Bubble Tip

[Genoa640]

I have a bubble tip who looks to be in good health but early this morning he started having long thin white colored strings of what looks like he is blowing his nose coming out of his mouth. He hasn't opened up much the last couple of days so I'm a little concerned, I assume if he wasn't happy with his location anymore he would move around in the tank but that hasn't happened either? Any suggestions?

[Dentoid]

May be a "bowel" movement. What color is the bubble tip? Does it look faded? How long have you had it? How old is your tank? What kind of lighting? What are the water parameters? How does the mouth area look? These are things to consider when trying to diagnose anemone health or sickness.

[Genoa640]

It is a white bubble tip and his/her color is still good. My water test out good, was showing about 5ppm in Nitrates but I haven't done my water change as of yet. I use a Coalife 260 watt compact light, seems to be enough for what I have now but I do want to get into something better soon. The mouth area of the bubble tip appears normal, I don't se any variance in the color. i'll try to post a pic so you can have a peek.

[vdituri]

Is he supposed to be white? Usually (not always) white means they are stressed out and have lost their symbiotic algae that gives them color. But just the same he may be just having a poop. If he is eating it is a good sign, but what goes in must come out. Same off ramp

[saltwaterfarm]

White bubble tip... doesn't sound good. I don't know that there are any species that are truly supposed to be white... I may be mistaken... sounds like it could be bleached. The lights do not sound sufficient to support a happy anemone... how many gallons is the tank? Also, the other info requested will help us determine if something else is going on...

[Genoa640]

Its a 55 Gal tank been up and running for about 4 years now.

[Woodstock]

Clean the light sheild (salt creep can impede the brightness). Keep the lights on for atleast 8 hrs ... 12 hrs are better if algae isn't an issue.

Feed it!!

...I'll call you at lunch...

[saltwaterfarm]

How long have you had the anemone?

[saltwaterfarm]

Here are the pics Genoa640 took of the BTA...

[Woodstock]

With that red base, it looks like a Heteractis magnifica, Ritteri

OR

a Macrodactyla doreensis, Long-tentacled anemone


http://fins.actwin.com/articles/choosinganemone.php

Macrodactyla doreensis, Long-tentacled anemone These anemones have very long (up to 5-6 in.), smooth, thick tentacles sometimes with longitudinal stripes extending into the oral disk. The tentacles originate from a round flat oral disk, distinguishing it from the condylactis anemone. The foot of the base is almost always bright red or orange.
Good Points- They are hardy if kept under Metal Halide lights. Under lower light levels they seem to slowly waste away. They come in a variety of patterns and colors including purple. Accepted by Clarki clowns, tomato-type clowns and pink skunk clowns. Bad Points- They must have bright lighting. They normally live with their base buried deep in the sand and sometimes have a difficult time finding an attachment spot in a reef-type tank.

Heteractis magnifica, Ritteri, African, yellow-tipped anemone This anemone is usually rather large. Their tentacles are long with very blunt tips that are lighter in color than the shafts. The base may be red or purple but brown is more common.
Good Points- They are relatively common in the market. They are accepted by almost every variety of clownfish.
Bad Points- They tend to move to the highest point in the tank, often up the sides of the glass very near the water return pipe. In nature they tend to be found at the highest parts of the reef exposed to strong light and currents. In the aquarium they will need very strong lighting (metal halide) and very strong alternating (wave) currents to do well. They also have a reputation for being able to catch and eat medium sized non-clownfish.

Feeding your anemone

Feeding can range from 3 times a week to once every 2 weeks. Some aquarists have had success not directly feeding their anemones at all, although I suspect their anemones are capturing food that is meant for the fish. Food usually consists of a piece of raw shrimp about the size of the anemone's mouth. Lance fish, silversides, clams, scallops and other frozen marine organisms can also be used, but I find them more messy. A large bag of peeled and deveined shrimp can be obtained from one of the local discount supermarkets and may last many, many months and has the added advantage of being fit for human consumption.

Liquid foods and Target foods may actually be harmful to your anemones directly (several aquarists stated that their anemones started to die as soon as they began to use liquid target foods) and indirectly though degradation of your water quality. The jury is still out on vitamins. I could not find any common thread in my data that would point towards them being helpful or harmful. My suggestion would be to use them sparingly, or not at all.

[wasupdavey]

Thats normal if you see like stringy gooie stuff coming out of it(Waste products come out from the mouth and found around the body too). I have a bubble tip sea anemone in my tank also 29gal. My tank has been set up for about over one month water is 1.024 salinity, 76F, pH 8.2, Ammonium, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5. I do weekly 5 gallon water changes too keep all levels up especially calcium. Other than that somewhere around those parameters should keep your anemone in good health. I forgot to mention I need better lighting soon or else I don't know whats going to happen with my BTA. I'm running a 20watt floresent bulb stock hood lighting on my tank. Thinking about getting a USA Current Sattlellite Power Compact