Is my Sand Anemone dying??

[johnca]

Last week I upset my Medusa Worm (sea cucumber) by leaving a power head unprotected ... it was mashed beyond recognition no doubt filling my tank with toxins. Trickle Filter and skimmer cleaned the water in an hour or so, I added additional filters too. My Sand Anemone ate parts of the medusa worm and has been spitting it out for the last 4 days. No other casualties.

Yesterday the anemone was upside down in the sand on the opposite side of the tank to where it normally is. It had deflated to about 50mm diameter and there was not a lot of movement. I scooped it out and put it on its foot where water flow is quieter. The top of the anemone looked like it's splitting in half ... looks like either part of its guts or the thing is dividing equally into two halves.

It then re-inflated and moved under the rocks last night. Tonight it is still under the rocks, very small, and upside down again.

Is it Dead??!! Or is this how anemones divide?? Anybody got any pictures so I can compare with mine? What should I do to avoid it poisoning the tank if it is dying/dead? How can I tell? Still lots of colour in it, tentacles small but still moving.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks ......... John

[crazy_reefing]

I'm not sure if it's dying - maybe somone else knows. But anemones do split (that's how they make babies). Maybe that is what yours is doing?

[riderruss]

Sorry to hear about the possible loss of your anemone. If you can get it out from under the rock, pull it out and smell it. anemones smell really bad really quickly if they die.
Russ

[TUNDAR4]

A friend of mine had one split like that then it died and wow did it (smell) GOOD LUCK !

[nanoman123]

It probably isnt splitting. Anenomes need PERFECT water conditions to split. If a cuke just died, water conditions were not perfect. my anenome did the same thing, and a week later, it was fine. Try feeding yours some vitamin soaked krill or brine or some DTs. It probably isnt dead, because when anenomes die, they turn inside-out.

Good Luck :D


~matt~

[jman785]

The reason the cuke died, is because of a powerhead, if you read the post. :) It could be a possible split...let us know what's happening now.