Rbta anemone question

[saltybastard]

About 3 weeks ago, I bought an exceptionally bright (undyed) rbta. Immediately after putting it in, one of my clowns abandoned it's old anemone and began making itself home on the new rbta. I suspect this irritated the new guy because by morning, it had relocated into a dark cave like structure I made with my live rock. It has been there ever since. Some days it is all shriveled up like it's going to die. Other days, it is opened up completely looking like how it should.

My question is, will it eventually come out, knowing that it needs more light to survive? Apart from hoping it will survive, I also have my own selfish reasons for wanting it out. I was hoping it could be a display piece in my tank.

 

[aleonn]

If you feel the RBTA isn't getting enough light and nutrition, you can always target feed mysis or silversides. Also, what size is the RBTA? It should be 3x or so larger than your clownfish or else it may be loved to death.

 

[saltybastard]

It's kind've in a tough spot to get to. Target feeding would require some major work to my tank. It is pretty much at the bottom of my tank with about 60-80 lbs of rock above it.

 

[2Addicted]

Did you acclimate it to your lights? It sounds like its stressed from the lighting change.

 

[3skitch3]

My rbta has done it before more than once actually. back when i first got it my two clarky clowns were practically smashing it. It hid for a good while but eventually it had to come and get light. Things have been looking goo since. (Besides getting sucked up into the mp40) : (

 

[89Foxbody]

Its probably shocked by the new lighting like was already suggested. I highly doubt it will let itself starve, however I would still attempt to feed it a silverside or something.

 

[fcmatt]

i am in the same boat you are in. i positioned my new rbta in a prime spot near the bottom
of the tank and it quickly attached its foot to the rock work. i was happy.

then i wake up one morning a few days later and it is in the back right corner attached
to the rock. I can only see it while viewing from the side. It gets some light and I have
fed it by hand twice over the last week or two.

To top things off my two clowns have not gone near it while my anemone crab found it
in minutes and enjoys stealing the food i try to feed it. Now i have to feed the crab first
and then the rbta.

I got mine the day it was delivered to the LFS so I am nursing it back to health. For example
the tentacles are just getting sticky again. And yes mine shrivels up for a bit but i come
back an hour later and it is out again. Good sign that. If all day i would worry.

 

[AfricaOffroad]

Here is one way to prevent your RBTA moving around.
They like a smoothish secure protected place for their foot.
I "mounted" mine in a pipe when I got it about 4 months ago.
It has never moved, even when I transferred its rock from my frag tank to the main DT.

http://www.sareefkeeping.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10747