Floundering_Around Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 As the title says, one of my new RFA is injured. A little backstory... Day1: I just got six RFA from Reefapalooza this past weekend. By the time the plane landed and I was done acclimating, it was the wee hours of the morning. I just dropped everything into the tank, holding the RFAs against the rock for a few seconds so they would stick. Didn't even think to take my historically voracious peppermint shrimp out, mistake number one. Saw the male/larger of my shrimp go after one of the nems but it was already situated in the rock so it just closed and reopened. Day 2: It's now Tuesday morning and my pink nem is not on the rock and has fallen/moved underneath it. Into the shrimp's lair. I pick it up and move it back to the top of the rock and it seems fine. Fast forward to the evening and I need to go to work. Nem is back under the rock but looks fine so I rush out to, mistake number two. Day 2 (night?): came home from work at three in the morning and I don't see the nem at all. Looking under the rock, I see the male shrimp happily picking away at something. That something happens to be the foot of MY NEM. Yank the nem out and put it in its shipping cup and stick the cup in the first chamber of the tank's sump (AIO tank). To late to do anything so obsessively check the nem about five times before going to bed Day 3/current: Woke up, tore up my tank apart, and yanked out both of the stupid shrimp. Stuck the little brats in a bucket with an air stone. Nem is still in the back of the tank. Doing a little prodding, it looks like the shrimp ate directly through the mouth and through the foot. Saw on another forum to do the good ol' sniff test to see if the nem is dying. Smells fine, still has it's color, has light from my fuge light, but is all curled up on itself. Is there anything i can or should do??? I know RFA can be pretty hardy but this is one of my favs and was a gift so I'm pretty bummed out Quote Link to comment
DSFIRSTSLTWATER Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 that sucks to hear man. I'm going to follow along in case anything like this happens with the ones I have. I don't have anything to add so I'm sorry. Only thing I can contribute is that I have read that they can recover if its not too bad. Quote Link to comment
Floundering_Around Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 1 minute ago, DSFIRSTSLTWATER said: that sucks to hear man. I'm going to follow along in case anything like this happens with the ones I have. I don't have anything to add so I'm sorry. Only thing I can contribute is that I have read that they can recover if its not too bad. I'm really hoping it does. If it was a bubble tip, I probably wouldn't be too worried since you can propagate those by cutting. However, I don't think it works to same way for RFA Quote Link to comment
DSFIRSTSLTWATER Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 I think you're right on that...I think as long as it didn't die it has a chance to recover. Is there anything else that may pick at it in the tank? I don't have anything crazy in my tank so I unfortunately do have experience with them healing or dying. Hopefully someone will chime in for you. Best of luck with him hope it gets better. Quote Link to comment
Floundering_Around Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 Only three hermit crabs and two snails. If it was the hermits, I would expect them to go for the tentacles first and cut off pieces rather than go through the mouth Quote Link to comment
DSFIRSTSLTWATER Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 21 minutes ago, Floundering_Around said: Only three hermit crabs and two snails. If it was the hermits, I would expect them to go for the tentacles first and cut off pieces rather than go through the mouth Yeah probably not hermits I have three and they don't really mess with my flowers.. Quote Link to comment
ReefFish Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 I had the same thing happen to me about 4 years ago with a peppermint shrimp it started to stab at the mouth so I got the shrimp out but the damage was done and it died 3 days later 1 Quote Link to comment
DSFIRSTSLTWATER Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 9 minutes ago, ReefFish said: I had the same thing happen to me about 4 years ago with a peppermint shrimp it started to stab at the mouth so I got the shrimp out but the damage was done and it died 3 days later Damn so they don't do well with damage then? Quote Link to comment
Floundering_Around Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 5 minutes ago, ReefFish said: I had the same thing happen to me about 4 years ago with a peppermint shrimp it started to stab at the mouth so I got the shrimp out but the damage was done and it died 3 days later okay, I'll keep my eye on it just in case. I don't even think I can feed it since there's a hole in it 😞 I'll pick up some iodine tonight and give it a quick bath to see if that helps Quote Link to comment
Floundering_Around Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 1 minute ago, DSFIRSTSLTWATER said: Damn so they don't do well with damage then? I find that really interesting. Others say they're super hardy and can be shipped dry and will bounce back once they hit the water, amongst some other really interesting anecdotes Quote Link to comment
ReefFish Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 No there not like other anemones any cut to there foot and there done sorry to say Quote Link to comment
ReefFish Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 They are very hardy but not to cuts or rips Quote Link to comment
DSFIRSTSLTWATER Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Just now, ReefFish said: They are very hardy but not to cuts or rips hmm that's really good to know. Thanks for the little heads up on that. Quote Link to comment
Floundering_Around Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 @ReefFish What are the signs that it is dying? Quote Link to comment
ReefFish Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Mouth wide open Shriveled up Not sticking to anything And the last is smelling really bad and melting apart Quote Link to comment
Floundering_Around Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 1 minute ago, ReefFish said: Mouth wide open Shriveled up Not sticking to anything And the last is smelling really bad and melting apart well, we have three of four. Now it's up to iodine and prayers 1 Quote Link to comment
ReefFish Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 I've seen really nice RFA at stores and had to turn them down if I saw any sign of the smelliest of cuts Quote Link to comment
ReefFish Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 I'm sorry to have to tell you this but from the picture iodine won't help Quote Link to comment
ReefFish Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 That small little cut in the second picture is all it took and 3 days later gone Quote Link to comment
ReefFish Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 Never buy them if theirs any cut no matter how small Quote Link to comment
Floundering_Around Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 Oh wow. For a "hardy" anemone they're kinda wimps when it comes to cuts. I guess it's cause they sexually reproduce rather than tearing themselves apart. Thanks for taking the time to go through your photos for me @ReefFish Shame you lost such a gorgeous nem too 😞 Quote Link to comment
Aurortpa Posted June 27, 2018 Share Posted June 27, 2018 1 hour ago, Floundering_Around said: well, we have three of four. Now it's up to iodine and prayers It is suggested to give anemones with tears a double the dose iodide bath. The prognosis is still iffy at best—hope he makes it. If he does become sticky again, try feeding enriched foods. Quote Link to comment
Floundering_Around Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 3 minutes ago, Aurortpa said: It is suggested to give anemones with tears a double the dose iodide bath. The prognosis is still iffy at best—hope he makes it. If he does become sticky again, try feeding enriched foods. Will do. I'm hesitant to prod it anymore but it hasn't moved from where it's sitting in the cup even though there is a gentle current. I want to check on it every five seconds like that will help anything 😩 Quote Link to comment
Floundering_Around Posted June 28, 2018 Author Share Posted June 28, 2018 It's the next day. Gave the nem a bath in betadine; made the water so dark you couldn't see the nem and had it soaking for seven minutes (Most stores no longer sell 100% iodine 🙄). Gave it a sniff test this morning and it doesn't smell like death so hope prevails. I'll give it another bath tonight but I won't make the water as dark as I did. Quote Link to comment
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