Rainbow BTA shrunken for weeks

[kamakazian]

So my bta has been super shrunken, tentacles are nubs and face is smaller than usual. I noticed it's having difficulty eating, as it used to grab ahold of food without hesitation. Now it seems it barely has any interest and won't respond to food. It did eat a frozen krill shrimp last week, but won't eat frozen oyster, mysis shrimp, or pellets. Any suggestions on how to encourage it to keep eating? I'm afraid I'm gonna lose the poor guy!

 

[Brewman1987]

Please read my old thread here, does this seem to look like your bta.? https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-experience-with-using-ciprofloxacin-to-save-a-bta.238518/


I followed @Amoo thread on how to use the cipro to treat https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/how-i-cipro.211822/

 

[Brewman1987]

Did you have any recent additions to the tank? How long has the tank been going for? What are your parameters and what type of lighting do you have it under?

Also do not try to feed it anymore. Forcing it food will only stress it out even more and they get most of there food from the lighting.

Brew

 

[kamakazian]

Did you have any recent additions to the tank? How long has the tank been going for? What are your parameters and what type of lighting do you have it under?

Also do not try to feed it anymore. Forcing it food will only stress it out even more and they get most of there food from the lighting.

Brew

I've been using api algaefix to get rid of byprosis, but hasn't helped much. Going to try the fluconazole when it comes in the mail... Would you suggest trying to pry it off the rock to quarantine it with the treatment you used?

Also, somewhat related.. I noticed my flower rock nem is losing color and a little shrunken, but only since I moved my rock scape and it's hidden from the light. Would i try to physically move it? Any suggestions on doing this gently?

 

[Brewman1987]

First how big is the rock that the BTA is on? If its small enough you could remove the rock and place in a 10 gallon for treatment with the bta to cause less stress. But honestly at this point when its at the weakest state removal should be rather easy. You can use a power head, turkey baster or even a old credit card to gently ease the foot away from the rock. Just go very slow and careful how you go about removing it. If the foot it torn at all, they most always are a goner.

On the rock flower it is most likely caused from being hidden from the lighting. Also as far as the algaefix, i haven't used that in a long long time so i really couldnt tell if its affecting the nems.

Hope this helps

Brew

 

[kamakazian]

First how big is the rock that the BTA is on? If its small enough you could remove the rock and place in a 10 gallon for treatment with the bta to cause less stress. But honestly at this point when its at the weakest state removal should be rather easy. You can use a power head, turkey baster or even a old credit card to gently ease the foot away from the rock. Just go very slow and careful how you go about removing it. If the foot it torn at all, they most always are a goner.

On the rock flower it is most likely caused from being hidden from the lighting. Also as far as the algaefix, i haven't used that in a long long time so i really couldnt tell if its affecting the nems.

Hope this helps

Brew

I'll try to order the meds you used... Any suggestions on where to get it for cheap? I'm always afraid I'll rip the foot, so maybe I'll just move the whole rock.

Do you think the flower nem will move itself? I'm worried it's cozy and won't bother moving, despite being in the shade

 

[kamakazian]

I should also mention that nitrates spiked since dosing the algae fix (probably from dead algae). Like around 160. Did a subsequent 40% water change. Everything else is good. My pH generally stays around 7.8, (but that's a battle I can't win without living somewhere else, O2 deficiency) and my alk is on the lower end around 7. I have it mostly under a AI 26HD light, which it seems to appreciate for the last 5 months or so. Not sure if any of these factors might be contributing to my sad little nem or not.

 

[Brewman1987]

I'll try to order the meds you used... Any suggestions on where to get it for cheap? I'm always afraid I'll rip the foot, so maybe I'll just move the whole rock.

Do you think the flower nem will move itself? I'm worried it's cozy and won't bother moving, despite being in the shade

For the medications just go onto eBay and search for FishFlox and you will be able to find it for relatively cheap. On the rock anemone I would just let it be for now and see if it does move on it's own. If it doesn't move within a few days for light then try and get it in some light. High nitrates could have a negative affect on a anemone,however I would perform another water change to try and lower to a more acceptable range. Is your po4 high as well?

 

[kamakazian]

For the medications just go onto eBay and search for FishFlox and you will be able to find it for relatively cheap. On the rock anemone I would just let it be for now and see if it does move on it's own. If it doesn't move within a few days for light then try and get it in some light. High nitrates could have a negative affect on a anemone,however I would perform another water change to try and lower to a more acceptable range. Is your po4 high as well?

Nope, the algae outbreak absorbs any possible po4 lol. It was always near 0 anyway. Thanks for all your help bro!