GBTA Only Opens to Host

phryan

New member
I added a GBTA 10 days ago, the central disc is about 3" across. The tank has been running for about a year, stable conditions and good parameters pH 8.1-8.4, temp 80 +/- .01, alk 7, calc 410, near 0 Nit and Phos. The GBTA wandered into a corner under an overhang (I'm guessing to get some shade) on the first day. Since then it moves a few inches but stays in the same general area. It ate once on day 7, a small piece of salmon.

The issue is that it deflates nearly completely unless the female clown (2" Perc.) is hosting, the mouth is closed or slightly opened (less than half an inch). If the female clown is swimming around then the GBTA is deflated, she then goes over and her 'encouragement' seems to cause the anemone to open and after a while it's nearly fully open. When she loses interest the anemone starts to deflate once again. This cycle repeats over the day/night a few times. (The male is still happily hosting a clam.)

Is this normal acclimation behavior for the GBTA or should I look to isolate the GBTA from the clowns for a while.
 
The tank is a BC29 with an MP10, which is cycles between 60% reefcrest and 75% wave. In the corner that the GBTA moved to the flow is the lowest in the tank, on the same wall as the MP10 but in the back corner.
 
It might have not liked the flow. They go to where they are comfortable. Which is why they do not have grommets or staple marks on their feet. Even though we would like to put them there.

It is not our world, we created, we are just hosting it.
 
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