Anemones, more precisely sea anemones (Actiniaria), dissolve when they are dead or dying. But it can also be that the flower animals are just eaten, giving the impression that they are dissolving. Predators and/or water quality are usually responsible for this.
Why does an anemone dissolve and how can I prevent it?
Sea anemones can disintegrate when they are dead or dying, or when attacked by predators. To prevent this, good water quality, removing predators and purchasing he althy anemones are crucial.
Which predators can cause an anemone to dissolve?
Predators that attack sea anemones include:
- Anemonefish (e.g. clownfish)
- Angelfish
- Butterflyfish
- Pufferfish
- Parrotfish
- some wrasse species
- Pine and bristleworms (attack at night)
- some species of slugs
The physical damage suffered by the anemone when attacked varies. In the best case scenario, the flower animal will only be eaten. Nevertheless, you should get to the bottom of the cause, as repeated attacks are to be expected, which, without protective intervention, will ultimately lead to the death of the anemone. In the worst case, the attack was so severe that the sea anemone did not survive and began to disintegrate.
Can water quality cause an anemone to dissolve?
If thewater qualityin the aquariumdoes not meet the requirementsof the anemone, sooner or later it willdissolve. The basic requirements for a he althy anemone not to dissolve are:
- a pool that has been used for at least six months
- a stable running seawater aquarium
- clear, unpolluted water
- high oxygen content
In addition to these general requirements, the pool water should have the following parameters:
- Nitrite: up to a maximum of 0.5 milligrams per liter
- Nitrate: 0.1 to 5 milligrams per liter
- Phosphate: 0.01 to 0.05 milligrams per liter
- Salinity (density): 34.0 to 35.5 psu
- Temperature: between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius
How can I prevent an anemone from dissolving?
In addition to the correct water quality and the possible removal of predators, you should make sure whenbuyingthat theanemone is he althy. If it is a sick or weakened sea anemone, it will most likely not survive the move to your tank. Characteristics of a he althy anemone include:
- are pumped up with s alt water, appear voluptuous
- Tentacles floating in the current
- Foot sits firmly on the preferred surface
Tip
Identifying a dying or dead anemone
If a dead or dying anemone is dissolving, you can tell by its smell. If you notice a terrible smell, you should immediately remove the sea anemone and its parts from the tank. Since dissolving can worsen the pelvic biology, you may want to consider:Initiate countermeasures.
