RBTA beyond repair?

[Reefer Dan]

Last night my RBTA decided to move around and I woke up to it looking like this. Is it beyond repair?

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Last night my RBTA decided to move around and I woke up to it looking like this. Is it beyond repair?

Moving around it usually a sign its not happy. You don't mention water parameters, lighting, if perhaps it got into pump... if it was mine, I'd do tank water change then use some type of box allowing good flow thru it, put RBTA in box in tank, and monitor.

 

[Reefer Dan]

Moving around it usually a sign its not happy. You don't mention water parameters, lighting, if perhaps it got into pump... if it was mine, I'd do tank water change then use some type of box allowing good flow thru it, put RBTA in box in tank, and monitor.

I’m battling dinos, but otherwise parameters are ok:
Nitrate: 5
Phos:0.17
Calcium: 400
Alk 7.7
Mg 1290
Temp 78F

I have been holding off on water changes because of the dinos, but I am thinking of doing a 20% water change today due to the anemone situation.

That’s a good idea, I have a urine collection cup I will drill holes through and put it back in the tank that way.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

suspecting either light or flow (too much, too little) caused him to wonder... Given what you quoted for water parameters you likely have corals, so that rules out lights.... makes me think flow.

Mine like my MP40 set at 1/3 (low end of third), tentacles 4" off center from MP40 and about 10" away from MP40.. don't know what that equates to ... tried taking some photos to better help with these placement descriptions

 

[Fish Think Pink]

suspecting either light or flow (too much, too little) caused him to wonder... Given what you quoted for water parameters you likely have corals, so that rules out lights.... makes me think flow.

Mine like my MP40 set at 1/3 (low end of third), tentacles 4" off center from MP40 and about 10" away from MP40.. don't know what that equates to ... tried taking some photos to better help with these placement descriptions

that photo straight on, if you notice the 'cup' in photo 3 (clown photobomb)... we built 6 cups from reef mortar on rocks to encourage our anemones to stop wondering and killing corals. We built cups and rocks where they liked to be. I also helps that we reduced our RBTA count by over half... Currently just 1 ultra red, 4 RBTA & in QT white one (that I think was bleached/dying when BF bought - but he's convinced is special white one he got deal on...))

Two of my RBTAs are showing signs they want to split into more... usually every 2-3 months one balls up, when they do they ball up for 2 days... then POOF another in my tank (was up to 13 last Fall.) SO, since I'm used to seeing mine ball up, I'm not to concerned. Do not want you to think your concern is misplaced. Never had them wonder around THEN ball up, so agree something isn't right for your RBTA

I've heard of peppermint shrimp pulling off tentacles, but also heard they'll recover. Something likely stressed your RBTA and resting in the device you are making should help it recover

 

[Reefer Dan]

that photo straight on, if you notice the 'cup' in photo 3 (clown photobomb)... we built 6 cups from reef mortar on rocks to encourage our anemones to stop wondering and killing corals. We built cups and rocks where they liked to be. I also helps that we reduced our RBTA count by over half... Currently just 1 ultra red, 4 RBTA & in QT white one (that I think was bleached/dying when BF bought - but he's convinced is special white one he got deal on...))

Two of my RBTAs are showing signs they want to split into more... usually every 2-3 months one balls up, when they do they ball up for 2 days... then POOF another in my tank (was up to 13 last Fall.) SO, since I'm used to seeing mine ball up, I'm not to concerned. Do not want you to think your concern is misplaced. Never had them wonder around THEN ball up, so agree something isn't right for your RBTA

I've heard of peppermint shrimp pulling off tentacles, but also heard they'll recover. Something likely stressed your RBTA and resting in the device you are making should help it recover

Yeah it has been acting funny for a week and it did attach to a weird spot so I was expecting it to move soon... I put it into the cup and it started moving and is trying to attach the foot.... but then my cleaner shrimp has been trying to pick it to pieces so I’m not sure where to go from here.

 

[Fish Think Pink]

Yeah it has been acting funny for a week and it did attach to a weird spot so I was expecting it to move soon... I put it into the cup and it started moving and is trying to attach the foot.... but then my cleaner shrimp has been trying to pick it to pieces so I’m not sure where to go from here.

Is that a peppermint shrimp species? I wouldn't think of them as "cleaner" though they do act as part of cleanup crew so some would say that about a peppermint. Asking because peppermints eat aiptasia anemones... so its not much of a mental stretch to go after RBTAs. When its happened, I've heard RBTAs do heal from peppermints even if multiple tentacles ripped off and eaten

Give shrimp extra food to keep it distracted a bit - once anemone is back to health shrimp may leave it alone but when anemone was wondering and stresses, well shrimp are opportunistic and love to eat... My BF bought me a new years "gift" of bleached anemone that I seem to recall my skunk cleaner shrimp was rolling and cleaning (or trying to eat...), but once I had it in cup skunk left it alone (its since been moved into my QT... he keeps insisting its 'special' rare white... which should still have tips with color but he believes LFS over internet and me... despite more frequent feedings these past few months, anemone shrinking and dying - I did NOT feed it part of live anemone which may have helped replace its lost zooxanthellae but only just came across that tip - today I need to decide if its too far gone to try)

Get a lid for your container... this means you've now got to put water flow slices thru sides and top of container.

If the container you have isn't designed for lid, brainstorm. Check your recycle and see if you threw out a large clear juice container... Once the anemone heals inside there, you'll have to cut it apart to get it out... but it was in recycling already. If you don't have anything you are willing to slice up for water flow, I've seen people (for acclimation boxes) buy plastic Critter Keepers from big box pet store and use dremel to slice holes in sides (top already has holes for flow since its really for terrestrial pets that need air <wink>

Know you'll keep us posted.