New BTA with mouth open

S

ssavader

Member
I received a beautiful orange with yellow tip BTA today, acclimated it over the course of an hour+ using the recommendations from Zoanuts, and placed it in the tank. The BTA grabbed a hold of the rock I placed it against, and soon after, the tentacles starting expanding- only to reveal an open mouth (was not open in the bag upon arrival).

Tank parameters are: Ca-460 ppm, alk- 10dKh, Mg- 1325 ppm, nitrate- 5 ppm, nitrite/ammonia-0, phosphate- 0 (have ordered a Hanna Phosphate Meter to get a more accurate measurement of this), and Temp-79 F.

Any ideas on what to do? Can this be a "normal" stress reaction as a result of the change in environment from the shippers tank parameters to mine?

Thanks
 
That is normal, it will open up and deflate to get adjusted to it's new enviroment. Also will do that when expelling waste.
 
BTA pic

BTA pic

Thanks for the words of encouragement. Here is pic. I am petrified that this 8" exotically colored Nem is going down the tubes. I will try to be patient! Can you tell me how long yours took to recover?


DSC00557.jpg
 
BTA's are very resilient, assuming they are given excellent conditions. Keep on being patient and provide it with what it needs. The water parameters look pretty good. You don't mention your specific gravity, but 1.026 (salinity 35 ppt) would be target. Also you don't mention your water change schedule, but 10-15 percent weekly would be ideal with a good salt brand, e.g. ReefCrystals.
 
Yep, one of mine looked like that all day yesterday (has been in the tank happy for a month) and is now okay. I find that you really shouldn't worry until they start to lose all of their color. Yours looks like it still has a lot of color.
 
Thanks for all the support. Garygb, my water change schedule is 15% every 2 weeks and my s.g. is 1.023. Thanks for the help!
 
I put two in on the same weekend. Both from different sources.
The rose fully acclimated the next day. Found his happy spot, and ate some silverside.
The pink tip took about a week to acclimate. And he still will disappear into the rocks periodically, while the rose stays out.

If you can get him to eat something (try some mysis) the first week, you'll probably be OK.
 
ssavader, I think it is better to slowly raise the sg up to 1.025-1.026. Natural seawater averages out to slightly higher than 1.026 (or salinity of 35ppt). You can do that by replacing evaporated water with mixed up salt water rather than with fresh water. Your water change schedule sounds good. How is it looking today?
 
garygb, I am going to get on the s.g. tonight. This morning when I left for work, his tenticles were partially inflated and I could not see his mouth in the dim light of the actinics. I will post his condition tonigh by 8:00pm. (This is like having a concerned family in the waiting room while their member struggles in the ICU!). Thanks for the support and interest).
 
lol. Yeah we are pulling for you and your BTA. From what you saw this morning, it sounds like it is acclimating. I expect you're going to wind up with a healthy, beautiful anemone there.
 
This is all normal behavior from acclimation so far. They do freak you out. I agree. I was checking mine every 10 minutes it seemed like. They frequencly inflate and deflate their tenticals like that. It's how they push waste out of their system. You can start being alarmed if he starts moving everywhere, his tenticals stay deflated for days on end, and if his mouth becomes prolasped.

From what you are describing it is just normal acclimation behavior.
 
Acclimating Anem update

Acclimating Anem update

Guys, thanks again for your support. Here is an updated picture on day 3 post-arrival. Still looking rather deflated and somewhat lifeless. I spoke to Dusty at Zoanuts and he said that I could try feeding it a small meal to try boost its energy level. I gave him a small piece of fresh shrimp and he was able to hold on to it. It is in his mouth and I will check on him in an hour.


Anemone.jpg
 
Yeah, he's on his way back for sure. Just do the regular water changes and slowly get the specific gravity up to 1.o26 and all should be well. More pics when you get a chance would be nice too. It's a nice looking specimen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
New Crocea Clams - Some opening some not?
Replies
3
Views
1K
hilde123
H
D
Help with new tank cycling
Replies
12
Views
1K
wvned
wvned
T
Tank Crashing
Replies
14
Views
161
brandon429
brandon429
K
Carbon Dosing causes STN/RTN?
Replies
13
Views
3K
Timfish
Timfish
R
some random questions
Replies
0
Views
85
redseaapples
R
Back
Top