Question about my new BTA

[JMLufkins]

I just go my BTA 5 days ago and as of last night it still has not eaten. I've tried to give it a silver side the day after i got it and then again last night. both times it seems to make attempts to eat it. It will close up somewhat but then it just lets the SS go. I have a maroon clown that could not wait for me to get my BTA out of the bag. literally circling the thing while it was in the bag and as soon as i was done acclimating it and set it on the floor. the clown was in it and doing what ever it is that clowns do to these things. It has settled between 2 rocks and goes through its thing of opening and closing through out the day, BTW is this normal. The day after I got it I checked it in the morning and it was completely balled up. My wife thought i killed it after 1 day
But after about an hour after the lights came on it was full and open again.

Could the clown have stressed this BTA?

 

[ReefNeck]

It is possible that the clown has stressed it some but usually won't hurt it.

You say you are trying to feed silversides.....Have you cut them up into 1/4" pieces. Smaller pieces are easier for the Anemone to digest. Too large and they just spit them out in time.

I have a large S. Haddonni (Green Carpet), A GBTA and a RBTA. The RBTA is recovering from starvation. Where I got him never fed him.

Cut the head and tail off your silversides and then cut them in 1/4" pieces. feed one or no more than 2 pieces to him and see what happens. I would feed him the same amount that he keeps down once every 2 days until he looks healthy again.

Then drop to 2-3 times a week. Your anemone should shrink up a couple to three times per week to "poop". This is how they expel wastes and cleanse their bodies of impurities and then refill again.

Make sure your water is excellent. Water quality is important for them.

What lighting do you have him under? And where is he placed in the tank?

 

[JMLufkins]

Ok that is part of the problem i'm giving it whole SS's only one each time. But I will cut them up from now on.

It's under a PC and has placed itself next to the base of my overflow. It's getting good flow. Tentacles are waving nicely.

 

[ReefNeck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6837181#post6837181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JMLufkins
Ok that is part of the problem i'm giving it whole SS's only one each time. But I will cut them up from now on.

It's under a PC and has placed itself next to the base of my overflow. It's getting good flow. Tentacles are waving nicely.

Yea, They will never eat whole pieces.

What wattage of PC's. For a BTA PC's are enough but not for most other anemones. I have 2x65W on my 55G and at mid tank the lights burned the tips on my GBTA. I had to move him to the bottom of the tank where he recovered.

BTA's like moderate flow so make sure it's not TOO much. Mine actually prefers low flow. IF I put him in medium flow he hides more. Let me know how the 1/4" pieces work out for you. And pics if possible so I can give my opinion on his appearance.

 

[JMLufkins]

2x96w

as far as flow it's in a low flow place. I figured if it was too much it would have moved by now to look for a better spot. I wish it was in a more visible spot though.

 

[ReefNeck]

That's not alot of light but should be ok if the tank is not too deep. Watch him for signs of burned tips and if you see any, move him lower. As long as he is not burning and the flow is not too strong he should be ok. Keep up with the silversides 1/4" pieces and water quality and let us know how he is coming along.

Also please post any pics if you can.

I'll help as much as I can and there are others here that will as well.

Keri

 

[ratimpulse]

My GBTA ate a piece of squid the day he was in my tank. And he is a sorry looking fellow when i got him. not fed and balled up for $10 I wanted to try to save him and i think form what ive been seeing hes doing alot better.

 

[JMLufkins]

Clown molesting it's new home

 

[ReefNeck]

He doesn't look too bad. Just looks a little underfed. Keep with the silversides as we discussed before and he should start looking better soon. Don't worry if the tips don't have the "bubbles" as sometimes they do, Sometimes they don't. Noone really knows why.

 

[JMLufkins]

yeah first day they were not inflated and looked a sickly green. I figure it was on its way out the door. But they inlfated back up and will do this off and on.

 

[JMLufkins]

updated PIC

updated PIC

This is a pic I took a few minutes ago. this thing goes through various stages from looking like it's on its last tentacle to looking like it did at the LFS.

I'm going to try to feed it later on tonight.

 

[ReefNeck]

It appears he is still moving around trying to find his "spot" where he will like it the most.

Feed him 1 or 2 1/4 inch pieces tonight and then skip a day and repeat. He should start improving after the first week.