Haddoni questions.

[Tonycass12]

So my local shop had a killer sale this weekend and I picked up a haddoni for a biotope display that I'm building right now. It will be hooked into my main system that has a long running 120gal sps dominant tank and a 100gal grow out tub. The haddoni is in my grow out tub in a basket until I finish getting the display togeather and get the 3 clarkii clowns I got for it out of qt.

So far the nem seams to be doing a lot of inflating and deflating and spitting out some junk. The mouth is not gaping but sometimes inverts slightly before retracting again and the foot is attached to the wall. Tentacles are also very sticky so I would assume this is just normal activity for a haddoni that's acclimating to a new environment? Currently it has a porcelain crab hanging out with it but that's all that's in the basket for now. I'm planning on adding a glass dish with sand for it to burry it's foot in but wanted to know if that was really necessary or if it would be fine living life in the basket for the next month. Photos are new to old first from thismorning before lights came on, second from yesterday and first from the day before.

 

[Tonycass12]

Looks like we're doing another cycle of deflating and re inflating today.

 

[skyrne_isk]

Normal, really. Those little balls of junk are usually dead zoo being expelled. Or the last meal it had. If it stays in the shrunken, everted position most of the time, however, you likely have a bacterial infection that needs treated. But as long as it returns to normal after a couple hours or so then I wouldn’t worry.

 

[D-Nak]

Haddoni are a lot more resilient in terms of acclimation than other carpet anemones. It may just be adjusting its zooxanthellae population as it acclimates to new lighting conditions and will hopefully re-inflate and stay that way. But if the deflate/inflate cycle continues for a couple more days, or it looks like the nem is getting worse, I recommend starting antibiotic treatment.

In terms of the adding sand, the haddoni will feel a lot more comfortable being able to bury its foot in the sand. Without sand it'll constantly move around. It'll probably be fine for a month--it's up to you as to how comfortable you want to make it before you move it to its permanent home. My personal opinion is that nems should be given the best environment possible so that they expend the least amount of energy during the acclimation process, giving it the best chance for survival.

 

[exnisstech]

I agree with @D-Nak the nem will be much happier in sand.
Just curious why you are adding 3 ckarkii? Typically with clowns its one, two, or attempt a harem.

 

[Tonycass12]

I agree with @D-Nak the nem will be much happier in sand.
Just curious why you are adding 3 ckarkii? Typically with clowns its one, two, or attempt a harem.

The 3 I purchased are still small juveniles about 1"- 1 ¼". I was able to get them for a steal from my local shop during their sale. Figured it may workout and possibly be able to keep all 3 or worst case scenario I had a backup incase something happened to one during qt. The 3 of them stick close to one another at the moment. They will be the only fish in the 60gallon display with some bubble tips along w the haddoni so they will have some room to separate and get away from one another if they become a little too aggressive.

 

[Tonycass12]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll get a bowl w sand togeather for it today and monitor it for the next week. It has not been staying shrunk down and seems to re inflate not long after it gets down to how it was in the last picture.

 

[bakbay]

Nice Haddoni - that color will look cool under actinics! My Haddonis move around frequently, regardless of sand or no sand; however, they tend to stay put longer if there are sand. I went bare bottom on the new Lagoon tank 4 months ago but might re-add sand later. I hate sand tbh, too much gunk but might have to do that for the sake of these animals.

 

[Tonycass12]

Nice Haddoni - that color will look cool under actinics! My Haddonis move around frequently, regardless of sand or no sand; however, they tend to stay put longer if there are sand. I went bare bottom on the new Lagoon tank 4 months ago but might re-add sand later. I hate sand tbh, too much gunk but might have to do that for the sake of these animals.

The plan right now is for a couple small rock outcropings in the tank with a 3-4" sand bed that I'm going to plant some seagrass into. I'm really aiming for something like the picture below, eventually as the haddoni grows I will pull the bubble tips out. This tank will also act as a refugium for the rest of my systems.

 

[exnisstech]

My female clarkii is the most useless clown I've had. She'll barely come out to eat and never even feeds the nem. I'm thinking about pulling her and adding a pair of occelaris or percs. This is as exciting as it gets lol

 

[Tonycass12]

Not long after being moved into the bowl of sand and it seems to be diging in.

 

[Tonycass12]

Doing much better today with its foot buried in the sand. No longer inflating and deflating.

 

[D-Nak]

Aside from the mouth being slightly open, it looks good!

 

[D-Nak]

The plan right now is for a couple small rock outcropings in the tank with a 3-4" sand bed that I'm going to plant some seagrass into. I'm really aiming for something like the picture below, eventually as the haddoni grows I will pull the bubble tips out. This tank will also act as a refugium for the rest of my systems.

Please let me know how your seagrass planting goes. I've tried too many times to get them to grow and never had any luck. They're a lot harder IME than macroalgae.

 

[Tonycass12]

Please let me know how your seagrass planting goes. I've tried too many times to get them to grow and never had any luck. They're a lot harder IME than macroalgae.

I'll make sure to round back to this thread and post an update once I start a build thread for it.