Just received this GBTA from Divers Den, and I can't say that I've seen this before. I've kept nems, and know what it looks like when they expel waste. This one looks like it expelled it's guts. This is what it looks like, out of the bag. The bag, and the nem, are both full of white slime. It doesn't smell, and the neon colors are still there in the tissue, but I don't think this looks "good". Or is this an extreme stress reaction from shipping, and it will recover? I am reluctant to put it in my QT tank for fear that it will foul the tank.
Dead, dying, or shipping stress?
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Lance M.
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Try to keep it, you never know. Why is it in a measuring cup?
Usually they look bad after shipping (haven't seen that bad tho) and once I've floated them they pull themselves together and look normal. I've only had 3 bta's shipped.
What is the QT tank setup for? My thinking, no matter how bad it was, I would at least put it in the QT even if it fouled the water since that is kind of the reason of having a QT tank, to reduce/eliminate risk from the main tank.
Usually they look bad after shipping (haven't seen that bad tho) and once I've floated them they pull themselves together and look normal. I've only had 3 bta's shipped.
What is the QT tank setup for? My thinking, no matter how bad it was, I would at least put it in the QT even if it fouled the water since that is kind of the reason of having a QT tank, to reduce/eliminate risk from the main tank.
rkpetersen
walked the sand with the crustaceans
Contact Diver's Den and express your concern, send them that pic, even if you're not requesting a refund at this time. They'll offer suggestions, and if it does die anyway in a few days or a week, quicker to refund.
Measuring cup: I like to use glass vessels to transfer things from acclimation buckets to the tank - that way I get a good look at them before they go into the tank, and I can take pictures.
It's in my invert/coral QT, which I keep set up all the time. At the moment, there are a few frags in there and I am trying to prevent the slime from causing a problem.
While I had the anemone in the container, I ran some tank water through to try to at least rinse the white slime off the anemone, and out. That worked, and now I see what I can only describe as filaments, which, from a quick bit of research, or either acontia or mesenteria. I don't really know much about their anatomy beyond foot, tentacle, and mouth, so I'm learning!
I do see the margins of the mouth, and while I was rinsing, I noticed that the foot seemed to be trying to stick to the glass, so it's not dead. Will keep an eye on it as the evening progresses. They are amazing creatures, and I won't be surprised if it bounces back and is able to reassemble itself; but I also won't be surprised if it just dies. Guess there isn't much to be done at this point except wait ...
It's in my invert/coral QT, which I keep set up all the time. At the moment, there are a few frags in there and I am trying to prevent the slime from causing a problem.
While I had the anemone in the container, I ran some tank water through to try to at least rinse the white slime off the anemone, and out. That worked, and now I see what I can only describe as filaments, which, from a quick bit of research, or either acontia or mesenteria. I don't really know much about their anatomy beyond foot, tentacle, and mouth, so I'm learning!
I do see the margins of the mouth, and while I was rinsing, I noticed that the foot seemed to be trying to stick to the glass, so it's not dead. Will keep an eye on it as the evening progresses. They are amazing creatures, and I won't be surprised if it bounces back and is able to reassemble itself; but I also won't be surprised if it just dies. Guess there isn't much to be done at this point except wait ...
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll send a note along, but having done that before, I don't hold out much hope. Responses I have received have been fairly dismissive. Maybe there is a more direct route though - I've had to communicate through Liveaquaria, which plays relayman between me and whomever they talk to at DD. Is there a more direct path?
Lance M.
Active Member
Yes. I would just watch it for now and if you do not already have it, order some cipro to have on hand in case needed.
Also, I agree with rkpetersen, contact LiveAquaria, express your concern, and explain you will be monitoring it. You have their two week warranty and if it goes down hill before that expires, call them again citing your previous call and they will extend the warranty another two weeks (one month total). I have had to do this in the past.
Oh, I have done both - call, and email. When I have called with a detailed question, the CSR from liveaquaria takes notes, and sends those on to someone in Wisconsin. Then I usually get an email response back. I don't think I have ever communicated with someone at DD directly.
I have no doubt that they'll take care of me if this turns out to be a loss. They've been very good about that. At the moment, I'm looking for anything I can try to prevent the loss, and that's where I haven't had much luck with input from LA. R2R, on the other hand, has been stellar when it comes to offering suggestions, etc.
In the meantime, I'll hunt down some cipro and get another QT running ...
I have no doubt that they'll take care of me if this turns out to be a loss. They've been very good about that. At the moment, I'm looking for anything I can try to prevent the loss, and that's where I haven't had much luck with input from LA. R2R, on the other hand, has been stellar when it comes to offering suggestions, etc.
In the meantime, I'll hunt down some cipro and get another QT running ...
Not looking much different today - mouth still gaping open with insides sticking out. It looks like it did try to retract a bit, and the foot seems to be stuck to the glass, but not looking great.
The cipro will be here in two more days - go ahead and start treating when it gets here?
The cipro will be here in two more days - go ahead and start treating when it gets here?
Reefing newbie
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The anemone did not survive ... it never retracted, did not respond to cipro - I think it was too far gone from stress of shipping.
This was the first time I have tried to order one online - past acquisitions were local, and I've never had a problem.
What's the success rate for BTA and shipping?
This was the first time I have tried to order one online - past acquisitions were local, and I've never had a problem.
What's the success rate for BTA and shipping?
Lance M.
Active Member
Its been 50/50 for me with shipping overall (4) and 50/50 from lfs (mostly because I would take questionable ones to see if I could bring them back).
So far 100% for shipped bta with no acclimation, just float for temp and throw in tank, but that's only two.
Did you get a refund? IF you try again with DD, I would try a rbta. If you want a gbta, I would try to find one in person. I will say from the pics on DD, there are many I would not grab because their appearance is off, maybe about 20% I would try.
If you want to stay local, try to get one from a split that is fully healed and healthy.
Letsarrange1
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The survival rates through shipping will be varied due to the different shipping conditions through each vendor. I buy a lot of btas online and can’t really recall having any issues. I do a 20-30 temp acclimate, and a 30 min water acclimate.
Try aquasd ebay, they usually have some cool nems for really good prices
Try aquasd ebay, they usually have some cool nems for really good prices
