Help!!! BTA sucked into powerhead!

[standrd250ridr]

I came home from work a minute ago and found the tentacles of my bta sucked into the MJ1200 plastic intake(the one that is supposed to have a foam filter on it). It looks like it is still alive, but is shriveled up. doesn't look too torn up just that all the tentacles are shriveled up and sucked into the plastic slits. I took the plastic piece off the powerhead and placed it and BTA on the sand. will it untangle itself or is there something I can/should do?

 

[garygb]

Yeah, it will untangle itself, just let it do the work. BTAs usually recover from the type of injury you describe. Pics?

 

[Lmecher]

So sorry to hear, I'd say the same. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. Keep an eye on it. let's see a picture. : )

 

[standrd250ridr]

Thanks for the reply, I am just letting him do his thing and It looks like he is getting free. about half of his tentacles are freed up now. A few of them look like they were severed off. Will they grow back to normal length?

 

[wolfofstone]

You can put it in a position for another vary light current to help push him off.

 

[standrd250ridr]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/512/200721bta_2.jpg

 

[standrd250ridr]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/512/200721bta_1.jpg

 

[standrd250ridr]

sorry pics took awhile. first time uploading pics to reefcentral.
just an update, since I took pics he is now free

 

[garygb]

In the first pic, it looks like it's freed itself. Though it's pretty mangled, since the damage seems confined to the tentacles, it should be okay. And yes, the tentacles will eventually return to their full length.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I would expect it to make a full recovery if everything else in your tank is in order.

Same thing happened to me a couple of years ago with my LTA.

Right afterwards,

About a month after,

They sell sponges for the MJ's, they fit right over the strainers, you should really think about getting them.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...OD&Product_Code=MJ-PREF&Category_Code=Maxijet