BTA doing very bad I think ... advice?

BummersReef · Nov 19, 2016

we got a BTA (rose) about a month ago (tank is 6 months old) and he was doing great, for about 2 weeks or so. Moved around a little but stayed on same side of tank and looked just like he's supposed to look. Then about 2 weeks ago he decided to make a major migration and goes to the other side of the tank in a totally new spot. Since then, he has progressively looked worse and worse. I know very little about BTA but his ... things .. no longer extend like they used to and he doesn't grab the misis shrimp we feed him and he is shriveled the majority of the time. When he opens out, his tips are very short and not at all like they were before. Here is a pic of him this morning, but just after we turned the lights on. I'll try and get another IF he actually opens up at all. He looks so bad right now I worry he's a goner. We'll get a water test today but weekly full testing at very good LFS shows parameters all good. A little nitrate but nothing out of norms. KH and calcium good. Phosphates a little but not bad. Parameters are all the same as they were when he was looking good for a couple weeks. I can't narrow down anything that changed when he changed aside from him moving to a different spot. Do I dare move him back??? We still try to feed misis and also some rhoti feast stuff. He doesn't grab the misis but maybe gets some rhoti?? I will post another shot if he opens up later ... thanks

Triggreef · Nov 19, 2016

What type of lighting? Are you even able to move just the rock? I would not move the nem if it means peeling it off the rock.

I'm sure someone that knows more about nems will chime in. #reefsquad

john.m.cole3 · Nov 19, 2016

Lighting and flow are the reasons I think nems move around. They're looking for that sweet spot. I have a rose and a greean and used to feed them small chunks of shrimp, then mysis, and now nothing. they actually llok better now that I just leave them alone. When I used to feed them, they would take up the food, then close up and swell at the mouth area. They would look like crap for a couple days, then eventually bounced back. I added mine to a brand new tank with some old live rock and some new dry rock. The green one has grown faster than the rose. I would leave em alone for a while and observe.

jenreefer · Nov 19, 2016

Nem looks very unhappy right now. check you tank parameters and see where everything is. I would check Alkalinity first.

Chet Kaviratne · Nov 19, 2016

I have a few BTAs in my tank. When I first started my tank I killed off one that acted in the way you described. In my experience new BTAs need to be first introduced into a shaded area and let the animal a climate to your lighting. Too strong will cause them to bleach but they can live if you keep feeding and will regain color. BTAs do well in older tanks. Keep feeding him in a lower light area. I feed mine dried krill soaked in vitamins. Hope it make it.

jsker · Nov 19, 2016

I agree with @john.m.cole3 I had two previous to the one I have now, I now feed the nem 3 to 4 times a week and it looks much better.

BummersReef · Nov 19, 2016

Triggreef said:
What type of lighting? Are you even able to move just the rock? I would not move the nem if it means peeling it off the rock.

I'm sure someone that knows more about nems will chime in. #reefsquad

Lighting is pretty minimal ... exotic strip ... just enough to keep basic corals alive but only Duncan actually grows

BummersReef · Nov 19, 2016

jenreefer said:
Nem looks very unhappy right now. check you tank parameters and see where everything is. I would check Alkalinity first.

Will have full water test today .... alk has always been spot on though

john.m.cole3 · Nov 19, 2016

alkalinity is probably the most fluctuating element in our systems. How do you maintain a steady alk level and what is its value in dkh?

BummersReef · Nov 19, 2016

He's on a rock arch that would be impossible to move - also didn't mention but he is left alone by all other livestock in tank - clowns oblivious to him - don't try and peel him off where he is??

cpschult · Nov 19, 2016

Most nems need strong light in my experience.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 19, 2016

Is there a way to get more light on him? Also, have you tried target feeding at all? I've found that can sometimes help a bit with a nem that isn't looking good (I don't usually target feed healthy ones bc they do well enough on their own).

EDIT: I reread your opening post, and it seems your comment about the mysis is probably target feeding, so that's a pretty bad sign if he's not taking it.

Daniel@R2R · Nov 19, 2016

I actually have seen where moving them seems to help, so I would disagree with the idea that it's bad to move them, but I'd try increasing light and flow if possible first.

Reeferdood · Nov 19, 2016

BummersReef said:
Lighting is pretty minimal ... exotic strip ... just enough to keep basic corals alive but only Duncan actually grows

This would be one of the issues. You need strong lighting and medium flow..
Rule of thumb, if they move they are unhappy.
If you don't plan on getting stronger lighting please try to see if someone can hold it for you until you can properly care for it.
Duncans can't really be compared because their lighting requirements are much less..

BummersReef · Nov 19, 2016

mdbannister said:
I actually have seen where moving them seems to help, so I would disagree with the idea that it's bad to move them, but I'd try increasing light and flow if possible first.

Yeah I can't increase the light yet .... no money .... aside from moving him no way to increase light now. Will talk to LFS and maybe we can take him back there until we get better lights. But first spot he picked had more light and he seemed so happy. He should have stayed put!

Daniel@R2R · Nov 19, 2016

BummersReef said:
Yeah I can't increase the light yet .... no money .... aside from moving him no way to increase light now. Will talk to LFS and maybe we can take him back there until we get better lights. But first spot he picked had more light and he seemed so happy. He should have stayed put!

Yeah. Sometimes our livestock can act like bad kids. LOL Hope he pulls through for you!