Our BTA is on the move and we don't know why so any help would be great. We have had the BTA for over 4 years and it has stayed in the same place. But about 3 weeks ago we took out our two clowns because they wouldn't leave the BTA alone and would not let her eat. The BTA wouldn't ever get big like it use to do and the clowns just would not leave it for a second. So since we removed them the BTA started to get it's tips back but then it up and moved. We picked her up and put her in a different place and it stayed there for 4 or 5 days but now it is back on the move. Is it trying to find the clowns???? Should we put them back. We need HELP.
BTA on move-why?
- Thread starter obed.dog
- Start date
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
Something has changed in the system and it does not like it.
Here's a couple things I've known to cause them to move.
Water quality?
Water flow? - Have you changed the direction of flow either by deliberately moving your powerhead or CL? Have you inadvertantly changed water flow by moving a new coral or changing the location of a coral or moving liverock?
New lights?
Old lights?
Injury or irritation while trying to catch your clowns?
Splitting?
EDIT:
I would leave the clowns alone. Personally I have not ever target fed mine. My I do however tend to overfeed my fish and once the clowns are full they continue to grab food but instead of swallowing it, they take it to their anemone (I guess for storage) and the anemone gets fed that way. I also have no form of mechanical filtration, so my nems and corals are constantly being fed detritus. It seems to work for me.
Here's a couple things I've known to cause them to move.
Water quality?
Water flow? - Have you changed the direction of flow either by deliberately moving your powerhead or CL? Have you inadvertantly changed water flow by moving a new coral or changing the location of a coral or moving liverock?
New lights?
Old lights?
Injury or irritation while trying to catch your clowns?
Splitting?
EDIT:
I would leave the clowns alone. Personally I have not ever target fed mine. My I do however tend to overfeed my fish and once the clowns are full they continue to grab food but instead of swallowing it, they take it to their anemone (I guess for storage) and the anemone gets fed that way. I also have no form of mechanical filtration, so my nems and corals are constantly being fed detritus. It seems to work for me.
Last edited:
AQUA DAVE
New member
The anemone is trying to stay alive by moving to a place that is ideal for it to flurish. It is never a good idea to move the anemone yourself because you can tear the foot, which almost always causes a slow death. Give us some info. on your setup and we will be better equiped to give you an answer.
My BTA is moving Also
My BTA is moving Also
My BTA is moving as well and it all started when I have to move some Live Rock to get to fallen coral in the back of the tank. This was about 2 -3 weeks ago.
My 2 clowns have always lived or played in the BTA since we purchased it.
My BTA had stayed in one play for a year but it stopped devleoping its bubble tips. When I did move the BTA where we can view it the big bubble tips came out. It was very nice looking.
Now my BTA move again this morning and it is in a place that receives no light its under a Live Rock. The clowns still found him.
I guess maybe I should try to put him back where he was for 1 year? Any other suggestions?
My BTA is moving Also
My BTA is moving as well and it all started when I have to move some Live Rock to get to fallen coral in the back of the tank. This was about 2 -3 weeks ago.
My 2 clowns have always lived or played in the BTA since we purchased it.
My BTA had stayed in one play for a year but it stopped devleoping its bubble tips. When I did move the BTA where we can view it the big bubble tips came out. It was very nice looking.
Now my BTA move again this morning and it is in a place that receives no light its under a Live Rock. The clowns still found him.
I guess maybe I should try to put him back where he was for 1 year? Any other suggestions?
cartman5579
New member
Re: My BTA is moving Also
Re: My BTA is moving Also
Geez, can anyone say HIJACK!!!
Re: My BTA is moving Also
Geez, can anyone say HIJACK!!!
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
Re: My BTA is moving Also
Re: My BTA is moving Also
I can't stress it enough. If you plan to keep anemones, you have to be prepared to let them move where they want to move even if that means that they are not where you would like to see them. If you want a host that you can place where you want it, get some anthelia, xenia, or some other coral that grows similarly. Leathers do well for some, not so well for others frogspawns and hammers are sometimes good hosts too but they usually have to be big to keep the clowns from irritating them from retraction.
Do not move anemones. It's that simple. The other thing to avoid is moving anything in their environment that might change the water flow. This means rockwork, large corals, powerheads, closed loops etc. If you need to move a powerhead to keep them from getting sucked in or damaged try unplugging it first and hope that the nem just decides to move on so you can turn it back on.
Re: My BTA is moving Also
I can't stress it enough. If you plan to keep anemones, you have to be prepared to let them move where they want to move even if that means that they are not where you would like to see them. If you want a host that you can place where you want it, get some anthelia, xenia, or some other coral that grows similarly. Leathers do well for some, not so well for others frogspawns and hammers are sometimes good hosts too but they usually have to be big to keep the clowns from irritating them from retraction.
Do not move anemones. It's that simple. The other thing to avoid is moving anything in their environment that might change the water flow. This means rockwork, large corals, powerheads, closed loops etc. If you need to move a powerhead to keep them from getting sucked in or damaged try unplugging it first and hope that the nem just decides to move on so you can turn it back on.
I appreciate your help and I hope no one gets upset that I am using this thread to continue this conversation.
A couple more questions about the BTA.
Why would a BTA deplete many times in a day like 2-3 I have seen him rollup in a little ball.
I was feeding my BTA Krill twice a week but stoped to once a week. Now that it has moved I can reach it to feed it.
Lastly, will the BTA die with no light. I always thought they require large amounts of light. I am running MH 150 W.
A couple more questions about the BTA.
Why would a BTA deplete many times in a day like 2-3 I have seen him rollup in a little ball.
I was feeding my BTA Krill twice a week but stoped to once a week. Now that it has moved I can reach it to feed it.
Lastly, will the BTA die with no light. I always thought they require large amounts of light. I am running MH 150 W.
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
Deflate - It could be spitting out used food or could be sick or both.
Eating - I wouldn't worry too much abour feeding it. If you have good water flow and clowns, it will eat.
Light - It will be fine in the dark. Mine have spent weeks in a cave. They will come out when and where they want.
We did put in new lights about 1 month ago? When I said the clowns won't let her eat, we feed the BTA silversides and the clowns won't let her keep ahold of them. We did try putting a cover over the BTA so the clowns won't knock the food out of her.
We change 1/3 of the water every 2 weeks and everything seemed okay. Like I said we have had the BTA for over 3 years.
Should we put the clowns back?
It is a 150 gal. tank with lots of movement. we have pulsing Zens that just love it, so much that we need to keep them in-check by removing some of them from time -to- time.
What happens if the BTA goes behind the rocks? Will it come out when it gets hungry???? Thanks so much for any help with this--- we do love the BTA.
We change 1/3 of the water every 2 weeks and everything seemed okay. Like I said we have had the BTA for over 3 years.
Should we put the clowns back?
It is a 150 gal. tank with lots of movement. we have pulsing Zens that just love it, so much that we need to keep them in-check by removing some of them from time -to- time.
What happens if the BTA goes behind the rocks? Will it come out when it gets hungry???? Thanks so much for any help with this--- we do love the BTA.
Victor1046
New member
When two people are having the same problem isn't it Good to compare notes?
started thread
started thread
But I started this thread and others jumped in---which is fine, because it help us with our troubles also.. But I was answering some question that others had asked me.. This is the first time I have used this site for a long time---I'm I doing something wrong?
started thread
But I started this thread and others jumped in---which is fine, because it help us with our troubles also.. But I was answering some question that others had asked me.. This is the first time I have used this site for a long time---I'm I doing something wrong?
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
obed.dog,
Your lights sound like a probable culprit to your nem moving. If everyting else looks pretty good, I'd just let the nem roam 'till it finds a new niche. If other things are starting to look stressed, I'd raise the lights up 6"- 8" and lower them back down an inch a week.
Your lights sound like a probable culprit to your nem moving. If everyting else looks pretty good, I'd just let the nem roam 'till it finds a new niche. If other things are starting to look stressed, I'd raise the lights up 6"- 8" and lower them back down an inch a week.
