RBTA mixed signs

[mwood]

I've had a RBTA for several months now. Always had good color, but no bubble tips. All of a sudden, bubble tips are coming back, but color is starting to look bleached. Base is white and tentacles are pink. Are the bubble tips coming back a sign of health or is he stressed? Anything I should be doing for him right now?

 

[nathan_unsane]

any pictures?

 

[mwood]

I'll get some pics tomorrow night.

 

[mwood]

Here's a before shot. Healthy red color, no bubble tips. I'll get a pic tomorrow. I have bubble tips now, but base is completely white and tentacles are pink.

 

[dantodd]

it PROBABLY just has the same amount of zoo and pigment in a greater area of tentacle. A picture will help.

 

[foozdog]

paramaters will help

 

[mwood]

PH 8.1
Temp 79
Trites and Trates 0
Phates 2 (high righ now, will replace RODI Friday)
SG 1.023
300 gallon tank in basement, not much moves

 

[dantodd]

def. bleached.

I'd look at the ph, it could be a bit higher. I like to keep mine around 8.4 or so. Phosphates are likely only a problem if they just recently jumped from zero to that level. Probably not the case. Has you ph recently changed or do you always keep it at 8.1?

Personally I've been following the lead of a lot of the clownkeepers here and brought my tank up around 83 but again, I doubt that is an issue for you.

Be sure to put him on an aggressive feeding schedule. Is he getting plenty of light?

 

[mwood]

He gets good light. PH should be pretty stable. I wasn't feeding him but since he bleached, I'll have to start.

Why would the bubble tips come out if he was stressed enough to bleach?

 

[sarahkucera]

He looks a little small to be hosting tomato clowns, are you sure that the tomatos aren't loving him to death?

 

[redvipe2010]

I agree the tomato clowns MAY be a little too agressive for his recovery. I read a few months back that a reefer here on RC used silverside soaked in selcon to help with the recovery with a bleached BTA. I've been lucky I've never had to try it. Good luck with him.