Troubling new RBTA activities...

Xirxes23

New member
I have been looking for a RBTA for a while, and finally cam across one in good shape with awesome coloration.

Picked it up, brought it home, and acclimated for 1.5 hours for temp/pH on a drip. I set him in the tank mid way up the rock, and in the next 2 hours, he moved about 6 inches, and anchored his foot in a big crevase between two rocks. He was maybe 3-3.5 inches across.

This morning, he is COMPLETELY inside this crevace, no portion of him is in the light. He seems to be absolutely reclusive, with no tentacles showing, and is about the 1.5-2 inches, almost like a little ball.

I had my water tested just before i got him and i was told it was PERFECT, pH 8.2 AMMO/RItes/Rates 0, kH 150ppm, Ca 430, Salinity 1.025

I have 4 ft T5HO lighting in a teklight fixture in a 90g (80g display) so i know the lighting is not limiting...

WHAT GIVES? i have no idea what i did wrong. I have no fish that would pester it, 1 clown, 3 small chromis, 1 small royal gramma, 1 small midas blenny, 2 cleaner shrimp...

Please let me know if he is dead/dying or ailing or just getting accustomed?

Oh temp varies between 79-81
 
This isn't necessarily cause for alarm... I know mine does that occasionally (actually, just this morning again) for no seeming reason, although it is fairly common after feeding. Is color still good? I'd just watch it at this point. Sounds like it's found a good spot.
 
like i said... there are no tentacles visible... its in a tiny little ball, looks like just a Foot left... it expelled quite a bit of stringy red material as well.

I dont see how he could have found a good spot, where he is he has absolutely not access to light.
 
They are more resiliant than given credit. He may have eaten something you did not see. Mine all suck tentacles in after a big meal. Also, are you sure the expelled media was red? Possibly brown would indicate him....cleansing himself.... See what it looks like in a couple of hours. If it begins to go jelly on you, get it out and get another.....
 
ok, good developments... The released slime was brown, probably waste material, and the anemone has extended out of the cave now, still red, but a bit deplated. Will post a pic if he moves to somewhere more visible (i hope i hope i hope...)
 
everything sounds pretty normal. The only concern is with the lighting. How many watts of T5 do you have?
 
Total watts for the system is 350, but in a teklight, you get much more output per watt. spread specrtum of artinics, blue+ and full specs.

I would love to get some pictures, but at the moment he buried himself in a position where only very little of him is visble from the front or sides, ihope he decides to move.
 
Update***

Seems to be acclimating well, ate for first time since saturday today, 2 pieces of 1/4 inch silversides, ratained a bit of color and is now Moving! (finally) out into view.

Neither of the two clowns have hosted yet, dont know if they ever will, Occelaris usually host RBTA right? i hope so. Ill keep this updated time to time.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7647751#post7647751 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thor32766
yeah will host is those, just be patient

When he says be patient, he could be meaning months of patience. In 6 weeks mine still haven't hosted my RBTA.
 
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