How often does your BTA deflate/inflate?

[MarvinsReef]

okay, I know I've been asking a lot lately about BTA's but I just wanna learn as much as I can about these animals. I've been reading too and researching but I know that there's no harm in asking my friends here at R2R.

anyway, I've had my GBTA for about 3 weeks now. it was about 5"-6" expanded at the LFS. from what I can see, the split produced a smaller one and a bigger one. the bigger one last time I saw it fully expanded was about 3.5"-4". both GBTA have found their place and haven't moved since the split. the thing is they would be happy one day and fully deflated the next. I'm not sure if they're still recuperating from the split and at the same time, getting used to the tank. I've read that this is pretty normal when the animals are acclimating to their new home. but I'm still a little freaked out since I don't have too much experience with them.

as for the RBTA, I purchased 3 that were on the same rock. large (5"-6" expanded); medium (3.5"-4" expanded); small (2" expanded). they have all found their spot also and haven't moved for about 2 weeks now. I hope that they're also just acclimating to the new tank. I'm just amazed that one day they look so happy and the next, they're fully deflated and stay deflated for a whole photoperiod.

as of last night, only the large & small RBTA are happy. last night, they were both fully expanded and very "bulby". this morning, the the med RBTA looks to be inflating again so that's good. both GBTA are just stringy and haven't shown too much bulb since the split. I hope to come home to all the BTA's fully expanded. LoL

any input is appreciated.

 

[bige]

Mine would inflate deflate somethimes 2 or 3 times a day. Sometimes less. It would be 8 inches around and deflate down to the size of a half dollar coin. I noticed that the less I fed, the less it deflated. So once I stopped feeding, it would only deflate once a week or less. Thats my experience.

 

[returnofsid]

Just give them time. They'll all come around nicely. Yes, what your describing is typical behavior, after being moved to a new tank AND after splitting. Don't attempt to feed them, until they've completely formed new mouths.

My RBTA deflates, every night, to hide in the rockwork, expanding again, the next morning. Other than that, the only time it deflates is when it's stressed, from a split. Luckily, it hasn't split in a very long time. A few years ago, it would split about every 3 months.

 

[MarvinsReef]

Mine would inflate deflate somethimes 2 or 3 times a day. Sometimes less. It would be 8 inches around and deflate down to the size of a half dollar coin. I noticed that the less I fed, the less it deflated. So once I stopped feeding, it would only deflate once a week or less. Thats my experience.

Just give them time. They'll all come around nicely. Yes, what your describing is typical behavior, after being moved to a new tank AND after splitting. Don't attempt to feed them, until they've completely formed new mouths.

My RBTA deflates, every night, to hide in the rockwork, expanding again, the next morning. Other than that, the only time it deflates is when it's stressed, from a split. Luckily, it hasn't split in a very long time. A few years ago, it would split about every 3 months.

Thanks to both of you. it's one thing to read about it and it's one thing to get re assured with people on here. kinda makes me feel better. haha.

the good signs that I've read and what my BTA's are doing are:
- staying put on their current location
- not spitting their guts out
- tries to inflate

also, I haven't fed the GBTA since I also read to let them recuperate at least a few weeks after the split. I'll try to be patient more. just awesome to see it open up that one day and picturing the clowns playing with it. I'll keep yah guys posted tonight on how they look.

 

[nicodim55]

Every night when the lights go out.

 

[oigimsar]

I've been enjoying the new tank build.

Just to clarify, do you mean deflated or no bubbles? It seems that most of them deflate at least every couple of days. As I understand it, this is how they expel waste as well as replace their water. I have one that deflates every day and another that I have never seen deflated.

If you mean no bubbles, then that is an even greater mystery. I have anemones in the same tank and one is always bubbled up and the other never is...that has been true for the two years+ that I have had them. I have read they have a mind of their own and you just never know.

 

[MarvinsReef]

Every night when the lights go out.

yeah, I guess I should've mention besides lights out. LoL.

I've been enjoying the new tank build.

Just to clarify, do you mean deflated or no bubbles? It seems that most of them deflate at least every couple of days. As I understand it, this is how they expel waste as well as replace their water. I have one that deflates every day and another that I have never seen deflated.

If you mean no bubbles, then that is an even greater mystery. I have anemones in the same tank and one is always bubbled up and the other never is...that has been true for the two years+ that I have had them. I have read they have a mind of their own and you just never know.

deflated during the photoperiod hours. thanks for the input. I'll just have to wait and see how mine reacts in the tank. seems like it's different for every tank.