Long Tentacle Question

[930Reef]

Hi, all,

First nem here. Picked up a green LTA from my LFS yesterday. I placed him where sand and base of my rock arch meet. He attached right away. An hour later he retreated under the arch, and is attached to the base of the rock, not the sand bed.

Tank is well-established and water params are great, and have been for a long time.

I'm betting the answer is just to leave him be, but I'm wondering if there's anything I need to know.

One mistake I made is having a 2" sand bed instead of the 3 or 4 that's recommended for these guys. I've piled up some in front of him to try and coax him out.

My LEDs are set at 10 pct on the white and 50pct on the actinic. Here's the light I am using: https://www.amazon.com/LED-Aquarium-Light-Hipargero-Saltwater/dp/B0727V8C5Q

I guess the questions I have are:
1. Should I be concerned that he's hiding more than half of himself in the shade?
2. Should I be concerned about him anchoring to hidden rock base instead of sand bed? Pics attached.

 

[Swayze27]

I had 2 that never settled more than likely due to my shallow sand bed. I didn't research the species well enough and made an impulse purchase. If it's a desired item you wish to keep I would slowly build that sand bed up.

 

[davocean]

I would just leave it alone and let it do it's thing.
They tend to take a spot where they can pull in or out of light as needed, I'm sure you will see it stretch out as it acclimates.

 

[930Reef]

Thanks!

Thanks!

As always, help is appreciated. I will update if anything develops.

 

[930Reef]

LTA Update...

LTA Update...

So update here. LTA is still in same spot, under rocks. Hasn't moved in nearly a week. He seems happy, eats, opens widely, and is otherwise great. He leans out a bit at times, but always stays anchored to the rock in the picture. Is there anything no good about this guy not anchoring in sand bed?

Also, would ocellaris be more likely to host if he weren't anchored sideways? (I know ocellaris don't naturally pair with LTAs.)

 

[930Reef]

Apologies for the sideways pictures. My laptop keeps turning them when I post.

Apologies for the sideways pictures. My laptop keeps turning them when I post.

So update here. LTA is still in same spot, under rocks. Hasn't moved in nearly a week. He seems happy, eats, opens widely, and is otherwise great. He leans out a bit at times, but always stays anchored to the rock in the picture. Is there anything no good about this guy not anchoring in sand bed?

Also, would ocellaris be more likely to host if he weren't anchored sideways? (I know ocellaris don't naturally pair with LTAs.)

 

[Swayze27]

I've seen them on video wedged between rock and tank glass. If they feel their foot is secure then they should be happy I guess. Is he getting any light, they seem to bleech fast.

 

[930Reef]

Light on LTA

Light on LTA

I've seen them on video wedged between rock and tank glass. If they feel their foot is secure then they should be happy I guess. Is he getting any light, they seem to bleech fast.

About 2/3 of him is getting light, but I'm not sure how direct it is. The parts that are not getting light definitely still have zooxanthellae in them, but it's only been a week and he may still be riding out what he already had. I can adjust powerhead to flow him out of there, but I wasn't sure if I should mess with a good thing if he's secure. Sandbed seems like where they're naturally happy? He was in sandbed at LFS.

Its health is the only thing that I'm looking out for. If light's an issue, I can definitely try to make a change. If it's just fine and that's where it wants to live, so be it.

Thoughts about if/when I should try to coax him out with some flow on his backside?

 

[Swayze27]

I wouldn't bother him

 

[930Reef]

Thanks, Swayze!

Love the Cobra line in the sig btw.

 

[Swayze27]

Not the best movie in the world, lol

 

[930Reef]

Nothing wrong with awesomely bad.

Google "Adam Carolla Cobra" if you want to hear a hilarious commentary that you can synch with your watching of the movie.

 

[Swayze27]

So I drew this in 2003 and it's hanging in my office at Headquarters, lol.