BTA is acting weird.

[89Foxbody]

My BTA seems to be having some issues....

Starting today it seems to be curling up around the edges. The tentacles aren't really deflating much like they do when it eliminates but it just seems to almost be swallowing itself. Also it looks like some of its flesh is coming out of its mouth? It's not zoox or waste, but rather the actual flesh of the nem. You can't see the inside of its mouth (the white looking, ragged flesh) but a smooth surface that looks like the outside of the nem.

Up til this point, he's been perfectly happy. I just fed him earlier today, I gave him 2 small pieces of krill.

Parameters:

Temp: 82
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 10 or so
SG: 1.025

I've had this nem about 4 months, tank is 6 months old. He's twice the size he was when I got him. He's currently hosting a mated pair of Ocellaris.

Is this something I should be concerned about or is he just having a moment? Is he splitting maybe?

All my corals are doing awesome. I have mostly softies in the tank with him and a Bird's Nest.

 

[javisaman]

Hmm i think you added the nem a little too quickly 2 months into the tank was too early and likely the tank is still stabilizing. I'd keep an eye on it.

 

[mc-cro]

I wouldnt worry about it too much. they do very strange stuff on a regular basis. not sure what you would/could do anyways other than check and make sure all your parameters are right

 

[andrewsky]

ya just check your parameters, anemones are very weird and unpredictable corals/inverts. my ended up dying and my tank is just as old as yours. but the fish guy at house of fins and this other guy said it could either be just the anemone itself or my ph was low so just keep on eye on your levels and check him every couple hours or so

 

[Angel*Fish]

Just as old? Just as extremely brand new would be a better relative term to describe your tank's readiness for something like an anemone. It so much more complicated than just testing your parameters.

Please have a look at this article - you have to scroll down to Myth 15 http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/eb/index.php

Here are some excerpts:
Bacteria grow really fast, and so they are able to grow to levels that are capable of taking up nitrogen within a typical cycling time of a few weeks to a month (or so) to levels where ammonium and nitrite are not measurable by hobby test kits. Most people assume, wrongfully, that the tank is now "cycled." However, the fact that ammonium and nitrite are no longer easily measured does not in any way imply that the tank is truly cycled, mature, stable, or in any way able to easily support life in the form of new additions.

An aquarist simply "tests zero" for ammonia because there are enough bacteria present to keep up with the nitrogen being released by the dying organisms. It does not mean things are finished decomposing.

Now, if things are decomposing, they are releasing more than ammonia. Guess what dead sponges release? All of their sequestered toxic metabolites. Guess what else? All their natural antibiotic compounds and these will prevent some beneficial microbes from doing very well. The same occurs with the algae, many other invertebrates, the cyanobacteria, the dinoflagellates, and others. Suffice to say that this death and decomposition is going to take a while to complete.