The case of the missing RBTA

jimeluiz · 04-08-2004, 01:37 AM

Two days ago she disappeared. No trace. Some six hours earlier there was a power outage. The water level in the tank dropped about 5 inches and she was left literally hanging, out of the water, for about 30 minutes. We came home (power still off) and peeled her off the tank wall and placed her in a more suitable spot.

All seemed well. Lights out.

Since then she has disappeared. Her twin holds her own, keeping both clowns busy. But no sign of the other. We have looked everywhere (including in the swirling water of the skimmer.)

Perhaps the near-death experience triggered a reproductive response and she is holed up in some tiny crevace, out of sight, awaiting a split. Maybe.

And so we wait.

BoomerD · 04-08-2004, 01:45 AM

Oh NO!! I'll keep my fingers crossed tht it turns up in good condition. Tempermental little things, aren't they? When mine split a couple of months ago, it got really wierd, and started hiding, then VOILA!! 2 of them came out of the rocks. Maybe the stress has indeed brought on that reaction...time will tell. If your luck runs anything like mine does, it will re-appear in the back of the tank, in a place where you won't be able to see it or get to it to feed it, and just generally cause YOU stress!

Gina · 04-08-2004, 06:49 AM

I would be going nuts! Our fighting conch disappeared for a while and I was looking everywhere for the dang thing! Finally, came back around! I hate it when things hide from you!! Hope you see her soon!

wooddood · 04-08-2004, 07:35 AM

i hope it shows up soon, maybe it's just stressed and getting ready to split again.t-devil just had a bad exprience with his new rbta it caused alot of problems for him and he lost a couple of corals. hope this is'nt your case though. you may want to pm him. how long have you had him? good luck.

jimeluiz · 04-08-2004, 11:56 AM

Still no sign of her

We introduced the beautie in October last year. Then she split on New Years Day. Currently they are about the size of a fist when gleefully enjoying the light and current.

We've got our fingers crossed.

Icebox · 04-08-2004, 12:46 PM

I too have my fingers crossed, but I would be expecting the funeral to go on as planned. :-/

addict · 04-08-2004, 05:25 PM

IMO, the anemone being out of the water for that length of time probably won't kill it... I've been to the coast here in California, and at low tide there's a lot of exposed anemones along the shoreline... as long as it was still damp it should be okay.
It's probably just stressed out and hiding, due to being out of the water and then being peeled off the glass.
I'm hoping that's the case though... I thought that TDevil's anemone was just adjusting to his tank, but it ended up nuking it... I'm also crossing my fingers for you.

TDEVIL · 04-08-2004, 09:33 PM

well sorry to here that, as i have had my problems with mine

i can say this for sure, IMO, they are a lot hardier then most people think, as long as you didnt tear the anemones foot when you took it of the glass it might be ok, even then they can survive
mine had a lot to do with the LFS, the guy wanted me to have the largest one and took to long to get it off the rock before he finally desided to break the rock, but to my suprise, it is looking much better now, his mouth is starting to form again

good luck and keep us posted

TD

jimeluiz · 04-09-2004, 09:32 PM

It's been four full days with no sign of her. I'm thinking I should prepare for the worst. Here's my situation: in 8 days we leave for a four week vacation. I thought I was handing a very stable tank over to my friends and the lfs service. But now it seems there is a wild card in there.

I've read that if the RBTA dies it needs to be removed immediately to avoid 'nuking' the tank. Help me here -- what actually happens? Which test kit can be used to keep an eye on this? I usually look at our alveopora and coco worm to get a sense of how groovy things are. I take it they will react if one of our twins croaks. (NO!!)

We can wait a few more days to see if all is well and we are just waiting out a split... but I'm getting nervous. I will need to do something before we leave. Once we leave we are gone - no cell phone - infrequent internet access (going to Greece and Turkey).

I would hate to have to pay the lfs for an intervention - probably cost as much as the rug we plan to buy in Istanbul!

Talk to me about my dangers, my chances, and my choices.

Thanks everyone.

04-08-2004, 01:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
jimeluiz Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Niteroi, Brasil Posts: 829 View Gallery Karma Komment	The case of the missing RBTA Two days ago she disappeared. No trace. Some six hours earlier there was a power outage. The water level in the tank dropped about 5 inches and she was left literally hanging, out of the water, for about 30 minutes. We came home (power still off) and peeled her off the tank wall and placed her in a more suitable spot. All seemed well. Lights out. Since then she has disappeared. Her twin holds her own, keeping both clowns busy. But no sign of the other. We have looked everywhere (including in the swirling water of the skimmer.) Perhaps the near-death experience triggered a reproductive response and she is holed up in some tiny crevace, out of sight, awaiting a split. Maybe. And so we wait. __________________ Sold the tank prior to our move. Setting up our new life in Brazil.

04-08-2004, 06:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,842 View Gallery Karma Komment	I would be going nuts! Our fighting conch disappeared for a while and I was looking everywhere for the dang thing! Finally, came back around! I hate it when things hide from you!! Hope you see her soon! __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

04-08-2004, 07:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: marion. INDIANA Posts: 3,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	i hope it shows up soon, maybe it's just stressed and getting ready to split again.t-devil just had a bad exprience with his new rbta it caused alot of problems for him and he lost a couple of corals. hope this is'nt your case though. you may want to pm him. how long have you had him? good luck. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

04-08-2004, 11:56 AM	#5 (permalink)
jimeluiz Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Niteroi, Brasil Posts: 829 View Gallery Karma Komment	Still no sign of her We introduced the beautie in October last year. Then she split on New Years Day. Currently they are about the size of a fist when gleefully enjoying the light and current. We've got our fingers crossed. __________________ Sold the tank prior to our move. Setting up our new life in Brazil.

04-08-2004, 12:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
Icebox Torch coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Creston, NC Posts: 528 View Gallery Karma Komment	I too have my fingers crossed, but I would be expecting the funeral to go on as planned. :-/ __________________ Mike

04-08-2004, 01:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Oh NO!! I'll keep my fingers crossed tht it turns up in good condition. Tempermental little things, aren't they? When mine split a couple of months ago, it got really wierd, and started hiding, then VOILA!! 2 of them came out of the rocks. Maybe the stress has indeed brought on that reaction...time will tell. If your luck runs anything like mine does, it will re-appear in the back of the tank, in a place where you won't be able to see it or get to it to feed it, and just generally cause YOU stress!

04-08-2004, 05:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
addict Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sierra Nevada Country Posts: 1,621 View Gallery Karma Komment	IMO, the anemone being out of the water for that length of time probably won't kill it... I've been to the coast here in California, and at low tide there's a lot of exposed anemones along the shoreline... as long as it was still damp it should be okay. It's probably just stressed out and hiding, due to being out of the water and then being peeled off the glass. I'm hoping that's the case though... I thought that TDevil's anemone was just adjusting to his tank, but it ended up nuking it... I'm also crossing my fingers for you. __________________ -David *addict's tank specs:* Coming soon!

04-08-2004, 09:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
TDEVIL Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, INDIANA Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment	well sorry to here that, as i have had my problems with mine i can say this for sure, IMO, they are a lot hardier then most people think, as long as you didnt tear the anemones foot when you took it of the glass it might be ok, even then they can survive mine had a lot to do with the LFS, the guy wanted me to have the largest one and took to long to get it off the rock before he finally desided to break the rock, but to my suprise, it is looking much better now, his mouth is starting to form again good luck and keep us posted TD __________________ my web site <-- needs updated

04-09-2004, 09:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
jimeluiz Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Niteroi, Brasil Posts: 829 View Gallery Karma Komment	It's been four full days with no sign of her. I'm thinking I should prepare for the worst. Here's my situation: in 8 days we leave for a four week vacation. I thought I was handing a very stable tank over to my friends and the lfs service. But now it seems there is a wild card in there. I've read that if the RBTA dies it needs to be removed immediately to avoid 'nuking' the tank. Help me here -- what actually happens? Which test kit can be used to keep an eye on this? I usually look at our alveopora and coco worm to get a sense of how groovy things are. I take it they will react if one of our twins croaks. (NO!!) We can wait a few more days to see if all is well and we are just waiting out a split... but I'm getting nervous. I will need to do something before we leave. Once we leave we are gone - no cell phone - infrequent internet access (going to Greece and Turkey). I would hate to have to pay the lfs for an intervention - probably cost as much as the rug we plan to buy in Istanbul! Talk to me about my dangers, my chances, and my choices. Thanks everyone. __________________ Sold the tank prior to our move. Setting up our new life in Brazil.

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