BTA Completly inside hole in rock

[darb85]

My BTA Was Hell to get him to not just float in the water column. I turned off the returns and got him to attach to a rock, When I woke up this morning he had moved, but looked pretty well settled in a crevice(towards the back of the tank of course) his foot was bright red and he was seemingly fine.

When I got home 9 hours later, He is completely wedged into a dark hole in the live rock. I actually thought maybe he had crawled out of the tank at first.

THe one thing Im thinking is since it was 2 am when I noticed him just rolling around in the water column and I fired up the lights and forgot to put them back on timers when I went to bed. So he has had light since 2 am, and IM thinking I ****ed him off, but wanted to make sure im just being my normal nervous self.

the foot is still pretty red, and not inflated so it seems to be settled, but ive never had one do this before...

Stay calm and wait?

 

[akitareefer]

I think he'll be fine. Just try to get him settled on a rock and leave him alone. I don't think the lights on for too long caused any problems, never been an issue for me.

 

[darb85]

HEs settled in on a rock, but now is completely hidden from view. I've had a BTA in most of my tanks, its been a few years now, but this has never happened to me. Its really weird.

 

[worm5406]

My 1st and only bta secured him self on the rock when I got him. He then started to move. I woke up one day and he was gone. I checked around and no where to be seen.

That evening I saw him on the back side deeply hidden from view.

Ohh well... I know it is there I just will never see it...

Then a week later he ends up FRONT and center like he was always there to begin with... HAHAHAHA...

They love to move...

My decendris (spelling is not good tonight) moved all over the place.

When I put it in the 180 upgrade it stayed in the place I put it and has not moved ever... Coloring even got better than in the 120.

 

[darb85]

ok ok...Ill chill out. I just wanted to make sure im being good host to these beautiful animals. I get stressed out when my animals do something unexpected.

 

[darb85]

Ok, So as I went to bed last night, He was out in the open puffed up bubble on tips, and seemingly secured, this was after lights out. Now he has moved, not so in the dark but completely tucked into himself. foot is still Bright red, but he is very shrived and i can just see a few tentacales. I checked PH and its 8.2, salinity 1.26, Temp is 80 on guage, but it is usually 1 degree off, so probably 79.

Tank is 3 months old has been stable for two and half(short cycle), and fed on regular basis to keep CUC busy and well I just have always done that, And he is only inhabitant minus CUC. Wanted him placed first before corals.

This is new for me, as stated before this is my third BTA. My First thrived in the same age tank, attached and was fine, The second shipped poorly, was bleached, recovered 3 months later(color and the bacteria stuff, cant think of name, returned), then decided to hari kari in powerhead about 6 months after that, but was healthy before that.

So I'm just worried. It did take food the first day 2 1/4 pieced of Shrimp, could it just be digesting?

Sorry for being a worry wort, but if this is a problem, I can get him out and back to LFS Tank until i figure out whats going on,

So...Help?

 

[darb85]

oh, Used ATI test kit, 1 month old, dates on bottles still good for PH, if that make difference.

 

[mandarin_goby]

I have one that completely recedes into a hole, to the point that I can't even see him, then pops back out, bubbly as ever. I'd leave him be...now mine doesn't recede into his hole much and stays out most of the time. Bubble tips are so moody...I bet he'll be fine.

 

[kegogut]

I also have one that is wedged in between 2 pieces of LR. he can hardly be seen during the night,but during the day he comes out and looks good.

BTAs love to have their foot hidden and as protected as possible. He'll come out when hes ready. They want light so hell come out for some sunlight lovin.

 

[darb85]

Ive noticed he retreats when the Lights hit there full stride and starts coming back out with the attintics, so im sure he is just adjusting, I was just worried.

 

[bangbangkhan]

i have the same issue for the last two days....the RBTA is hidden and i dont know if i should it feed it or let it come out to find food....

 

[cet98]

i have the same issue for the last two days....the RBTA is hidden and i dont know if i should it feed it or let it come out to find food....

How old is your tank setup? Looks to be fairly new based on the base rock shown in your pic.....

 

[bangbangkhan]

3 months....I added some dry rock to convert to live....almost all of the live rock is in the sump.

 

[cet98]

Ok, So as I went to bed last night, He was out in the open puffed up bubble on tips, and seemingly secured, this was after lights out. Now he has moved, not so in the dark but completely tucked into himself. foot is still Bright red, but he is very shrived and i can just see a few tentacales. I checked PH and its 8.2, salinity 1.26, Temp is 80 on guage, but it is usually 1 degree off, so probably 79.

Tank is 3 months old has been stable for two and half(short cycle), and fed on regular basis to keep CUC busy and well I just have always done that, And he is only inhabitant minus CUC. Wanted him placed first before corals.

This is new for me, as stated before this is my third BTA. My First thrived in the same age tank, attached and was fine, The second shipped poorly, was bleached, recovered 3 months later(color and the bacteria stuff, cant think of name, returned), then decided to hari kari in powerhead about 6 months after that, but was healthy before that.

So I'm just worried. It did take food the first day 2 1/4 pieced of Shrimp, could it just be digesting?

Sorry for being a worry wort, but if this is a problem, I can get him out and back to LFS Tank until i figure out whats going on,

So...Help?

this is your third BTA in a 3 month old tank?....IMO your tank is not established, nor stable, enough for you to have introduced a nem....
I would suggest bringing it back and waiting at least another 3-6 months before introducing a nem to your system...

 

[cet98]

3 months....I added some dry rock to convert to live....almost all of the live rock is in the sump.

See comment above....

 

[bangbangkhan]

See comment above....

So you are saying they only hide in unstable tanks? The first week the nem was out and about until the cleaner shrimp also started messing with it.

I have been keeping a chart of all my parameters and they have been steady the whole three months.

 

[kegogut]

So you are saying they only hide in unstable tanks? The first week the nem was out and about until the cleaner shrimp also started messing with it.

I have been keeping a chart of all my parameters and they have been steady the whole three months.

I agree,if your tank has been stable for 3 months then you should be able to keep a BTA with np. He might just be adjusting to the light. if you have LEDs then it might be much more PAR than what hes used to. Just give him a few days to adjust and as long as he continues to look ok dont worry about him.

 

[worm5406]

The reason he states this is because the track history of tank age with other people has shown a LARGE percentage of nems die in this situation.

The parameters are all fine, water wise with the stuff we can test. New tanks bacteria colony and swings in chemistry is one of the largest things that we can not measure. Nems like consistency in all the variables.

Ever see a tank suddenly spike in parameters and a nem go walking? Even in an older tank. They are looking for a certain water chemistry, that we can obtain, on a consistent basis.

It is very possible that he will keep the nem until a ripe old age, but the people here have read and even experienced first hand the problems that they are seeing. Which is why they are giving recommendations for the health of the inhabitants and for the piece of mind and lack of discouragement for the owner.

 

[darb85]

this is your third BTA in a 3 month old tank?....IMO your tank is not established, nor stable, enough for you to have introduced a nem....
I would suggest bringing it back and waiting at least another 3-6 months before introducing a nem to your system...

no, this is my third nem in 8 years of Reefing, just the first one that freaked out.. I have never had an I issue before. He is now out and doing fine. But thanks for your concern.

 

[kegogut]

I figured he was ok and just getting used to his enviroment. You definitely would have noticed something negative other than hiding had he been unhealthy.