Concerned for BTA! please help!

[AwkwardZombie13]

I got a BTA from my LFS. It was white when I purchased. Water parameters are normal, I feed it meaty chunks (cycling through different foods, I wouldn't want to eat the same thing all the time....) its growing, extending out...has moved to the back of the tank, but likes it there? if I move him, he goes right back..... i have another BTA that is doing great and has maintained color.... Should I be worried???? Seriously everything else in my tank is LIVING it up! i have two frogspawn, Pulsing Xenia, GSP, favia, mushrooms (different colors), two different condy's, everything else seems fine.... really worried about this one's color though :/ Tank has been established for 3 years before adding 'nems, and all the other ones are GREAT! Please help! It is a 90 gal if that helps...

 

[Ruu]

1) What exactly is your concern? It's not clear to me whether you are worried about color or position in the tank
2) How long ago did you introduce it?
3) I'll ask just in case it comes up later, but what constitutes "normal" water parameters for you? What do you test, and what are the levels?

Dave

 

[Dsekula]

As Dave said it's hard to interpret your concern and possible issues with limited information. One thing to keep in mind with these animals is that good or normal parameters for one may not be what another is accustomed to. Think of it like moving from a tropical climate to say a frozen tundra. Humans can thrive in either condition but need to acclimate. If your tank is generally appropriate for the nem which is possible if you have another, it could be something like a different light spectrum or intensity (for example) that it needs to acclimate to. I have a rose and green bta the rose took to my LEDs imediately but the green was very shy, hid and bleached a slight bit untill it was, comphy. If it's bleached out most information I've read seems to point to feeding beeing helpful to keep it healthy. As long as it's sticky attached and has a closed mouth there's a decent chance it's just acclimating to something. Did you go through a good acclimation process or skimp on it, this includes lights btw? (Only you know this but if your honest with yourself and it's a soso then this could be it)
I had an issue with my green hiding so bad that I couldn't see or feed it at all. I was able to move the rock it was on and recreate the condition it was attracted to (moderate flow and shaded outcropping) in such a way that gave me a little more view and feeding access, by only moving the entire rock setup around it about 30 degrees. The nem auctually accepted this and didn't move back. While I don't agree with moving the nem just for asthetics etc. If you have similar concerns about it melting or completely shading itself and dieing or can't feed it, it may be possible to do a very slight move and keep it satisfied if you move everything else effecting it. In this situation the closest power heads we're shifted relative to the nem as well. As a side note I've noticed my btas are picky about pH, water temp, salinity, and light changes more than say my LPS coral rock nems and long tentacle nem (which unusually as it is, seems happy as long as it gets fed). If say the pH changes from a 8.4 to 8.3 suddenly the btas will expel all their water and refill. This is just what I noticed over time and checking before and after parameters but others may have different experience. Not that you want drastic swings ever but these are things I have noticed drastically effect them when other life stock may not be as effected.

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk

 

[aznflyfisherman]

Your bta looks bleached, you probably dont have enough light for it? Start feeding it mysis once a week n monitor it..you need to leave it alone, it will go where it feels comfortable n if you keep messing with it will stress out.

 

[shrimpman_oz]

1) Stop moving it and disturbing it
2) They will move around to where they feel comfortable.
3) Looks like it has shipped poorly. It should make a full recovery but this can take months. Patience.

 

[Dsekula]

Side note...
Watch it closely for dirty looking brown freckles indicating that it is regaining color. I've never had one as bleached as yours but if it doesn't begin coloring in a normal time frame (please ask others this as I really don't know how long just that it can take quite a while to show) there is a process to transplant zoo from another nem that I've read about. I've never done this but maybe someone on here can help if the situation dosent improve.
Good luck!!!

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk