I just introduced an LTA to my aquarium last night about 7pm. As soon as he went in I switched to my moonlights to try to make him feel more comfortable. He shrank down pretty small until about midnight when i expanded someone but not to full size. This morning he still has not completely opened up. At what point should i be worried about him and is there any behavior that i should be watching for?
New LTA. When should I worry?
- Thread starter 75Gallons
- Start date
How did you acclimate it?
Ugh...bad advice from the LFS. (no surprise there) It should have been acclimated properly. Floating the bad then dumping into your tank is not acclimating. After floating, the bag should have been opened and every 5-10 a 1/4 cup of your tank water added. When the bag gets full, dump half that water down the drain, then continue to add 1/4 cup water every 5-10 mintues tillo the bag is full, then carefully remove the animal and place it in your tank. Another method is to put the critters into a bucket ande start a syphon with airline tubing and a drip regulator to drip water into the bucket for about an hour. Also, never dump water fromt he LFS that's in those bags into your tank.
Too late now though. The anemone is severely stressed. Only time will tell if it survives the shock of going from one environment into another with no chance to acclimate.
Too late now though. The anemone is severely stressed. Only time will tell if it survives the shock of going from one environment into another with no chance to acclimate.
Bandsaw
New member
Mine took about a week before expanding out. It just needs time to get used to your tank. Also, you shocked it pretty good by just dropping him like that.
The best way to aclimate is to slowly drip your aquarium water into the bag with your new addition for at least 2 hours if not 3 to 4 hours.
What I do as I don't have a reliable means of dripping is this;
1. I start with adding maybe a 1/5 of the water volume of the bag with the animal with my aquarium water. Wait 20 minutes.
2. Add a second 1/5 water volume of aquarium water. Wait another 20 minutes.
3. I then dump a 1/3 to 1/2 the bag of water down the drain and add another 1/5 of the remaining volume of water in the bag (from my aquarium) and wait another 20 minutes.
4. Twice more I add 1/5 the volume and wait 20 minutes.
5. I then dump a manageable amount of water out of the bag, then float the bag in my aquarium for 20 to 30 minutes to let the tempreatures equalize.
6. In the animal goes.
The best way to aclimate is to slowly drip your aquarium water into the bag with your new addition for at least 2 hours if not 3 to 4 hours.
What I do as I don't have a reliable means of dripping is this;
1. I start with adding maybe a 1/5 of the water volume of the bag with the animal with my aquarium water. Wait 20 minutes.
2. Add a second 1/5 water volume of aquarium water. Wait another 20 minutes.
3. I then dump a 1/3 to 1/2 the bag of water down the drain and add another 1/5 of the remaining volume of water in the bag (from my aquarium) and wait another 20 minutes.
4. Twice more I add 1/5 the volume and wait 20 minutes.
5. I then dump a manageable amount of water out of the bag, then float the bag in my aquarium for 20 to 30 minutes to let the tempreatures equalize.
6. In the animal goes.
Fast Fred
New member
Best thing now is to just leave it be. I doubt that the clown will make things worse. If anything, I would think that it might help. Soon, he'll probably latch onto a rock and move about the tank until he finds a spot he likes. Don't ever pry him from a rock though. Instead, move the rock with him on it. Also, try and set up a way to drip-acclimate any more new additions to your tank. The survival rate should increase dramatically. (and save you money and heartache in the process.
I dump the fish into the bucket with the water from the LFS. I use enough water from them to make the bucket about 1/2 full. The air line hose is used to siphon water from the tank to a bucket in the sump. The sump keeps the bucket temperature stabilized. I drip 1-2 drops per second until the bucket is nearly full. Dump 1/2 the water out and do it again. Then remove the fish from the water and place them gently in the tank. Dump the water in the kitchen sink. Never add LFS water to your tank. The whole process takes 2-3 hours, but greatly reduces fish stress. This is all done with the lights out. Use just enough light to work by, maybe just the overhead room light. Since I usually buy my fish in the evening, I alos leave the lights off that night after acclimating. Resume normal lighting the next day.
I dump the fish into the bucket with the water from the LFS. I use enough water from them to make the bucket about 1/2 full. The air line hose is used to siphon water from the tank to a bucket in the sump. The sump keeps the bucket temperature stabilized. I drip 1-2 drops per second until the bucket is nearly full. Dump 1/2 the water out and do it again. Then remove the fish from the water and place them gently in the tank. Dump the water in the kitchen sink. Never add LFS water to your tank. The whole process takes 2-3 hours, but greatly reduces fish stress. This is all done with the lights out. Use just enough light to work by, maybe just the overhead room light. Since I usually buy my fish in the evening, I alos leave the lights off that night after acclimating. Resume normal lighting the next day.
These are the lights I am currently using and right now hes on the bottom of my tank. He hasn't attempted to climb any rock yet.
http://hellolights.com/484xcoluaqde.html
http://hellolights.com/484xcoluaqde.html
Bandsaw
New member
Nice lights. I just ordered the same unit except minus the moonlights.
One idea you may want to entertain is to get a hold of some dielectric greece (something like automotive electrical greece or the like) and make sure the bulbs connections are well covered in the greece. This will make your job of replacing bulbs much easier. I have read absolute horror stories.
Good luck with your LTA. I have had mine now for a couple of months under moderately poor lighting (1 48", 32W Coralife Actinic 03 True Blue and 1 48", 32W Coralife 10 000 Kalvin). Even with the lighting, my LTA has nearly doubled in size since I got him. Mind you, I also feed Mysis and Krill to him every other day. He has also taken a sick yellow tank and healthy One Spot Fox Face on me. All that was left in the AM was a boney shell of a fish that the LTA threw up the next day.
There is a lot of controversy to be sure about just how much lighting is enough. Some say lots lots lots with out having to feed, other the opposite. All I can say is that my LTA has never moved from his spot since I put him in the tank and he is at the bottom of my 75g. He, however, will appreciate my new lights.
One idea you may want to entertain is to get a hold of some dielectric greece (something like automotive electrical greece or the like) and make sure the bulbs connections are well covered in the greece. This will make your job of replacing bulbs much easier. I have read absolute horror stories.
Good luck with your LTA. I have had mine now for a couple of months under moderately poor lighting (1 48", 32W Coralife Actinic 03 True Blue and 1 48", 32W Coralife 10 000 Kalvin). Even with the lighting, my LTA has nearly doubled in size since I got him. Mind you, I also feed Mysis and Krill to him every other day. He has also taken a sick yellow tank and healthy One Spot Fox Face on me. All that was left in the AM was a boney shell of a fish that the LTA threw up the next day.
There is a lot of controversy to be sure about just how much lighting is enough. Some say lots lots lots with out having to feed, other the opposite. All I can say is that my LTA has never moved from his spot since I put him in the tank and he is at the bottom of my 75g. He, however, will appreciate my new lights.
Bandsaw
New member
Feed him some Mysis Shrimp. Suck up some in a turkey baster (Mysis and Sea Water) and wiggle the tip of the baster in the tenticles and gently squirt out the mysis. He will waste no time grapping it.
My LTA (Purple Tip) is hosted by a mated pair of Sebae Anemone Fish. The female will grap large peices of krill at feeding time and take it to the anemone. Really neat to watch.
My LTA (Purple Tip) is hosted by a mated pair of Sebae Anemone Fish. The female will grap large peices of krill at feeding time and take it to the anemone. Really neat to watch.
