[dphilbert]

I bought a bubble tip anemone yesterday from my lfs and it looked very healthy in the store. It had nice bubbles at it's tips, its foot was healthy, and it contracted nicely when handled. I drip acclimated it and put it at the base of my live rock where it climbed up about an inch and nestled its foot in a crevice. It didnt move for the rest of the day, but when I woke up, it had moved clear across the tank into a darker spot. It stayed in this spot for most of the day, expanding a little I think because of the lack of light, and then began to move in the afternoon. When moving from a branch rock to another, it detached and began floating in the current. I was watching this whole process and didnt want it to sting any other corals so I very gently guided it back to the rock by hand. It re-attached, began to move again, and then let go again! Now its been going through a cycle of grabbing on to and letting go of the front glass. When purchased and for the first day of having it its diameter was about 4 inches and its foot was about 2. Now its tentacle spread and foot are about five inches in diameter and its foot looks like its over inflated. Tank parameters are Amm. 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 0, PH8.2, spec grav. was a little over 1.025 but now i'm lowering it to 1.024, Phosphate 0, KH 8 and calcium about 420. I tried turning the powerhead off but that made it less inclined to attach itself. What should I do?

[angie555]

They are strange little things! Mine moved around for weeks and still does some times. They will move until they find a place they like, and stay unlit they dont like it any more! As for the size give it a few days you will find that they do all sorts of strange things from looking half dead to turning them selfs inside out.

[dphilbert]

So you think its ok that it un-attatched itself?

[RyanG]

What type of lighting do you have?

[dphilbert]

130 watt pc over a 20 gal tank (only 16 inches deep)

[dphilbert]

The thing is when I first put it in it was in direct light and remained compact and very bubbly. It didn't start expanding and acting up until it moved itself to a dark spot.

[RyanG]

I technically do not recommend keeping anemones with PC lighting, but it can be done. Bubble anemones like to move around a lot to find a spot they like at first, but when they find a spot they usually stay put for a while until you change something (either flow or lighting)

[dphilbert]

but is detaching normal?