look even a little bigger than the day they popped off (Sunday, Jan 21).
I heard from an anemone expert at U of Kansas, and she was not aware of this behavior with pink tips. I would think, since this appears to be something unusual, that someone would be interested in the event and want to know more... especially if the anemone has actually reproduced.
The event is most likely stress related, however the anemone looked quite healthy before and after the event.
If you know of anyone that might be interested in this, please let me know! I'm quite fascinated myself and would love to share it...
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