BTA Lost Tentacles or not extending

[Rechelle Fleck]

I have been working hard on my BTA since I received him (through the mail via Saltwaterfish) several months ago. He was slightly bleached and a slightly damaged foot. He started out well until my female Ocellaris started loving the heck out of him and I believe she was too aggressive with said "love" and frequently pulled at his tentacles. In addition, when I first got him, he was almost 2x bigger than her, but Miss Piggy has grown way faster than her nem. I have gotten his color back in him and am feeding him Fish Frenzy, Silversides or Mysis 2-3 times a week. He eats, eliminates, and expands normally. In addition, I add PhycoPure 3 times a week which contain zooxanthellae. My parameters are stable:

Temp: 77-79
Ammonia/Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 5-10
Phosphates: 0.03-0.1
pH: 8.0-8.2
Alk: 9.8
Ca: 490

My lighting is stock BioCube LEDs and he actually seems to be irritated by more light (which when all lights are on run 25,000K) than a lower light situation such as when the blues and actinics are on together.

With all this said, lately he seems to either have lost/shed some of his tentacles or just isn't extending them. He squishes himself between the liverock and the glass so my clown can't bother him and I think that's part of the reason why I see very few of his tentacles. If by chance my clown pulled off enough, will they grow back and should I just wait it out or give him to my LFS so he has a little reef peace? I've never had this happen to a nem before, so I am truly at a loss.

 

[Amoo]

We've already been over this. You told us once you upgraded your lights. If you upgraded to stock biocube LED lights, that is simply not going to cut it. You legitimately NEED some kind of legitimate LED upgrade, be it a Steves kit, cut a hole and hang a Kessil...etc something if you plan on keeping the nem in that tank with the hood.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/green-bta-turning-brown.486701/page-2

 

[Captain Quint]

I have been working hard on my BTA since I received him (through the mail via Saltwaterfish) several months ago. He was slightly bleached and a slightly damaged foot. He started out well until my female Ocellaris started loving the heck out of him and I believe she was too aggressive with said "love" and frequently pulled at his tentacles. In addition, when I first got him, he was almost 2x bigger than her, but Miss Piggy has grown way faster than her nem. I have gotten his color back in him and am feeding him Fish Frenzy, Silversides or Mysis 2-3 times a week. He eats, eliminates, and expands normally. In addition, I add PhycoPure 3 times a week which contain zooxanthellae. My parameters are stable:

Temp: 77-79
Ammonia/Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 5-10
Phosphates: 0.03-0.1
pH: 8.0-8.2
Alk: 9.8
Ca: 490

My lighting is stock BioCube LEDs and he actually seems to be irritated by more light (which when all lights are on run 25,000K) than a lower light situation such as when the blues and actinics are on together.

With all this said, lately he seems to either have lost/shed some of his tentacles or just isn't extending them. He squishes himself between the liverock and the glass so my clown can't bother him and I think that's part of the reason why I see very few of his tentacles. If by chance my clown pulled off enough, will they grow back and should I just wait it out or give him to my LFS so he has a little reef peace? I've never had this happen to a nem before, so I am truly at a loss.

Any current pics of the BTA and environment?

 

[Rechelle Fleck]

We've already been over this. You told us once you upgraded your lights. If you upgraded to stock biocube LED lights, that is simply not going to cut it. You legitimately NEED some kind of legitimate LED upgrade, be it a Steves kit, cut a hole and hang a Kessil...etc something if you plan on keeping the nem in that tank with the hood.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/green-bta-turning-brown.486701/page-2

Believe me I know. I am just trying to keep him healthy until I can afford Steve's which will be soon.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

clowns can be very rough on nems, which isn’t a good thing especially when nursing them back to health. i’ve has clowns that also “clean” tentacles before but it hasn’t caused any damage. i would also like to see an updated photo and i would stop feeding silversides. if the nematocysts are grabbing into mysis then i would continue with that.

also, there are many different species of zoox and there’s absolutely no guarantee what you bought is a match for your specific nem. if it’s not a match the nem can just reject it and you’re not doing any good. trying to artificially replace zoox is not an efficient method, it should happen naturally.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Believe me I know. I am just trying to keep him healthy until I can afford Steve's which will be soon.

they’re waiting for your order.

 

[Rechelle Fleck]

Any current pics of the BTA and environment?

Any current pics of the BTA and environment?

 

[davocean]

Aside from other info posted, the mention of torn foot is what caught my eye.
I'm also curious why it's down in sand bed, normally I see BTA on rock work, and if lights are on weaker side I would think even more so, so this raises my suspicion of a torn foot issue possibly.

 

[Rechelle Fleck]

Aside from other info posted, the mention of torn foot is what caught my eye.
I'm also curious why it's down in sand bed, normally I see BTA on rock work, and if lights are on weaker side I would think even more so, so this raises my suspicion of a torn foot issue possibly.

His foot was slightly torn when I first got him 4 months ago but sticky. He has always been on the rock work until a few days ago. He sometimes sticks part of his foot onto the glass.