New BTA in acclimation box looking STRESSED.

[jayteerq]

Hey guys I had a BTA shipped to me and right out the box it looked stressed. Mouth wide open. I wanted it in this acclimation box but I’m afraid it cuts down the flow too much. Do you think low flow would be okay for the BTA or should I scratch the box and just place it on my rock? Picture was taken soon as I put it in the tank. Should I give it a few days? Then if I see no progress then move it to the rocks? Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[KrisReef]

I've kept bubble tips in a Shu for weeks without issue. My man-made clownfish don't know what a nem is and I left them and the nem together for weeks until I gave up.

Do not try to feed the nem anything until the mouth is properly sealed up. Gaping is there way of doing a water change and acclimation. Adding food means they have to expend energy to digest the food and they are better off getting settled in first.

If you have clownfish in the tank already, and if they know what a nem is then letting the nem go could be a boost for it IFF the clownfish move into it. Tending clownfish are better care takers than we are, ime.

If you don't have clownfish, dont complicate the situation by getting them in hopes of getting help. Counter intuitive but just my opinion that keeping things simple is the safest way to make progress, one change at a time.

Give it a day and see if it isn't sitting upright.

Also, to my eye that may not be a bubbletip,(?) and if it's something else it may want to be treated @OrionN? has a method for "carpets" that aids with their survival.

Only mention the last part, just in case. I know traveling anemones can get pretty disfigured from the shipping stress. My Bubble tips often don't look very "bubbly" but my worry is more about the huge gapping mouth and that looks more like other nems, to my poor eyesight.

 

[jayteerq]

I've kept bubble tips in a Shu for weeks without issue. My man-made clownfish don't know what a nem is and I left them and the nem together for weeks until I gave up.

Do not try to feed the nem anything until the mouth is properly sealed up. Gaping is there way of doing a water change and acclimation. Adding food means they have to expend energy to digest the food and they are better off getting settled in first.

If you have clownfish in the tank already, and if they know what a nem is then letting the nem go could be a boost for it IFF the clownfish move into it. Tending clownfish are better care takers than we are, ime.

If you don't have clownfish, dont complicate the situation by getting them in hopes of getting help. Counter intuitive but just my opinion that keeping things simple is the safest way to make progress, one change at a time.

Give it a day and see if it isn't sitting upright.

Also, to my eye that may not be a bubbletip,(?) and if it's something else it may want to be treated @OrionN? has a method for "carpets" that aids with their survival.

Only mention the last part, just in case. I know traveling anemones can get pretty disfigured from the shipping stress. My Bubble tips often don't look very "bubbly" but my worry is more about the huge gapping mouth and that looks more like other nems, to my poor eyesight.

Hey! Thanks for the awesome insight! The reason it’s in the acclimation box is for the goal of eventually getting my clowns introduced the the nem. Not anytime soon though.. here’s how the anemone looked before shipment. This was sent to me by the vendor. It’s the piece on the left. Happy as ever. I feel bad now but it’s only been a few hours. Looked like the nem was pooping so maybe he was extra stressed. I’m hoping it’ll do better by morning. We’ll see. The other anemone (right side in the photo) is doing great lol.

 

[jayteerq]

That’s too bad though ): I was hoping acclimation box would for sure get the relationship going

 

[KrisReef]

Hey! Thanks for the awesome insight! The reason it’s in the acclimation box is for the goal of eventually getting my clowns introduced the the nem. Not anytime soon though.. here’s how the anemone looked before shipment. This was sent to me by the vendor. It’s the piece on the left. Happy as ever. I feel bad now but it’s only been a few hours. Looked like the nem was pooping so maybe he was extra stressed. I’m hoping it’ll do better by morning. We’ll see. The other anemone (right side in the photo) is doing great lol.

Those look fine. If it keeps looking stressed in your tank, not knowing anything about it I would put in a PolyFilter in to collect any toxins that might be stressing the nem or that it might be releasing. Assuming your salt water parameters are reasonably close to seawater I wouldn't recommend anything else.
I have often wondered how many people would ship animals in a bag if they had ever been shipped in the mail that way themselves?

I can think it would be a good way to travel.