Just bought a GBTA

[spineshank385]

2 days ago. I acclimated it for almost an hour (very slow drip), and added it to the tank. It Sat on the bottom for a while, fully opened up, and even ate some enriched mysis shrimp. Then it started doing the usual "i need to find a better spot" thing. Yesterday, it had ended up on the opposite side of the tank.

I woke up this morning, and it was behind my rockwork. Very little light reaches there, but theres still a good amount of flow.

I came home this evening to find it attached upside down to the bottom of a piece of LR, behind the rock. Its "tentacles" (don't know the correct word) appear shriveled up, and it is very condensed.


Here is the tank info:
29g
175w 20k halide
Temp: 80.2
SG: 1.023
PH: 8.2
NO2: 0
NH4: 0.5
PO4: .03
Alk: 3.77
Ca: 460

i know SG is a little low, raising it slowly to 1.025 or so, PO4 is a little high, i just removed a fair amount of chaeto from my refugium, once that grows back it should be under control.

Am i correct to assume this is a normal part of adding an anemone?

 

[redvipe2010]

Are you asking if you acclimated it correctly? Or are you asking if it's behavior is normal?

They both seem normal to me. It's good it is eating so fast, good sign you have a healthy anemone.

How old is your tank? Also, silversides seems to be the best for anemones. You may want to get some.

 

[redvipe2010]

Are you asking if you acclimated it correctly? Or are you asking if it's behavior is normal?

They both seem normal to me. It's good it is eating so fast, good sign you have a healthy anemone.

How old is your tank? Also, silversides seems to be the best for anemones. You may want to get some.

 

[spineshank385]

i was asking about the behavior

tank is going on 8 months old now. I havent made a trip to the LFS since i bought it, but i had mysis in the freezer for my longnose hawk i used to have (RIP...he was a jumper and found the ONLY hole in the eggcrate big enough for him to barely wiggle through).

I checked on it about an hour ago, and it was more open than before, but still upside down under all the rock, where it cant possibly be getting much light.

 

[redvipe2010]

Behavior seems normal. Your BTA will move when he wants, they do that. Give him time. Silversides are a more meaty food that they need. Give them a try, how big is your BTA?

Without pics, I have to say you have a healthy BTA.

 

[spineshank385]

its a good 6" in diameter or so....its fairly large.

I also bought 2 captive bred percs that i hope will take to the anemone. I'll probably have to "show them the way" since they are both captive bred, and don't naturally take to bta's.

 

[redvipe2010]

They may host, may take some time. I have one that hosts a BTA, I think it's hit or miss. Mine hardley ever leaves the BTA, even when I put my hand in there to feed the BTA, hope to get it a mate soon.

I'd love to see pics of your new nem!

 

[theop]

Why does your tank have a detectable ammonia level (NH4)?

If it is stressed than that may be the problem.

 

[spineshank385]

oops, nh4 is 0, no3 is .5