new BTA

[Tx Medic]

Today I was given a BTA and after drip acclimating for over an hour and placing in the tank it has attached to the rock where I placed it reduced the lights for the rest of today and now about 6 hours after acclimation its mouth is wide open and it is very shriveled up and a very small bit of tentacle has come off of it but nothing else about it seems to be coming off or looks dead. All parameters are within normal ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate <10, phos 0.1 and coming down I am using some phosphate sponge by kent in my reactor. Is this normal for a newly added BTA?
I will add pictures when the lights come on tomorrow.

 

[Tx Medic]

went ahead and snapped a pic.

 

[Camellia]

Congrats!
She don't look to bad, just seems to be munching a little. The tentacle that came off probably got injured during the move. If it was just part of one or one, no biggie.
She should open up tomorrow when your lights come on.

 

[Tx Medic]

I am just worried because the mouth it's droopy, I'm guessing that is kinda normal for a newly added bta.

 

[Camellia]

After looking at it again, the mouth is huge! Did you feed anything tonight? I wish I could see it better, it almost looks like its splitting which they do sometimes when stressed.

 

[Tx Medic]

No I didn't feed it, he looked great when I got him but has had an open mouth after acclamation. It is wide open and kind of bulging. The foot it's firmly attached though

 

[Camellia]

It's not normal for a "new" but their mouths get very large when they eat and swell up like... its mouth is "blown" up.
I can't see it droopy but I'm on a iPad mini.

 

[Camellia]

That sounds ok, droopy didn't, lol

 

[Camellia]

Is your tank established? How long has it been up?

 

[Tx Medic]

It has not been up long enough and I know that it's very risky having a bta bit the fella that gave it to me was going to trash it because he is breaking down his tank do I figured it was better to give it a chance. Parameters are all stable and have been for a month and tank has been up for about 7 weeks

 

[Reefahholic]

I would run carbon if you are not already.

Make sure the salinity is on point.

Don't try to feed him. Just let him get settled in.

Tomorrow he should look a lot better. He's still acclimating to your tank.

This can take a few days sometimes.

Good luck with him!

 

[Reefahholic]

It has not been up long enough and I know that it's very risky having a bta bit the fella that gave it to me was going to trash it because he is breaking down his tank do I figured it was better to give it a chance. Parameters are all stable and have been for a month and tank has been up for about 7 weeks

If your tank has been up for 7 weeks, I'm sure that's why he's acting weird.

What size tank, lighting, flow, LR or DR, temp, etc?

 

[Tx Medic]

75g dt w/20g long sump aquatic life 4 bulb t5 ho ati bulbs. Used cured live rock and live sand for the top inch of a 4" DSB I also upgraded from a 29g do all the live rock was transferred to out also running 79 degrees medium to high flow throughout tank. Salinity is 1.026

 

[Camellia]

It has not been up long enough and I know that it's very risky having a bta bit the fella that gave it to me was going to trash it because he is breaking down his tank do I figured it was better to give it a chance. Parameters are all stable and have been for a month and tank has been up for about 7 weeks

Well you said it right, risky!
Do you have proper lighting for it?
Let us know how it looks when lights come on.
Hope she's ok, they are a pleasure in a mixed reef tank

 

[Camellia]

75g dt w/20g long sump aquatic life 4 bulb t5 ho ati bulbs. Used cured live rock and live sand for the top inch of a 4" DSB I also upgraded from a 29g do all the live rock was transferred to out also running 79 degrees medium to high flow throughout tank. Salinity is 1.026

Awww, upgrade nice to hear its not an all new 7 week set up!

 

[Reefahholic]

75g dt w/20g long sump aquatic life 4 bulb t5 ho ati bulbs. Used cured live rock and live sand for the top inch of a 4" DSB I also upgraded from a 29g do all the live rock was transferred to out also running 79 degrees medium to high flow throughout tank. Salinity is 1.026

Sounds like you are on the right track. Nems love T5's. I was running 54/W ATI's before I converted to LED's. My coral and Anemones loved them.

Just let your system mature, and do a lot of frequent WC's along the way. You should be fine with a BTA.

 

[chiblackhawks4]

I agree, stay on top of your WC's. 7 weeks is early but BTA's are hardier than most think. Youll get use to their ways and things that alarmed you at first will be recognized as normal behavior.

 

[KorD]

Try covering the water above the nem with some material to block most of the light... I was given that advice and it worked wonders for me.. Do a 10% water chance weekly until you know your tank is stable. and no food for the first week of having it.. or until the mouth stays closed for two days.

The entrusting thing is (and I know I will get grilled for this!)
I have seen nems do very well in a tank a mont to two months old... If you have great levels without a lot of swings, good/proper lighting, and do proper maintenance with the water you should have no problems...
It is like a tang should be kept in a tank only bigger then 55 gal... personally a small juvi tang can be kept in a 30 until it gets too big for the environment and it causes health risks to it.. I have personally seen a tang in a 30 gal tank that was extremely happy and has lived there for 6 years. (personally I would not try that, but he was the only fish in there)

Good luck with your nem!