Feeding a BTA

[Bigtex817]

how do you know when it's time to feed a BTA? I have had a BTA for about almost 2 weeks and when I put a dime size of frozen mysis shrimp close to its mouth it doesn't eat at all I have tried this twice and same results every time. His tentacles don't even try to grab the food. So should I only feed it once a month then?

 

[dylana407]

You need to thaw it out first.

 

[Bigtex817]

When I thaw the cure it breaks into a bunch of pieces so should I use a turkey baser and spot feed it?

 

[Kadee]

I feed mine pieces of thawed raw shrimp 2-3 times per week. You can buy a 12oz bag of small 60-80 count raw shrimp at Walmart for $5 that will last a very long time. Feed pieces no larger than the nems mouth. No need to feed more than one piece per feeding. Mine grab the shrimp as soon as it touches their tentacles.

 

[Travis Rider]

+1 on the thawed raw shrimp. I feed mine twice a weeks and there is never a hesitation when the shrimp is introduced.

 

[dylana407]

When I thaw the cure it breaks into a bunch of pieces so should I use a turkey baser and spot feed it?

I thaw it in a small cup with tank water. I suck in up into the turkey baster, and let the juice back in the cup. A few shrimps will be stuck inside the baster. When I feed, I suck the tank water into the baster and let the shrimp flow down by gravity. I don't pump it out. The BTA can easily eat 10-20 mysis. I only give it 2-3 a week.

 

[joseserrano]

I do the thawed shrimp as well, no exoskeleton to spit out like with Mysis or brine, and no bones if you did silversides.

 

[Bigtex817]

Ok thanks everyone for their responses and advice.

 

[Bigtex817]

I have some fresh big eye tuna in my freezer and I thought about giving that to the BTA. What are y'all thoughts on that?

 

[Bigtex817]

Also in my tank is 2 clowns and 5 clean up crew that's it.

 

[Kadee]

I would try the fish. Just be sure that it is well thawed and the same temp as your water.

 

[Chitown tom]

My nems are spoiled

I feed them salmon from the grocery store, thawed and cut into to small pieces, dipped in Reef Roids.

 

[Awesome Dennis]

Mine gets thawed uncooked scallops cut into small chunks

 

[Bigtex817]

This is my BTA how does he look. He was deflated and hiding behind a rock so I tested and these were my water parameters ammonia 4, nitrite 2, nitrate 10, calcium 440, phosphate 0 and salinity was 1.023. I then did a 25% water change and tested about 2 hrs later and ammonia dropped to .25-.50, nitrite .25-.50. I didn't test the rest but this morning I saw he was out and moving and fully extended. I'm getting some Kent nano part a and b to dose the tank but what are y'all thoughts.

 

[Bigtex817]

I'm waiting to get a alk test kit and a ph kit also

 

[Kadee]

Your nh3 and no2 should be zero. I would do another wc. If it were me, I wouldn't worry about the dosing until I got rid of the ammonia and the nitrites. These should always be zero.

 

[Bigtex817]

Yeah I know. I think with me cleaning some of the sand bed I might have started a mini cycle and here soon I'm looking to getting a Nassaurus snail for my 13.5 fluval tank.

 

[Kadee]

Did you get him to eat yet?

 

[Bigtex817]

Nope I did what was said about thawing it with tank water and gently add it with a turkey baster but still no luck. The m thinking that something is wrong with my water parameters and I'm still trying to figure out why he isn't eating.

 

[Bigtex817]

I might try the raw shrimp like you said though next when he is fully expanded he is pretty big I'll try to get a pic of him when he is like that next time. Would you say his color is a little bleach d though.