Rainbow RBTA hiding!

petedunk

New member
Hey all....


So I just purchased a beautiful rainbow RBTA from my LFS (for quite a deal, I must add). I put the anemone in the tank about a week ago. It stayed put right under my 150 Kessils (mid tank in a 14 gal biocube) up until yesterday. It has now retreated deep into the rock work of my tank and currently resides, fully open, in the dark. Should I be concerned? If it doesn't move after a week, should I physically move it? I've been reading that nems do what they want and that moving them will just stress it out. It seems incredibly healthy ( and happy) in the spot that its in, I'm just concerned I'll lost it to bleaching! Any tips at all would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
From what I have read, RBTA's are mysterious. If it's open, and it appears healthy, I would expect it to move out into the light when it's ready. I have seen it recommended that you don't move it or touch it, and let it do it's thing, it can move if/when it wants. I would give it a week. Maybe try feeding it a small piece of shrimp or muscle, see if it will eat, that is usually a sure sign of being healthy. Also, a lot of nems take time to recover, especially after trying to acclimate to so many places, shipping, your LFS, your tank, etc. I've heard it suggested you let it stay in the dark like your sump, and then slowly acclimate it.

Long story story, wait a week, if it looks healthy, don't mess with it, it can move itself. If it stops looking healthy, doesn't eat, and is there for more than a week, then worry.
 
same thing happened to me with my first rbta. it went into a shaded area and looked great, after 5 days it slowly moved towards the light and into its happy place.
 
My first BTA did this also, but it did not come out. After a month I turned the rock around and it did not look good and was eating it's tentacles. I know you are not supposed to mess with them, but i would flip the rock over in a week if it's still back there.
 
do you have an ATO on that 14G nano?
how long has your tank been running?
what are your parameters including pH, SG and temp?
 
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