Are these BTAs going to make it

[Susan Edwards]

I received 2 btas from LA. 1 was doing okay on and off in the 125 gal. First pic below.

The other is in my 40 gal observation tank which is home to 2 clowns, and any incoming fish. It has never looked good or done well.

I have gotten each to eat a sm pc of shrimp once. The 1 in the 40 gal took 20 min with me making sure the shrimp didn't float away. But now, I can't even attempt to feed it. I do squirt mysis and other fish food toward both of them. Lights are turned down slightly in both tanks. whites 5/blue 50 or 55 in the 125. It's been 2 weeks. For the first week, I was adding shade in the form of a washcloth partly covering--dappled light.

Not sure what else to try. I add vitamins to the food. The one that looks bad might have a damaged foot? I didn't check, but it sometimes flutters a bit too much if too much flow on it.

Numbers for the tanks are good.

cal 400 ea last checked
alk between 8-9
PO4 .07 or less
NO3 5 and 20ish
mg 1300/1400

Following pics of the one in the 40 gal.

1st 3 right after I got it. 4th pic at night

April 5, 6th

6th earlier today

the 125 gal today

 

[P-Dub]

Dunno... But, all three of my GBTA are under high,+300-350 PAR, and relatively high flow...

 

[Zer0]

Do you know what happened to them? Like were they in poor water quality or poor lighting, or both?

 

[Susan Edwards]

Dunno... But, all three of my GBTA are under high,+300-350 PAR, and relatively high flow...

I had turned lights down a bit as they drew into themselves even more. But at 2 weeks, they should be used to them. I'm slowly going back up. Had some new corals that needed less light for a week.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Do you know what happened to them? Like were they in poor water quality or poor lighting, or both?

They came in from LIve Aquaria so no idea
edit: I did email them. waranty is now 7 days not 14.

 

[fishguy242]

@Eagle_Steve

 

[Susan Edwards]

The one in the 125 looks to be (I hope) pooping. Has string of something coming out

 

[James M]

Unfortunately Live Aquaria doesn’t ship healthy nems out. They always come in bad shape like they weren’t even supposed to be shipped out

 

[Susan Edwards]

Unfortunately Live Aquaria doesn’t ship healthy nems out. They always come in bad shape like they weren’t even supposed to be shipped out

that's what I'm afraid of. No more. Lesson learned. But I want to try to save these guys.

 

[Mical]

What temps are your tanks? Your params look good and nems will adjust to flow patterns. Let them be for a week or two and don't feed them, give them plenty of light.

 

[Susan Edwards]

Temps are 78-79. 125 stays pretty much at 78. Smaller tank if it is a warm day might get 79

At night this nem swells up

 

[Mical]

Temps are 78-79. 125 stays pretty much at 78. Smaller tank if it is a warm day might get 79

At night this nem swells up

Temps look good. IMO, let them settle in and get used to the tanks (who knows what LA had them through)

 

[Susan Edwards]

Temps look good. IMO, let them settle in and get used to the tanks (who knows what LA had them through)

thanks.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

I think they need more flow. Be careful though. Fine line between enough flow and too much to where they detach looking for a new home. Lol
Hold out and hopefully they make a good bounce back. How long have they been in tank?
D

 

[Susan Edwards]

I think they need more flow. Be careful though. Fine line between enough flow and too much to where they detach looking for a new home. Lol
Hold out and hopefully they make a good bounce back. How long have they been in tank?
D

since the 24th

 

[Susan Edwards]

I think they need more flow. Be careful though. Fine line between enough flow and too much to where they detach looking for a new home. Lol
Hold out and hopefully they make a good bounce back. How long have they been in tank?
D

I just looked in on them, and both have flow. Hard to tell during day when they've pulled in so tight that not much moves. Here are a couple pics I just took. The 1st one in the 40 gal puffs up like this at night. I'll cut the lights a bit more during the day as it doesn't seem to like the lights. Or else just cover part of it on the screen so light is more dappled. Same with the other who is flowing more with lights off. Not as swelled and puffy as the other. 1 pic is a short video showing flow. Last pic is th e125 gal bta

 

[fishguy242]

here @Eagle_Steve

 

[Eagle_Steve]

First off, do not feed them. That just stresses them more.

Second, LA has been known to ship nems in bad shape. Unless LA DD, they come directly from the wholesaler and who knows what they send.

Third, stop feeding lol. I do not mean to be rude, but that is way to much for a new nem. Nems do not need food to live. The algae in them will consume some N and P and feed the nem via photosynthesis.

Best thing you can do at this point, is to leave them alone and watch them. If they are not better in a few days with no feeding and no interaction, then treating may be needed.

Treatment is easy, as long as you have water pre-made and have a spare 5 or 10 gallon tank. Even a 2.5 from Petco will work for 2 small bta.

there is a treatment thread in the stickies for anemone and clownfish section that outlines the process.

Cirpo can be had from Chewy for cheap without a prescription (as long as you select the correct one) and it pretty much arrives in a day or 2 to just about anywhere in the US.

You do not even need an actual reef light for the treatment. A regular bulb in a clip on light will suffice for treatment.

If you get to the point of needing help in doing the treatment, pm me and I can walk you though it. Super easy and super effective. Hopefully you will need to treat, as bta are tough little buggers.

 

[Susan Edwards]

First off, do not feed them. That just stresses them more.

I hope I don't need to treat because I don't want to try to get them off the rocks!!! That will stress me out!

I'll keep light diffused on them today as the one seems to do better not under full light. I make sure it has some but not full on.

And no feeding! I am adding vitamins to the food I feed the fish so maybe that will help.
thanks

 

[Susan Edwards]

Not sure if this guy is still with me. Not sure ow to tell a "gone" bta. He was on the floor of the tank this morning. I put him in the acclimation box with some rubble.

Tried to get backside. This is from top down