RBTA hid n seek

[COReefermadness]

Hello,

Another question from me!

I have an established mixed reef tank 3 years in the works. Its an RSM 130D 34g and everything is happy and growing (except what im talking about). I kept a RTBA in the tank for the latter 2 years which I sadly had to give to a fellow community reefer because it just got so big and enveloped 1/2 the tank.

I waited 3 months and got a rather small 4.5" fully open multi colored rbta. My clowns pounded it rather hard right away from missing there previous host. The RTBA has since found the underside of my cavern and is out of direct light. It opens rarely, enough to capture some led light, has since shrank up. I'm not sure how much since it was never tucked away so much but I would say by half as it appears to only open up fully at 2" and the tendril's have shortened. This one bubbled in the previous tank and bubbles still, but looks so tiny and sad. It does allow the clowns to rub it lightley and they have lost the interest to host it, mostly. My clowns are not huge, maybe 1.5" and 2"

My question is; realistically what do I have to do. Get it a new home, try and move it to a more accessible place, quarantine the clowns for a few months? I'm asking cause everything I can think of will not be easy and I want the right answer first Thanks!

 

[SGT_York]

I have the same issue less the clowns RBTA just hides under a rock. I have turned the rock over and they just crawl back. My main hypothesis now is lack of trace elements/minerals, so I'm running some large water changes, if that doesn't help I'll be removing the BTA's into a quarantine tank until they adjust. If you find something that helps please let me know.

 

[COReefermadness]

Trace minerals will do that along with stable water conditions and a good load of bacteria. When it was in another tank that wasn't fully ready to go it had some signs as mentioned but opened up in my current tank like a flower. Until the clowns.... This week I moved the clowns into a divider, moved the nem to the bottom, he moved about 1/2 way up and opened. It seems to be doing much better and without the clowns (the female) smashing it the bta is staying opened.

If your quarantine isn't fully established they may be better off in the main tank given time and a good salt product with the needed elements. Also try Smaller water changes every day or half the change twice as often. I found that 2 changes of 2.5 gallons a week is way better than 5 gal a week.
GL and keep us up to date!

 

[SGT_York]

Thanks,

so far I'm at 35% water change and two of the three were in the light yesterday, I'm going to continue changing and store some old water and test it for iodine when the kit arrives.