RBTA color change

[motoxmann]

Hey all, I've got a medium sized RBTA thats been in my tank for about a year now. In the last month or so its changed color quite a bit. A few of the tentacles still show the vibrant red coloring but most of the rest of the body is a much deeper red or even purple color. As i understand it when nems are sick they'll bleach, but that results in a loss of color not a darkening. Otherwise the nem seems perfectly fine. It opens during the day (albeit not quite as big as it used to) and readily takes food when offered. Has anyone had their nems do the same or similar? Is this something i should be worried about?

 

[MarinaP]

Test for phosphates.

 

[motoxmann]

just tested them and came out .5

 

[hogben]

Hey all, I've got a medium sized RBTA thats been in my tank for about a year now. In the last month or so its changed color quite a bit. A few of the tentacles still show the vibrant red coloring but most of the rest of the body is a much deeper red or even purple color. As i understand it when nems are sick they'll bleach, but that results in a loss of color not a darkening. Otherwise the nem seems perfectly fine. It opens during the day (albeit not quite as big as it used to) and readily takes food when offered. Has anyone had their nems do the same or similar? Is this something i should be worried about?

It sounds like you are saying its color is darker? In that case it may have started a bit bleached and has gained zooxanthellae which will darken its appearance. This is good.

 

[motoxmann]

sorry if i wasnt clear but it definitely wasnt bleached. It was the same color as the one in your sig for the longest time. Only in the last month or so has it lost most of the vibrant red color and turned almost purple. I'll see if can snap a pic tomorrow

 

[hogben]

sorry if i wasnt clear but it definitely wasnt bleached. It was the same color as the one in your sig for the longest time. Only in the last month or so has it lost most of the vibrant red color and turned almost purple. I'll see if can snap a pic tomorrow

Did it also stop opening as much within the last month? When mine aren't as expanded they also look darker.

Whatever the case it doesn't sound alarming, like you said it seems fine.

 

[motoxmann]

Yeah it hasnt been opening as much since i noticed it getting darker. I have a crappy pic from my phone that i'm trying to upload. You can see where the tentacles near the top are bright and still have the rose coloring while the rest of it is a darker purple.

 

[WDLV]

I think it has gained zooxanthellae due to a dimming of the available light. If your bulbs are old or you have changed bulbs to something with less red spectrum light, that could be the reason. Also dirtier water can cause a drop in light intensity.

 

[motoxmann]

Thank for all the replies. I did change from my stock MH bulb the a 14k Phoenix bulb so maybe that is the case. Phosphates and nitrates are a tad high, but I just added some cheato so hopefully that will help.