New M. doreensis questions

[graveyardworm]

I just purchased a new LTA M. doreensis. At the LFS it was in a tank with no light. They said they had recieved it within the last couple days, and hadnt moved it to a lighted tank yet, so far it isnt bleached. They had 4 very large LTA's in the tank so they let me poke through them until I found one I liked. This was the only one without a gaping mouth or foot damage. The tank its going into is a 30 gal breeder with 4 x 39watt T5, total gals is over 300. Any suggestions for light acclimation and feeding appreciated. This will hopefully be a home for my Clarkii pair. Once its in the tank I'll post some pics.

 

[dodo99]

You can use some screen to limit light. I fed mine silversides and raw table shrimp.

 

[graveyardworm]

Do you think I could just cut back on the light cycle. The screening would be simpler, but my wife threw out my screening so at the moment I have none. I was thinking to turn the lights off when I put it in, the fixture has moon lights then perhaps I can pick up some screen in the morning. How many layers? Would 10 or fifteen be okay? Should I cut back the flow for introduction until it settles in?

 

[graveyardworm]

Well I got it acclimated and in the tank now that its expanding and I've gotten a really good look at the whole thing I can see a tiny spot of damage to the base. Man this stinks why am I having so much trouble findind a truly healthy specimen. From my experience that damage is a death sentence. So out of the 4 LTA's they had it would seem none were healthy. It seems poor handling is the culprit. I really want one, and i seems that none of the LFS I go to are capable of selling a healthy one. The only I managed to keep for any length of time was purchased at Petco unbelievable. That one survived and thrived for over a year until I introduced another one which was apparently sick.

 

[dantodd]

Keep feeding him and good luck.

My LTA and breeding Clarkii are in a 72 BF and I couldn't imagine them in a smaller tank. a 30 seems pretty small.

They also eat like total PIGS so it it good that you have the high volume system attached. She often eats 3 times a day and is laying massive nests.

 

[graveyardworm]

I turned off some of the ciculation to give it a chance to settle in, and it seems to have worked it's base partially buried overnight.

 

[graveyardworm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7049616#post7049616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dantodd
Keep feeding him and good luck.

My LTA and breeding Clarkii are in a 72 BF and I couldn't imagine them in a smaller tank. a 30 seems pretty small.

What's the dimension of the 72? The 30 breeder is 36 long 18 wide and with very little rock there's plenty of SB. I thought as long as it doesnt grow upwards it should be fine.

 

[graveyardworm]

I offered some food this morning, a small piece of raw shrimp, which it didnt accept. Tonight will be 24 hrs in the tank, do you think it would be okay to introduce my clowns? Maybe the stimulation will help it out.

 

[dantodd]

The 72 is 18x48 I forget how short and fat those breeders are. I suspect that they will have room. I always hear how clowns don't use the whole wter column but mine sure do. I suspect that may be because the anemone is onthe bottom and the food comes from the top!

My LTA dug through my DSB and attached to the tank bottom (nice having a stand that lets you see the bottom glass) in the first 2-3 hours in the tank and seemed pretty happy. The next morning the female flopped on the sand until she had dug him up because she didn't like where he was (to much to the front of the tank for her liking) after that she kept pushing him around until they finally came to an understanding of where an acceptable place to both of them would be. It took 2 months or so.

I'd let him get established and eating so that he is more resistant if your clarkii decide to try and move him. I worried so much for the anemone while it was roaming unattached for so long.

I wouldn't worry too much about him not eating the first couple days. He may just not like shrimp, try a little piece of scallop or (my LTA favorite) some Formula 1 Frozen. MY LTA is about 12" across open and eats one cube but he's been able to handle a full cube since he was 6 or 7 inches. You'll probably see a lot of deflation/inflation cycles as he gets his body acclimated to the new tank water. He will also be a little happier to eat and host your clowns once fully acclimated.

That said my wife jsut added a beautiful little GBTA to her 10g nano at the office at the same time as a B&W occ. who immediately started hosting and the 'nem took a piece of formula 1 within 24 hours. So, YMMV.

 

[graveyardworm]

I've had the LTA now for a week, it has buried its foot, and finally it took some food tonight, a couple pieces of silversides. So far I'm running the lights about 5 hours in the evening, it gets spillover from my mangrove tank all day, and moonlights all night. So far its color is improving.

I'm a little concerned about how it has buried its foot, it's back under the rockwork, and I noticed tonight when it pumped alittle my rockwork moved. :eek2: It's not alot of rock but I'm concerned that if the sand under the rock shifts enough it could trap and damage the foot. Especially if any vermited snail reminants exist under the rock. Should I move the rock and disturb the anemone, or do you think it will be okay?

 

[dantodd]

I'd be tempted to move the rock. If you do be sure that it is stable in the new place as the LTA may move back to have his foot under the rock again I know mine likes its foot under a rock.