RBTA Deflating Cycle

[Huskymaniac]

I had a few RBTA's mixed with a my green bta and both of the RBTA's started to go through a daily deflation and expelling xooanthelle cycle. I was able to save one with a cipro treatment and moved it into my other aquarium with the same RBTA's. Over the last few weeks it started to do the same thing again. Looks great in the morning and by mid day it's deflated again. Any recommendations on what to do? Do I treat with cipro again at 500mg instead of 250mg? Just leave it be?

 

[P-Dub]

Need more info on your setup. Tank age, parameters, other critters, placement, lighting, etc.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Need more info on your setup. Tank age, parameters, other critters, placement, lighting, etc.

It's a 25 gallon clownfiah lagoon. Anemone only. Parameters are in check. Lighting is with 2 ai primes.

 

[P-Dub]

It's a 25 gallon clownfiah lagoon. Anemone only. Parameters are in check. Lighting is with 2 ai primes.

What is in check? What is your lighting schedule? Where are they in the tank? How long have you had the tank set up? What test kits are you using?

 

[Huskymaniac]

It's not a tank or parameter issue. Just need to know if an rbta that starts the deflation cycle can bounce back without antibiotics.

 

[Spare time]

Bubbletips can deflate its not an issue. The main things to look for are completely retracted body, open/gaping mouth, and not being able to attach (or moving too much)

 

[Huskymaniac]

Bubbletips can deflate its not an issue. The main things to look for are completely retracted body, open/gaping mouth, and not being able to attach (or moving too much)

So it deflates after lights have been on for a few years. Retracts into a ball and then doesn't open back up until the next day. Repeating the same daily cycle.

 

[Uncle99]

What is deflation cycle?

From time to time, they deflate as they expel wastes, or when fed, but not a cycle

Poor water chemistry and short maturity is what contributes to the demise of most.

Impossible to diagnose without water history.

 

[Uncle99]

So it deflates after lights have been on for a few years. Retracts into a ball and then doesn't open back up until the next day. Repeating the same daily cycle.

Maybe it doesn’t like your light intensity or spectrum?
Deflates “after lights have been on for a few years”?
Can you reword that?
Is it just a day/night thing?
If so, that’s just normal.

 

[Huskymaniac]

What is deflation cycle?

From time to time, they deflate as they expel wastes, or when fed, but not a cycle

Poor water chemistry and short maturity is what contributes to the demise of most.

Impossible to diagnose without water history.

It's not a water or light issue. It's with 8 of the same anemones. I moved a couple a few months back into my other tank but they were not compatible with my green bta. I was able to save this one treating with 250mg of cipro. Moved it back into the original tank and it looked good for a month or so but is starting the deflating early in the day. Similar to what happened in the other tank.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Maybe it doesn’t like your light intensity or spectrum?

It's possible but wouldn't it move? Its expelling waste and I am definitly not feeding it.

 

[Spare time]

So it deflates after lights have been on for a few years. Retracts into a ball and then doesn't open back up until the next day. Repeating the same daily cycle.

Does it open up more in the evening? If it is only closed mid day, it might just be shielding from too much light. Again, I doubt this is big issue.


When you say deflate, does it become stretched out like spaghetti

 

[Huskymaniac]

Does it open up more in the evening? If it is only closed mid day, it might just be shielding from too much light. Again, I doubt this is big issue.


When you say deflate, does it become stretched out like spaghetti

Nope. It opens in the morning and looks great. After about 4 hours it deflates and expells xooanthelle doesn't open back up until the next day.

 

[Uncle99]

It's possible but wouldn't it move? Its expelling waste and I am definitly not feeding it.

That’s a bit weird IMM, open lights out, closed lights on.
Describe your lighting….

 

[Huskymaniac]

That’s a bit weird IMM, open lights out, closed lights on.
Describe your lighting….

On the left side I have a kessil A80. Right side an AI Prime. Nothing crazy. You can see the nem in the back.

 

[Spare time]

It's possible but wouldn't it move? Its expelling waste and I am definitly not feeding it.

Might not be enough of a reason to move.

Nope. It opens in the morning and looks great. After about 4 hours it deflates and expells xooanthelle doesn't open back up until the next day.

Out of curiosity, could you list your parameters. Again, not saying they are bad, I am just curious. If zooxanthellae is being expunged daily, after a few hours of photoactivity, that seems like it would be the anemone is not happy with its symbiont after a few hours. You can buy bottled zooxanthellae from phycopure, which would be fun to see if it helped. Alternatively, if nitrate or phosphate too high, it could be that the zooxanthellae are starting to compete with the anemone for a carbon source and thus being kicked out once the anemone detects that the zooxanthellae is getting out of control

 

[Huskymaniac]

Might not be enough of a reason to move.



Out of curiosity, could you list your parameters. Again, not saying they are bad, I am just curious. If zooxanthellae is being expunged daily, after a few hours of photoactivity, that seems like it would be the anemone is not happy with its symbiont after a few hours. You can buy bottled zooxanthellae from phycopure, which would be fun to see if it helped. Alternatively, if nitrate or phosphate too high, it could be that the zooxanthellae are starting to compete with the anemone for a carbon source and thus being kicked out once the anemone detects that the zooxanthellae is getting out of control

Both are 0. Have a very limited bio load in this tank. Just 4 baby skunk clowns from my mated pair. Like an 1/8 of an inch.

 

[Uncle99]

Both N and P zero?
That would be a definite problem.
All living things need Nitrate and phosphate as well as carbon,
Would be a slow demise.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Both N and P zero?
That would be a definite problem.
All living things need Nitrate and phosphate as well as carbon,
Would be a slow demise.

They are 0 but not really. I am growing algea. If I had a more accurate nitrate test I am sure it's like 1 or 2. I can certainly send out an ICP test but it's 1 anemone out of 8 so not a global tank issue.

 

[Huskymaniac]

Here is the anemone 1 hour after lights on.