RBTA on its way out?

[jkrentz2515]

I placed it in the tank 1 week ago today, and since then it has moved about 2 inches and attached to the back of my rockwork. Its tentacles are shorter than when I bought it, and it's mouth seems very puffy, but still closed. I fed it yesterday, it ate the mysis and then pooped it out 30 mins later. About half of it gets light, and the other half has very short and stubby tentacles with hardly any color. The other half has short tentacles but they have color. All of my parameters are where they need to be, and 144 watts pc over a 29 gallon biocube is enough lighting. Any thoughts?

 

[Doris M]

See if it will eat krill soaked in selcon or zoecon. I think that would be more solid than mysis. I have 4 rbta and they love the krill. The sebae loves mysis and krill.

 

[jkrentz2515]

looks like it will perish tonight. Should i take it out now?

 

[wilawalo]

When in doubt smell it. Anemones have an unforgettable smell when they are dying.

 

[blumarlin]

I had one that was 5" crawl under a rock for several weeks & shrink to the size of a quarter & had only nubs for tentacles. I tilted the rock so he could get some light & fed small pieces of shrimp & silversides soaked in selcon daily.
After a couple of months, he has grown & his tentacles are coming back

Will he take food? Dont give up unless he smells &/or is disenegrating.

 

[Zimster]

how long have you had you PC bulbs?? if it has been over 8 months, they probably should be replaced...i used to have PC a few months ago. i got a RBTA and it didn't do very well under them.....seemed to have the same symptoms as yours. i changed to T-5's and its doing great....couldn't be happier....

 

[Haddonisreef]

How old is the tank?

 

[jkrentz2515]

The tank is about 7 months old, and every other coral and fish in the tank is doing very well. 2 of the lights are 7 months old, the other two are less than a month old. I would flip the rock its on if it wasn't such a large rock with a few corals on it.

 

[Zimster]

How much actinic do you have on the tank? and what other types do you have? i have studied lighting alot and its best to go for over 50% blue light.....like 60% blue 40% white.....i wouldn't go more than 70% blue tho cuz then the coralline algae doesn't do as well. the 60-40 was recommended in on of the coral books i have read and since the RBTA relies a lot on photosynthesis...i would assume that its needs are just as much if not more than corals...

hope that helps

 

[Zimster]

forgot to say that 460nm wavelength is better for the corals that normal 420nm blue light.....they react best to 490 but i cannot find anything closer than 460

 

[blumarlin]

Just wondering, did your rtba make it? Crossing my fingers.....

 

[jkrentz2515]

As of now it is still attached, but I just turned the rock it was stuck under to hopefully get it more light, and make it easier to feed. It looks a lot like these when it is open...
http://www.karensroseanemones.com/starvinganemone.htm

It was very difficult to feed before I turned the rock that it was on. I did a water change tonight after turning the rock so hopefully now I can force feed him if need be. Any other ideas? Thanks for all the help.

 

[jkrentz2515]

My lighting is 50% actinic, 50% 10k