BTA Dying?

[roushrcing26]

Hi Everyone I have a 29 gallon reef tank with 4 t5 bulbs 31 watts each 2 blue and 2 daylight bulbs all levels are perfect. I bought an anemone 2 days ago brought it home acclimated it and put it on a rock a little more than half way up the tank i did this twice and it moved out of the light each time so I figured the light was too much he is now attached to the bottom of the rocks in from and the mouth looks like its raised up a little and partially open what do you guys think? and how often should i feel him? Thanks in advance!

 

[sjwitt]

Please post parameters and a picture.

 

[roushrcing26]

i wish i could i was trying but my camera broke Parameters are perfect tho I had my water tested yesterday at the store

 

[roushrcing26]

The mouth is not hanging wide open either but its enough to draw my attention that it doesnt look normal

 

[TheReefNinja]

probably stressed what was it under in the LFS? a member of our reef club got a nem and it hid for a week before it was nice and happy

 

[sjwitt]

I understand that they probably said "perfect" but, they would say perfect for an SG 1.023 and an anemone really prefers 1.026 so the numbers are important. Do you test your own water? If so, readings are needed.

I wouldn't stress about it hiding. Is it bleached or does it have good color? The mouth is what I'm really interested in seeing in a picture.

 

[roushrcing26]

Well im not sure because I use test strips with the 5 pads and it was telling me my nitrates were high and the fish store told me they were 0 and also My salt reader was reading 1.022 but the fish store told me my salt was high so im assuming its a little higher than 1.026

The mouth kind of closed back up a little im working on the picture right now give me a second.

 

[roushrcing26]

Pics

Pics

Its a little hard to see because of the spot its in but his mouth keeps opening and closing about a quarter of an inch

 

[sjwitt]

Okay, it doesn't look bad at all. If your SG is high that could be part of the issue. Did you acclimate it or dump it in. Getting it from whatever the shipping bag SG was (assuming you tested the SG of the shipping water) to match what you have should have taken quite a while if there was a drastic difference.

I suggest you block it off from the clowns for a few days to allow it to acclimate in peace. That also could be part of the problem.

What are you using to test your SG? If you are using a refractometer (suggested) it needs to be calibrated. Also, you should check the calibration every so often. If you're using anything else (like a hydrometer) then yes readings can be off. Do yourself a favor and get a refractometer (if you don't already have one).

 

[sjwitt]

Oh, and if you're relying on the LFS and they say "it's high" ask them for an exact reading. Like I said, they're probably running fish tanks at lower salinity so to them 1.026 would seem high.

 

[roushrcing26]

okay cool thanks alot i acclimated him for an hour adding water from the tank little by little and I have one more question the anemone extended and touch that red mushroom next to it and its not opening all the way now is it dead?

 

[sjwitt]

Do you mean the mushroom isn't opening? It doesn't look dead, probably just sulking from a sting. Move it so the nemmie can't touch it anymore. Mushrooms are pretty resilient. Is the nemmie 'sticky' at all?

 

[roushrcing26]

yes i tried to feed it krill it stuck to him but he wouldnt eat it

 

[sjwitt]

Okay, then maybe try some shrimp or scallop. Small piece ... I just take one of those big ones that you can by (for people) frozen in the bag and shave off a piece. Put it in tank water for a couple of minutes to thaw first and see if it won't take that. Good luck, keep us posted. If it doesn't eat, then wait a couple of days and try again. It could be that it's just settling in since its only been in there a few days. Like I said, it looks pretty darn good to me from the picts... and if it's sticky then I think your on the right track. Just be patient and keep a close eye on it (which I know you are).

 

[sjwitt]

Oh, and I just re-read your first post and wanted to mention that they like having their foot deep in the rock work. My RBTA's foot is actually up under a rock so that when it retracts it disappears (I can see up under the rock ... kind of an overhang situation). They feel more protected that way... my Condylactis does the same thing.

 

[roushrcing26]

yea thanks im always watching my tank lol I think its doing okay I just got home from work and hes fully extended why do they get larger at night? and yea his foot is wayyyy up in the rock work

Oh yea and how do i feed mysis shrimp because i dont need to use a whole cube and i keep having to throw half of it away is there a right way to do it?

and last but not least will my big clown ever leave the anemone or do they always stay there

 

[roushrcing26]

Oh I forgot to say thanks again uve been really helpful man thanks alot!

 

[Catchoftheday]

yea thanks im always watching my tank lol I think its doing okay I just got home from work and hes fully extended why do they get larger at night? and yea his foot is wayyyy up in the rock work

Oh yea and how do i feed mysis shrimp because i dont need to use a whole cube and i keep having to throw half of it away is there a right way to do it?

and last but not least will my big clown ever leave the anemone or do they always stay there

As far as using mysis shrimp cube I would just cut it in half throw one half in the freezer and use the other to feed . As for the clown my Female levees all the time and my Male clown stays ether in the BTA's or close by .

 

[sjwitt]

^ +1