RBTA fully retracted during day

[travis9791]

I have had a small RBTA for 4 days now. I drip acclimated it and placed into my tank and all was well. The RBTA was fully expanded right after placing into tank. This morning it was fully expanded and looking good. I left to run some errands and when i got home the RBTA was fully retracted inside itself. I have searched and found people who have them do this at night but not during the day. I have checked the water parameters and all looks good. ammonia=0,nitrate=2, PH= 8.1, salinity= 1.26. I just fed the tank with some frozen mysis before leaving. Is it normal for them to retract during the day?

 

[jml1149]

Yes. Mine drove me nuts during the first couple weeks as it adjusted to my tank. But everything is fine. Only if it loses color should you worry.

Also, depending on how much mysis it caught, may cause it to retract to digest. Mine does that regularly.

 

[travis9791]

Thanks for the quick reply JM. It looks like it is beginning to open back up. I will watch and see. I was glad to hear you say this was normal.

 

[kmbyrnes]

My RBTA took 2 years to grow to any appreciable size. Its now almost 10" across.
In between, it has been huge, deflated, retracted, oozing brown poop, hidden from view, and generally unpredictable. They do that.
As long as the color stays good, just wait it out.

 

[Misled]

After 2 years my one turned into about 25. Leave it alone. He/she/it will let you know when he/she/it's in the spot he/she/it likes.