Black Widow tentacles shrunk and markings missing?

[jcmjoe]

Ok guys, has anybody had their BTA look like this? The one half of its tentacles have almost shrunk to nothing and it lost like 5 of the white markings around its oral disc!

Its mouth is closed, its foot is firmly attached and not moving around and it still eats . The tank is a 5 year old mixed reef, I have not changed anything in at least a year. Everything else in the tank is thriving.

Salinity 1.026
Mag 1300
Calcium 400
Alk. 8
Nitrates 10
Phosphate .02
Temp 78

I dose all for reef and ATO with only RODI.

It went from having flowing tentacles to this in a week and I have no idea what happened.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Best of luck to you and your Black Widow BTA. I wish I could help, but I have no idea what is wrong with yours.

I bought one 2 years ago and now have 5 of them. The first time it split it did a 2 for one, so I had 3. They are all bigger and more flowing than I ever expected them to be. The 2 newer ones are still smaller and doing well.

 

[jcmjoe]

Best of luck to you and your Black Widow BTA. I wish I could help, but I have no idea what is wrong with yours.

I bought one 2 years ago and now have 5 of them. The first time it split it did a 2 for one, so I had 3. They are all bigger and more flowing than I ever expected them to be. The 2 newer ones are still smaller and doing well.

Thank you! I have no idea either. I’ve had it a year and it has doubled in size since I got it. That’s why it’s so odd, I know anemones throw tantrums some times then the next day their beautiful again, but this is almost like something has irritated it just on the one side.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Thank you! I have no idea either. I’ve had it a year and it has doubled in size since I got it. That’s why it’s so odd, I know anemones throw tantrums some times then the next day their beautiful again, but this is almost like something has irritated it just on the one side.

You are absolutely right about anemones having some strange behaviors. Some can last for days. Do you have anything in the tank that might have upset it?

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Well this is the first time I've seen one look like this. Maybe an infection of some sort? It clearly has a strong foot still and still bubbling. So that's a good sign. I'd keep an eye on it.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Best of luck to you and your Black Widow BTA. I wish I could help, but I have no idea what is wrong with yours.

I bought one 2 years ago and now have 5 of them. The first time it split it did a 2 for one, so I had 3. They are all bigger and more flowing than I ever expected them to be. The 2 newer ones are still smaller and doing well.

Mine just keeps getting fatter. It makes my rbtas split. Was hoping they would force it to split.

 

[jcmjoe]

You are absolutely right about anemones having some strange behaviors. Some can last for days. Do you have anything in the tank that might have upset it?

Not that I can think of? I don’t think it’s a chemical warfare type of deal, the only other anemones are a couple rock flowers. I do have 2 leather corals but they aren’t right up beside it and they have been in the tank as long as the Black widow. It’s on its own rock with nothing near it that would sting it or anything. No new fish or inverts in a couple months.

 

[jcmjoe]

Just an update, still no change, it eats, has a strong foot , hosts my one clown , just had the tentacles on one half disappear. The tanks is super stable and everything else is thriving. It never has its mouth open except for a day or so after a big meal to poop, it’s just weird.

 

[jcmjoe]

Here’s a more recent photo, it’s still eating fine and well tended by a cinnamon clown and Banghi Cardinal fish haha. I guess I’ll just keep my water as stable as I can and keep feeding it. So weird

 

[SilverGryphon]

Have you adjusted the light spectrum recently? Mine got really upset when I drop the white channel down to combat some algae issues I had.

 

[jcmjoe]

Have you adjusted the light spectrum recently? Mine got really upset when I drop the white channel down to combat some algae issues I had.

I have not, but thank you for helping me brainstorm this!

 

[D-Nak]

How big is the clownfish in comparison to the BTA? Cinnamon clowns can be very abusive to anemones, especially if they're larger than what the anemone can handle.

 

[jcmjoe]

How big is the clownfish in comparison to the BTA? Cinnamon clowns can be very abusive to anemones, especially if they're larger than what the anemone can handle.

The clown is approximately 1/3 the size of the anemone, and yes, its loves it to death at times

 

[Goaway]

Any kind of crabs or shrimp?

 

[jcmjoe]

Any kind of crabs or shrimp?

I have hermit crabs, sexy shrimp and a gold band shrimp

 

[D-Nak]

The clown is approximately 1/3 the size of the anemone, and yes, its loves it to death at times

If the clown is constantly rubbing itself on the anemone, especially in a way that is irritating it, it could be the cause of the tentacles not expanding on one side.

 

[jcmjoe]

If the clown is constantly rubbing itself on the anemone, especially in a way that is irritating it, it could be the cause of the tentacles not expanding on one side.

I’ll pay closer attention, that very well may be the issue. The clown spends most of its time in a huge hammer colony I have , but maybe it is the reason ? Thank you very much!

 

[Ron Reefman]

If the clown is constantly rubbing itself on the anemone, especially in a way that is irritating it, it could be the cause of the tentacles not expanding on one side.

I have a colorful RFA that had a Black Widow Bubble Tip anemone settle down very nearby. The BTA tentacles just started to reach the RFA and the RFA changed. The RFA tentacles retracted and changed color. It got moved after a few months and now, 2 weeks after the move, the RFA still looks the same. I'd wager that it will take months for the RFA to get back to normal.

 

[jcmjoe]

I have a colorful RFA that had a Black Widow Bubble Tip anemone settle down very nearby. The BTA tentacles just started to reach the RFA and the RFA changed. The RFA tentacles retracted and changed color. It got moved after a few months and now, 2 weeks after the move, the RFA still looks the same. I'd wager that it will take months for the RFA to get back to normal.

Thank you for sharing! My Black widow has not got worse, it’s kinda just staying the same. I appreciate everybodies input