BTA questions

[boozerell]

I have a green BTA with purple tips, and I have a few questions. I've had it for about a month now and have noticed it's mouth is always a little bit open, is this normal? I read it's suppose to be closed. I also noticed when I feed the tank, it's mouth swells when it grabs pieces and eats...I assume this is normal. It's stayed put all this time and I moved it's rock a little and noticed this morning it started to move. I put the rock back as it was and it's still again...probably just didn't like the angle of the rock. It also seems to purge itself weekly, is this too often, or normal?
Here are my tank readings:
pH 8.4
ammonia 0
nitrate 0
nitrite 0
salinity 1.023

I think I need to increase my salinity? Can anyone explain why the LFS sell 1.022 and 1.025 salt water? Why would you want one or the other?

Thanks for the info.

 

[NirvanaFan]

The purging of water is pretty normal. Your tank readings are good, but I would raise the specific gravity up to 1.025. I would guess that the different salinity salt water the LFS uses is for different types of tanks. A lot of people keep Fish Only tanks at a lower salinity, whereas a reef tank needs to be up higher.

 

[boozerell]

Thanks for the info, what about the mouth? Could it because the salinity is down?

 

[Aaarrrggg]

Sounds like you're doing great! I couldn't say why the mouth is a little open, but you only need to worry if it's gaping with noodlily bits coming out... still, couldn't hurt to raise the sg.

Check out http://www.karensroseanemones.com for some great BTA info.

 

[RoscoPColtrane]

My BTA had a slightly opened mouth for the first few weeks. I fed it mysis shrimp and meaty foods every other day for two weeks and the mouth is now closed tighly. I have reduced the feeding to twice a week and the BTA seems to be doing very well.

 

[boozerell]

I'll try feeding it more and see, if I get the same results. It does seem like it's hungry.