Acclimating a new BTA

[kaxt]

I'm considering picking up a BTA this weekend but I want to make sure I fully understand what I'm getting into before I make the commitment. My tank has been set up for a while now, my parameters are all stable and my coral frags have doubled in size over the past month. I've done a lot of reading and I feel confident I'm ready, but I still have a few questions.

I've read that some people have luck picking a spot for their new BTA by placing its foot in a hole in their rock. Do they like to have their entire foot wedged into a tight hole, or are they looking for a little growing room as long as they feel secure? What's the best way to do this? Do I hold the foot in my hand and place it in the hole, or do I place the rock around the foot to build the hole?

Also, I have a bunch of coral frags in my tank, if the BTA does go for a walk is there a good chance it will kill the frags it comes in contact with? I understand that the corals could get stung and injured but how often are they killed if a BTA passes over them? I have a few extra tanks in the basement and could set up a temporary 10g to hold the coral until the BTA settles down, but if there isn't a huge risk I would rather not do that.

Any other suggestions on how to make the first day or two as stress-free as possible are also welcome- Thanks

 

[celamb89]

Congrats on asking beforehand!

If your params are stable, lighting requirements are met and have a mature enough tank (8 months IMO), I would start looking for a healthy nem... This would mean closed mouth, healthy foot (if its attached to a rock ask if you can buy the rock as well)... I would place the nem in a low area and it will move to a place it like (flow + light), what I would do is place it in an area where I would like it to be, although they can go across the hole tank, it is likely if you place it in a zone it will find a spot and stay in that zone (again flow and light have to be in the zone)

Mine has its foot between 2 rocks, its not a hole but more where 2 pieces of LR meet, it gets moderate flow and is 1/3 up under LED's...