Purchased BTA - Bad move?

[snatchbak]

I bought a green bubble tip nem about a month ago. I put it in my Bio Cube 29 with stock lighting... which is 2 x 36W PC"s - 1 Actinic, 1 10k. I know I don't really have enough light to have one of these, but, I figured if I fed him often he would be happy. He hangs out at the top of the tank on the back wall.

Should I get rid of it before it dies?... will it be okay?

Is target feeding often adequate to keep it?

Also, If I were to add one more 36W PC - 50/50.... would it be okay ??

If I were to had 30W of LEDs - 5 white and 5 royal blue... would that suffice?

The nem isn't forming bubbles on the tentacles and it wasn't at the store where I bought it....
It also does not have a nice rich green color.
It looks semi bleached.... whitish-green.

 

[Mike31154]

On that size of tank I think you're lighting is adequate for a BTA, although a little more wouldn't hurt. Many BTAs do not have or keep their bubble tips so that's not really a concern, but the fact that it is semi bleached may be. Was it semi bleached when you purchased it? If so, give it some time, keep feeding it every few days and it should colour up in a few weeks to a month or so. If the colour doesn't improve after that, then you'll need to investigate why and consider returning it. My GBTA is doing fine in a 75 gallon under two 36 inch T5 HO fluorescents, one Actinic and one 10000K.

 

[Slakker]

If it's bleached, it may need higher light than you're providing. The fact that it has parked itself on the wall as close to your lights as possible could be indicative of that.

BTA's generally like to have their foot hidden in the rock, if it's fully exposed itself to climb the wall it's probably searching for more light.

 

[snatchbak]

I see. Yes it is right up near the top of the tank but the foot is hidden under the rock.
How often should I feed it?
I've been feeding krill twice a week, should I get silver sides?

 

[jkrentz2515]

My LFS has one under stock biocube lighting and it is doing just fine. Probably not the best lighting but it is a sufficient amount.

 

[Mike31154]

Bi-weekly feedings should be fine. If you get silversides, you'll need to cut them into small pieces. Try to keep an eye on when the nem shrivels and expels waste. This will provide an indication of how fast it's digesting what you feed it and you can adjust the frequency accordingly.
You might wish to get hold of a product called Selcon and soak the krill/silverside in it to help rehab the nem. It's essentially a vitamin boost rich in HUFA, highly unsaturated fatty acids....