BTA disappeared..

bdejong1112o · Jan 20, 2018

So two weeks ago I picked up a nice rainbow bubble tip anemone from the local fish store. I placed him in the tank and he settled right in. He moved about 6 inches from where I put him and appeared to be happy. He would tuck in the rock at night but come out and play when the lights came on.

However, two days ago I noticed that I didnt see him where he normally was. I looked everywhere. In yhe overflows, not there, in other rock formation, nope. Even took a flashlight and looked close in all the visible nooks and crannys. Its now been three days an no sign of him at all. He was about baseball sized. How much will he mess up the tank if he ended up croaking all of the sudden.

Params
Amonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10
Phosphates 0.06 to 0.08
Alk 8.0
Calc 430
Mag 1340
Salinity 1.025
Temp 77 to 78

But I cant stress enough, the night before he was all out and looked great, bubbles and tips and color were nice. Not shrunken in or stressed but now gone....

Ludders · Jan 20, 2018

It isn't down at the bottom under any rock work is it?

In my experience with BTA's is they move about for weeks when introduced to a new environment. They can also sulk, shrivel up and poo and also hide. Amazing how they can contort themselves.

Have you been feeding it?

How much light was it getting? (Mine can't seem to get enough light)

If it has croaked you don't want it festering, but I doubt it's that drastic, think it could be sulking.

Do you have any clowns for it to host?

reef lover · Jan 20, 2018

Check any foam guards on your poweheads.

bdejong1112o · Jan 20, 2018

I fed it once and it took the food just fine. It was getting plenty of light as I placed him in a spot where he could be in direct view if the light or hide under the ledge.

I don't run foam in my power heads and he was no where near them. I also didn't see any bits and pieces floating around the tank.

All my rock is direct on the glass with the substrate added after. I hope the goby didn't burry him somewhere. L

reef lover · Jan 20, 2018

Hopefully he shows up..

Ludders · Jan 20, 2018

They can move a fair tank distance in one night if they want to and if it is settling in, I would always recommend powerhead foam guards.
These have saved me a lot of hassle on I think two seperate occasions.

If it is under a rock somewhere plotting its next move, it could easily scale the glass while you're out and see how its foot fits into the crevices of a powerhead.

bdejong1112o · Jan 20, 2018

I just found that the foam was a magnet for fish food and was a mess to clean up. I may have to rethink keeping BTAs in the future if this is an issue for them. I still cant find him tonight. Checked water parameters and everything is still looking good. Will continue to monitor, just didnt see this comming as it was looking fat and happy the night before....

Ludders · Jan 21, 2018

You don't need to foam on all the time, it's just while they are on the move. Once they settle they are usually fine so long as everything is stable. Other thing is them splitting, they go a bit weird then and you either need to sell the split or let it find a place to settle.
I find it takes a couple of weeks for them to recover from a split and I stop feeding mine during this period.

bdejong1112o · Jan 21, 2018

Ok, so look who showed up today. Dont know where or what hole he tucked himself into but he is the hide and go seek champion..

Ludders · Jan 22, 2018

Oh cool, he's similar to mine

Jeepguy242 · Jan 22, 2018

glad he came out!

Ludders · Jan 22, 2018

Colours look different in different lighting times of the day, but here's one of mine. I think you'll relax about its odd habits after about a month of getting used to it.

bdejong1112o · Jan 22, 2018

@Ludders, I put myself in the nervous mother category when it comes to the tank. Lol. It square in my living room so I see it everyday, take roll call when I get home from work to make sure everyone is accounted for. I imagine like with my own kids, all grown up now, that it will get easier as time goes on but for now I see every grain of sand that is out of place.

Still cant figure out what hole he crawled into to just dissapear like that.

Ludders · Jan 22, 2018

Like I said previously, they are amazing contortionists and can get into tiny places. The reason I asked if you had fed him earlier, was because I was thinking it might be connected to his disappearance. I feed mine about once a week now and they are both a fair size, around 8"-10" each. Usually the day after a feed they will retract into their hiding spaces they both have and have a dump. Wondered if this could explain its behaviour.
You wait till it splits, that will be an experience for you

bdejong1112o · Feb 7, 2018

He has stayed put for about a week now. I guess he just wanted to take a lap around the tank first.

Ludders · Feb 8, 2018

Yes a lap is common, then they will usually ascend to where they can get the most light.

Do you have any crevices high up he can wedge his foot in and also retreat into completely if he needs to?

I'll try to take some photo's today of how mine position themselves during the day, then go back to rest for night time. It might help give you some ideas.

Ludders · Feb 8, 2018

As described, both of mine are on a piece of tall rock work with some GSP right at the very top. I know GSP is hardy and the idea was the nems can keep it in check, but at the same time add a bit of colour and interest between the nems.

The one on the left has its foot wedged down within this crack and hollow in the rock...

The one on the right sits in a space inside the side of the rock face and both retreat down at night and stretch out like this during the day.

These next pictures should give you an idea of how high they are in the tank hopefully.

Whilst I did place them here on this rock work, they found the spots they're in themselves, so I guess I helped them a bit, but they do sort themselves out.

Hope that helps.