Bta

[Mary Mac]

I really appreciate your site, it is very informative. I have a question that maybe someone out there knows the answer to. I purchased a BTA along with 2 Maroon & Gold stripe clowns a few weeks ago. We acclimated it as we were told to for hours. We put it in the tank on top of a rock, and we were told it would stay there if liked the spot or it would move to a place it liked better. The next morning we woke up and it was down on the bottom of the tank folded up looking all stringy like. By the evening it looked like it perked up.The next morning same thing, we picked it up and placed it again on top of the Live Rock, the next morning same thing. We called the Fish Store & explained this to the guy, we were told this was normal sometimes,when they are going to the bathroom. hummmmmmmm seems strange to me, but what do I know. We finally left it alone and decided he would land where he was happiest. He only seemed to get worse. Aweek later he is entirely shrunk up and all stringy. I went to another local fish store and spoke with another guy who advised me that it was probably dying, which by that night it did. My question is this, is it possible that those pesty Aiptasia's that were growing on my rock may have used their poisonous tentacles and hurt the little guy? I did not know about the Aiptasia's until doing some research trying to find out what happened to my BTA. My water is tested 2 times per week, and it has been fine.

[JFK_Jr]

It's hard to say without a background of your tank. How long has it been set up? Size, filtration, lighting... etc...etc...

[saltwaterfarm]

What tests are you doing? Could you post them and results?
BTW, Welcome to RS!

[lcstorc]

Welcome to RS.
For it too die so quickly either something is very wrong or it was already dying before you got it.
How old is your system? What kind of lighting do you have? Were the maroons hosting in the anemone? Often clowns will kill their host by being too agressive with it. What did the mouth look like when you bought it? Was it closed or gaping open?
Sorry for all the questions but answers will help up help you with the problem.
I don't think the aiptasia had anything to do with it.

[Mary Mac]

Hi All, this is my 1st post, well actually my 2nd, but I don't think I did the 1st one correct. This is an awsome site for information, and I want to thank anyone in advance that offers their expert opinions. I have a BTA not real big, that I got over the weekend for my clowns. Since he was already latched onto a rock, I purchased the whole thing so he wouldn't get pulled off and risk any danger to the little guy. Well we bring him home, and all seems well until today. We found him lodged into a small hole in one of the live rocks, and it doesn't appear he can get out. Is it possible that he is stuck in there. All you can see is a small section of him poking out of the hole? I am very concerned, since this is my second anemone since I have had my tank. I don't want to mess with him if this is a normal behavior for the BTA. Any comments or suggestions?

[daddio]

They do weird things... I have had one for almost 7 years and it constantly looks and acts different. Mine is too huge (at least 15" in diameter) but occasionally it will expel waste and shrink for a period of time. The biggest tip for keeping them happy and healthy is light. I have never directly fed mine, he get the leftovers from the clown. It is ok for him to hide. He may even need to take a trek around the tank to find a spot. It could be that the clowns are bothering him and he just need a chance to "become aquainted". Don't worry if you cant get him to eat, as long as you have good light (and water quality) he should be ok.

[Mary Mac]

My tank has been up for about 6 weeks. It's a 55 gal, with the wet/dry system. Metal Halide lighting system w/150 watts on each side, & the mood lights. Automatic rotating Power Sweep. Live sand, 50 lbs of live rock, a couple of mushrooms, clam, 5 damsels, 2 maroon clowns, 1 cleaner & 1 fire shrimp, snails, Brain Coral. BioPak protein skimmer (just installed a few days ago). As far as the testing, it is the water test. I would do the water test and then take a sample in to the LFS, to make sure I was reading my test results correctly (a learning tool for me). All my water tested good, according to the store and my readings. The one LFS said the same thing, that he probably was sick to begin with. Thank you for the help

[Mary Mac]

He is probably hiding from the clowns, the female clown seems to be pretty agressive with it. She just loves it, and is constantly laying in it. I will just leave it alone and hope he finds a way out. I have 2X 150 watts Metal Halide lighting on the 55 gal tank. I was assured that this was plenty of light, (I would hope so for the price $450.). I don't think he will be able to eat in the rock, will he come out if he's hungry?

[Dragon Wrasse]

Welcome to RS!! Mary Mac, your BTA will come out when it gets adjusted to your tank, like daddio said it will most likely move around a bit looking for the light and water flow that it likes. How long is are your 150W MH on, it might be getting to much light and is trying to adjust....do you have PC or VHO lighting along with your MH???

[Woodstock]

Welcome to RS Mary!

Ditto to the everyone's post

[boozeman]

[saltwaterfarm]

Originally Posted by Mary Mac

...As far as the testing, it is the water test. I would do the water test and then take a sample in to the LFS, to make sure I was reading my test results correctly (a learning tool for me). All my water tested good, according to the store and my readings. The one LFS said the same thing, that he probably was sick to begin with. Thank you for the help

I was reasonably certain that they were water tests...
Which ones? Nitrates, Nitrites, Ammonia, pH, Alk, Phosphates, salinity?
The exact results from the tests will help us to help you figure out what is causing the problems with your anemones... We don't want you to keep losing livestock.

[Snelly40]

anemones really need stable water too, i'd say 6 months to a year of a tank before an anemone should be added

[Mary Mac]

Well the new Anemone was out today when I got up. When I got home he is back hiding. The light is on a timer for 12 hrs per day, is this too much? As far as the lighting, I am pretty sure it is the PC. As far as the water testing, my Nitrates are 20, Nitrites are 0.5, Ammonia is 0, pH is 8.5, Alk, I have not tested the Alk or Phosphates, did I blow it? I was only told to test the others. Maybe the owner of the LFS was testing that & I didn't realize it, but I didn't. Someone posted a reply stating I should have waited 6 mo's, WOW I didn't know that. I will keep my fingers crossed and hope I can hold on to this new one. I appreciate all the advise.

[saltwaterfarm]

You should do some water changes to try to get the trates and trites down. I would definitely add Phosphates and Alk to your testing routine... They can be very important. I have been exactly where you are... Good Luck, do some water changes until you get the trates down, maybe cut back lights to 10 hrs. You should be fine.