My weird RBTA

[cannarella]

Ok so this is weird. I got a RBTA from a friend last fall and he was pretty happy to start out. I added some power heads in the tank and a couple mornings later I noticed that he made its way up to the inlet side of one of them but didn't make it through the screen. He was all shriveled up so I turned off the power heads and put him in on a rock to attach to while I was at work. Well I turned on the power heads again that night and he stayed in his new spot for a couple weeks and then was on the move again towards a power head. I guess he likes the electrical impulses or something. So fast forward to about 2 months ago. I wake up to find him again trying to commit suicide by power head. I went through the same routine as before by turning them off and moving him to a safe locations. This time though he lost some color and is now permanently this white and hot pink color. Has anyone else seen anything like this before? I have had lots of complements on his new colors.

Andy

 

[DesigDiver]

it looks healthy...

 

[cannarella]

Yea, he has stayed in this spot for the past couple months. I am hoping he learned his lesson.

 

[vtysl]

He seems a bit bleached...

 

[rduong89]

yea it is bleached IMO. I had one like that for about a year until it vanished.....
here is a pic.

 

[FishAreFriends2]

Hmm, thats exactly what mine looks like. I had a nice red one until something went out of wack and its stayed that color.

 

[eeorrandy]

Yes.. he's very bleached. He may try and avoid bright light for a while, but he can be brought back. Try feeding small (pea sized) pieces of silverside, shrimp, scallop and squid.. mysis, krill or a variety of these. I feed mine every day, but most only feed every few days.

With it's zoox. expelled it will rely on feeding more than a non bleached nem. With care and patients it will regain it's color and begin to grow. It can take several months to recolor so just feed and be patient.