Suicidal GBTAs?

[Meshmez]

So I'm on my second GBTA. The first one I got was bleached when I got it, it went to the back of my rockwork (I figured to get less light because it was bleached) over the next few months it declined in health, I kept trying to feed it and keep it alive, but eventually I lost it. All the while I had a RBTA hanging out on the front of my rockwork, looking great. About a month and a half ago I decided to try another GBTA. This time I got a pretty large one with good color. It hung out in the front for a week or two and looked like it was doing great, then it worked its way to the EXACT SAME PLACE that the other one went to die... since then it has begun to bleach and doesnt seem to to be doing so well. again the RBTA is still in its same place doing fine.

Any ideas what I should do? should i rearrange the rockwork to turn the GBTA back to the front? One reason I dont really want to do that is I will have to move the rock the RBTA is happily inhabiting.

 

[Toddrtrex]

What size tank?
What lights?
Current water parameters -- with numbers
How long has the tank been set up?
What all do you have in the tank, live stock wise.

 

[Meshmez]

55 gal
4x54w T5
temp: 78
amm, trate,trite: 0
PH: 7.8-8.0
Salinity: 1.024
Calcium: 440

about a year
clowns, lawnmower blenny, 6line wrass, mandarin, snails, hermits, coral banded shrimp

 

[bues0022]

Fts

 

[Meshmez]

This is an old pic, but its the best i can do right now. The rockwork is the same and the coral placement is the same. the arrow points to the place where the gbta is. its on the back of that rock.

 

[bues0022]

What all do you have in the tank, live stock wise.

55 gal
clowns, lawnmower blenny, 6line wrass, mandarin, snails, hermits, coral banded shrimp

It also looks like you have an LTA on the bottom right corner? There have been many other people who have had difficulties keeping two species on nems happy in a single tank. I know your RBTA seems happy enough (BTW, does it move around at all?), but some particular individuals don't seem to be as affected as others.

 

[Meshmez]

It also looks like you have an LTA on the bottom right corner? There have been many other people who have had difficulties keeping two species on nems happy in a single tank. I know your RBTA seems happy enough (BTW, does it move around at all?), but some particular individuals don't seem to be as affected as others.

sorry, for some reason when i read livestock i only thought about fish/crabs.

RBTA hasnt moved at all after the first day or two it was in there (months ago) and seems to be doing great and growing.

 

[ReeferBill]

I think I saw what your problem is , You have a long tentacle anemone in their beside your Rose Bubble . Same types of anems can coexist but different types usually do not.

 

[Meshmez]

But the RBTA seems fine... its the GBTA (which is not visible in the pic), that has the issue. Anyway, if that IS the issue, could moving the LTA help? or would it have to be removed from the system altogether? maybe put into the sump? the clowns will NOT be happy... maybe they will move to the bta though..

The thing that throws me off on all tank parameter/chemical/ lighting issues is the fact that i have an RBTA doing fine, and i have now had TWO GBTA's do the EXACT same thing.

 

[bues0022]

Your BTA and RBTA are not clones of each other. I'm allergic to cats, but my brother isn't. Have both GBTA's been from the same clone? i.e. did you get both from a local club, same store, etc? It's quite possible that if this is the case, even if they are "different" they are essentially the same animal, leading to similar behaviors.

To answer your question, no, moving the LTA to the sump won't do it. As long as it's in the same water volume you will likely have the same issues. I guess you might have to decide if you'd rather have two BTA's, or your LTA and the RBTA that seems to be tolerating the other animal.

 

[Meshmez]

Im not sure if the gbta's are clones. The GBTA's are from the same store, but i dont think they breed them in house, but i would imagine they use the same supplier, so the answer is, possibly, but who knows. Maybe ill see if i can get the LFS to hold on to my LTA for a bit to see if the GBTA recovers and that is the reason for the issues...