BTA Help, Nurse back to Health

doomicon

doomicon

New member
First I will admit it was a mistake. I decided on purchasing a BTA this weekend, and instead of choosing one that was well colored. I felt sorry for the one(and only) bleached one, and thought I could possibly "nurse" it back to health. I gotta stop feeling sorry for unhealthly livestock. He isn't shriveled or shrinking, and his mouth is closed, but definitely bleached.

He's doing the typical behaviour, light shy, trying to squeeze it self in tight places away from the light.

Can some experienced BTA keepers, provide some advice (feeding etc.) that might help me give this guy a chance.

Currently have a 37 Gallon, tank is established and cycled. Light load, two damsels and softies.

Filtration 40lbs+ live rock (adding 10lbs tonight been curing for a couple weeks), and Protien Skimmer (Remora).

Current Lighting is 130w of PC. Working on a custom hood that would add 40w, but holding off as he seems really light shy.

One last thing, I have a 250w MH, was considering doing the hood with the 250 and two 20w tubes. Thought that would be overkill, should I just skip the intermediate upgrade and go for the gusto?
 
the PC should be enough...the hood would help some, but the MH is quite a bit overkill for just a BTA in that small of a tank.

Its hard around here to find a nem that is NOT bleached, and IMO it is a hurdle, but not a major one to overcome. The real dozies are : Is it eating? Is it attached?

If those two are good, then i would say you have great odds. I would recommend daily feeedings of mysis, as well as every other day small bits of silverside soaked or injected with selcon. This will get it good and plump, and the lights will do the rest. Keep your chemistry spot on and should be no worries.

He is not really light shy, he is change shy. THey all hide at first, need to find a good spot where they could hide in the future for whatever reason. When settled, and his osmoregularity is all balanced as well, it will come out. spot feed the mysis with a baster.

Good luck
 
Thanks for the advice and words of encouragement. He is definitely attached and on the move nonstop. He seems to have settled as of 7am this morning, but I know that he'll probably be somewhere else when I get home :D

He hasn't eaten yet, but I just picked him up yesterday evening. Will start the mysis/selcon feeding this evening.

Thanks Again!
./rob
 
I will, I'll keep everyone posted on his/her.. Pat's progress :D

Thanks again for the quick replies! This community rox!
 
Update 11/21

Update 11/21

No real progess. Doesn't seem to be eating, mouth isn't tighly closed (slightly open), so I'm just counting the days.

Roamed a bit but finally settled in a nice spot for the last 5 days...
btasettled.jpg


Until this morning, before lights came on.. Seems he is trying to make his escape, or find the BTA graveyard :confused:
btaescape.jpg


Oh well, I'll keep trying, and in the future I promise myself not to feel the need to purchase sick livestock. I've nursed fish and some really poor looking softies back to health, but the losses have lightened my wallet.
 
Mine lived up on the glass for a while.
He actually split up there and his clone stayed there next to him.
I just two weeks ago decided to place them back down on the rocks and see if they would stay. My clowns aren't hosting them anyways so it doesn't really matter, but it was nerve wracking doing water changes and wrapping them up in their little salt water paper towel turban.
 
lol, I know what you mean about water changes, yesterday was a scheduled change, and had to pass. Now this morning, he's squeezed himself under the live rock :-\
 
Finally some good news to report. After receiving some good advice from everyone ;-) I purchased some silversides. I had been trying to feed everything I had, but silversides (brine, flake, shrimp, etc). So after 11-12 days, he's eating like a horse! (poo'ing like one too)

He's eating and doing great! Looks better as some coloration is slightly returning. Still bleached, but he was almost completely translucent when I purchased him. I'm hoping normal coloration will return in a few months

I was going to hold off on purchasing a clown, but thought I would take a shot. I figured if the Clown was keeping the BTA well fanned for Oxygen exchange, and wasn't rough he'd stay.

Well lookin' good!

btanbuddy.jpg


Wanted to know, does anyone soak their silversides in Selcon? Or should I just leave that be?
 
Gem' thanks, I'm doing that for my next feeding. The first two feedings the silversides were small, the last one it was 'normal' in size, and could tell he didn't digest it all *yuck*.
 
ya no problem please keep us updated i really want to know how this guy does BTW
im just like you i tend to always pick the sick ones to try and heal them up!
 
Also keep an eye on the clown fish. My first BTA got beat to death by my clown so when I got my RBTA I kept him away from him for the firsy month. Once he found a place to stay and seemed happy I introduced the clown and they have done great since. Good luck with yours. Here is a recent pic of mine.

RBTA1.jpg
 
Alot of people recommend soaking silversides in selcon or injecting them with it. I personally have never tryed but have heard great things! Looks great keep up the good work!
 
Thanks All! I'll keep ya posted.

Racing1, I'm definitely keeping an eye on him. He's doing great, no nipping, or bad behaviour. btw that's a sweet nem!

Jim Brody, I have 135wPC now, but planning on a move to 75g w/ T5.

jpgwold, I was going to pick up some Selcon last night, but LFS wanted $19, I'll order it :D and give it a try.
 
So i'm new to keeping BTA.. it sounds like silversides is the perferred food to feed them??

How often should you feed them?
 
mnestroy - I feed mine every 3-5 days. He has doubled in size in about 2 months. Mine is doing well under 440 watts of VHO Lighting in my 75 gallon. I am hoping to upgrade to MH after thr holidays.

doomicon - Thanks. I have only had it a few months and it is coming along nicely.
 
lol im in exactly the same situation. i bought a bleached one on saturday because it was in indirect halide light and it was cheap :D

Anyway mine had found a nice place bit sheltered.

It wouldn't eat first day I got it so I waited until now. Gave it a tiny bit of silverside, ate it in about 30 seconds. then gave him a whole piece. nice snack for it and my clown who nibbled it the nems mouth.

pretty miraculously just after 15 minutes i could see some colour returning to the tentacles. you can see where it is bleached and where it isn't looks brown.

my advice, let it settle, feed it silversides and oh yeah, big *** lighting, even a 70W halide would be good. I got 150W + 2X 24W PCs in a 50g
 
Racing1 Just a few months? Sweet! I hope mine looks that good in a few months.. Great Color!

haulme Definitely agree from my short experience...

Settle, Silversides, BFL! :D

So far I'm two outta three ;)
 
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