Is my acan too inflated?

[benjc]

I could use help from some experts (or at least people more experienced than myself). Does my acan look too inflated? It always has its tentacles out, but hasn't grown from the two heads in the 2 months I've had it, but looks like a balloon. At night it deflates some but still keeps it's tentacles out. Should I raise it up in the tank?...I'm concerned about bleaching it out.

Tank params: Temp: 78.3-79.9, salinity: 1.024, pH: 8.0, nitrate/nitrite: 0, Mg: 1250, Ca: 450, alk: 8.0, Phosphate <0.25 (I know, I need a better phosphate test). Lighting: cheap 4-bulb T-5 setup; bulbs 3-4 months old.

Photos attached are of the acan and a fts; the acan is on the right side, bottom third, next to the goby.

 

[RandysReef]

IME i dont think so, but its feeder tentacles are out and wants to be fed. feed it meaty foods such as mysis

 

[drktemplar]

pretty nice aquascape.. acan looks nice too.

 

[KRAZE]

Yes, feed it! I give frozen mysis, brine, plankton, cyclopeeze, and chopped shrimp cubes (1/2 of each cube every 3rd night) to my acans and brains and they love it, always hungry. I turn all pumps/circulation off for 30 mins and use a pipette to put food right on their mouths. Give it a try, see how he responds!

Also, its possible that you have not gotten any new heads/growth due to your 'cheap' T5's. Good T5s will made all the difference in growth, along with feeding and dosing that is :thumbsup:

 

[benjc]

Thanks for the input everyone; going to go do feed some mysis now.