Any trick to getting RBTA to stay put

Acropora52 · Dec 23, 2011

I've never had problems with my ritteris moving and in the past, I've put the BTA in a hole and then fed a silverside and they sit still. This present clone seems to wander the tank, however, which is getting annoying. Short of putting it on it's own rock, any hints? I'm halfway tempted to put the RBTA on a rock island with a torch and elegance adjacent to it but don't want to have it hurt the corals.

Aquaph8 · Dec 23, 2011

I've had clones do this too. Part of me feels they have problems with strong lights when just cloned. Try surrounding it's foot with rocks, a little lower flow and maybe reacclimate it to your lighting with a couple layers of window screen.

MarvinsReef · Dec 23, 2011

from what I've read, they will keep moving until they find a spot they like. a separate island is a good idea.

returnofsid · Dec 23, 2011

Unfortunately, there's not a lot you can do, until it finds it's "Happy Spot."

Joe Knows Reefs · Dec 23, 2011

Aquaph8 said:
Try surrounding it's foot with rocks, a little lower flow ...

This is a trick I like to use. I've gotten smaller rocks with a good crevice for it to bury its foot and then surrounded the foot with rubble or crushed coral etc to help it stay put. And then from there I can pretty much put it where I want provided the lights and flow aren't too high. Good luck!!

Acropora52 · Dec 24, 2011

Thanks all. Will try and see if I can get it to work. He's found a nice spot under a big hollow rock and keeps moving around and out. If it ever ventures out I will try that trick.

Aquaph8 · Dec 25, 2011

Sounds like it's hiding from the light.

andywe · Dec 25, 2011

Interesting idea surrounding the foot with rubble. FOr the most part, BTA's will move and go until they are happy. No very helpful when we as viewers want to display them LOL. Just make sure when it gets bigger that it stays on one piece of rock...or it is a nightmare to try and get it loose if you have to move things around in the tank.

Acropora52 · Dec 25, 2011

Brett,

You may be right. Under a powermodule in my new tank but at the bottom of the tank. Was at the top of my old tank under a 250 metal halide. It's gotten a little big and may be ready to split again. I've noticed that they tend to start wandering after/around the time of a split.

Aquaph8 · Dec 25, 2011

Be really careful with powerheads while they're wandering, it's not pretty when one gets sucked in. Shading them with some window screen and making sure they're fed helps a lot to keep them from bleaching out.