BTA shriveled

[chefJosh]

Does anyone know why my BTA will randomly look like this for a few hours of the day and then go back to normal?
I feed him every other day just a few mysis and have had him for 2 years.
Any help would be appreciated

my parameters
Nitrates – 3
CA – 450
ALK – 8.4
MG – 1410
PO4 – 0.01

 

[sunken3]

they have a tendency to shrivel up and expand all the time, but the mouth on yours doesn't look too good.

 

[DenverSaltyFarm]

Typically they will deflate to expel waste from the mouth. Try cutting back feeding to once a week and should stay inflated. I propagate Chicago sunbursts and about 2 days after I feed they deflate expel the waste then puff back up to normal. Takes a few hours.

If it stays deflated for a long period then something else bad is going on typically a bacterial infection

 

[chefJosh]

Thank you. I thought it was good to feed often.

 

[DenverSaltyFarm]

Thank you. I thought it was good to feed often.

Yes you can to get it to grow faster with feeding but there is a line where feeding too much can kill the anemone. With good lighting anemones don’t need to be fed at all they will rely on zooxanthellae alone and tend to brighten up stay healthy just won’t grow as fast.

In contrary if the tank is under lit or the wrong lighting and you don’t feed then typically the anemone will bleach out

 

[Phil D.]

I have 16 California Rainbow BTAs in 2 tanks, and don't feed at all.