BTA in the dark?

[reefgeeker]

Today I purchased a BTA about 2" in diameter, it was on a nice piece of live rock. Today when i put it in my tank it moved itself into a cavern in my live rock, with little to no light. I know that they move but into the dark??? I have plenty of light on my tank and great flow, the BTA was put in an area with not to much but not to little flow, the perfect spot... So why is he being so shy, I target fed him and he ate a krill tonight, at least he's hungry!

 

[reefnetworth]

anemones are strange like that. he will move again, trust me. i has one stay in the same place for about a month. then he moved again three months later. almost a year later and within 4 days it was halfway across the tank, where its been for about 3 months.
JDM...

 

[calebjk]

i agree with reefnetworth, almost anyone with anemones have had to get use to trusting that the anemone can take care of itself. just cover all your powerhead and pump intakes and it should be fine.

 

[omni2226]

No matter what light and flow a Nem gets, if it does not feel it's foot is safe it will move.
Mine moved around for about a week till it found a large crack/crevice/hole in a rock....the largest rock I have which was,naturaly, at the bottom of the tank in the dark.

Later the entire rock along with a Clown was tossed into a 5 gallon tank with just a 7 watt light for about a month.
Then tossed into a 10 gallon tank with a 14 watt aquarium bulb for around seven months.
It never moved. Rock upside down,rightside up. No light,little light,a small rock placed on top of it to get it to move...nothing.
It never flinched.
It is now back in the 55 gallon tank and is still in its spot.

 

[calebjk]

that's hilarious! i love the personality of a bta, and i could only imagine a nice big one taking up most of a 5 gal.
the most important thing that omni did, is he did not try to pry the bta off of the rock.
take everyone's advise and just be patient. i have a friend that got one as a hitchhiker and didn't even know he had it for 3 weeks, now it's been healthy for around 3 months, which i consider that target. if you can keep them alive for the first 3 months then they should life forever as long as you can keep the environment right and nothing attack them.