What's wrong with my BTA?

[KSzegi]

I'm new with anemones and I really don't know what is wrong with my new bubble tip. I have 2 in my tank - first one has been in the tank for about a month and a half and is doing great. This one has been in the tank for about two weeks .... first was attached to a rock but moved onto the sand bed and in a more shaded area a few days ago. The two photos show the changes that seem to happen several times during a day's time ..... sometimes it looks fine and other times it looks very ill. Help .... is there anything I can do?

 

[Toddrtrex]

Need more info.

What size tank?

How long has it been set up?

What lights do you have?

Did you acclimate it to your lights?

What are your water parameters -- with numbers.

 

[KSzegi]

more info.

more info.

180 gallon tank with over 300# of TBS rock and about a 2" base of sand. Lights are 3 MH 150W (8 hrs) and 4 96W PC actinincs (10hrs). Was placed very low in the tank at first, just above the substrate on a large rock - and seemed to be doing fine until just a few days ago when he left the hole he had put his foot in (thought maybe something living in the rock had been pestering him?).

Water parameters:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 10
PH 8.2
SG 1.025
Alk 10

I know the nitrate level is considered a bit high - but working on getting it down and the other anemone is thriving - along with pretty much everything else in the tank other than one tree sponge.

He really didn't look good upon arrival but from everything I had read that is not uncommon and so I hoped that he would perk up ..... which it appeared he did for the first week.

 

[BongoSolo3]

I had this problem with a tiny, bleached RBTA that I got recently. Feeding once a week was not enough to nurse it back to health. So based on a recommendation from someone I switched to smaller quantities, every other day.

Worked like a charm in nursing it back to health.

I think the source of the problem was poor feeding by the person I bought it from, and from me until I learned what I was doing.

 

[potterjon]

Have you checked out its' foot to make sure it is not ripped?

 

[KSzegi]

Thanks for the input/advice. As far as I can tell there is no tear in the foot - but I have not picked it right up to examine closely, was afraid that might stress it even more. Should I and is there anything I can do if the foot is torn?

As for feeding, I have not been able to get it to eat anything for at least 4-5 days now. It also appears to me that the clown fish (who is absolutely beside himself when the anemone shrinks up) has tried to feed it bits of mysis but no interest.

 

[Roadkillstewie]

DO you know that the store lighting was? Photoshock a possibility?

 

[KSzegi]

No, I don't know what lighting they were using - which is why I thought it best to start low in the tank. It came from reef hot spot though so maybe I'll go onto their forum and find out!

 

[Gynxster]

It take 2-3 weeks to adapt. My green tip anemone did the same and it would inflate and deflate daily for a couple of week. They still do it once in a while, but perk right back. I assume it's normal.

I hope it makes it. Low flow and good lighting.