RBTA in bad spot? should I move it?

[DrDNA]

Added my first RBTA to my reef tank three days ago and it has decided to crawl inside the rockwork (I understand they keep their column in the shade). However, it is hanging on the underside of large piece of rock and its tentacles look fully inflated (bubbles and all, not just stringy) but only about 25% of its tentacles are in direct light. The rock pile it is on is under a 250w MH and it is about 18" from the light source.

So, should I try and take the rock pile apart and move it into the light more, or just let it do its own thing? Will it probably move out into the light once it gets acclimated? Also, if I should have to move it, are there any tricks to get it to detach from the rock? I don't want to force the issue and risk injuring it if I don't need to move it.

Thanks! - Jeff

 

[plankton]

No, your RBTA will move about until it finds the perfect spot for itself. Normally where there is plenty of light and flow.

Scott

 

[Sheldon337]

Agreed, definitely leave it alone.

 

[DrDNA]

that's kind of what I figured... it is a pretty nice anemone (got it from John this week) and I would hate to harm it.

thanks!

 

[funman1]

Yep they do their own thing, just keep them away from any and all power heads if they strat to stray anywhere near them

~Steve~

 

[MrMikeB]

I agree. You caould actually damage their foot if you try to move them, unless you take the whole rock. Mine generally end up walking all over the tank, find a spot they like for awhile, and then settle in. My GBTA though makes a trek about once a week. I play hell in keeping it off the corals.

 

[JahReefster]

It will definitely move if it doesn't like where it's at. You're right that BTAs like to protect their foot in rock crevices. Its reluctance to come under your full 250 MH could have something to do with the lighting conditions it experienced before you got it. As time goes on, it probably will wander a bit until it finds the right lighting, flow, and feeding conditions for its own preference. You can encourage it to stay put by feeding if you want it to not play merry hell with any other corals you might have in the tank by wandering all over the back 40 looking for a better spot, but no guarantees. If you want to know more about RBTAs, there's a good forum on this site called "anenomes and clowns," or something like that, that gets a lot of traffic.

By the way, the fact that the tentacles are inflated and bubbling is most probably a good sign, although there's debate about that and nobody's really certain about the significance. I now have three that resulted from a recent split. They're all in the same general vicinity, get fed the same, etc., but they don't all necessarily bubble/inflate at the same time. Go figure.