Is my BTA Splitting

Drwsky · Jan 21, 2021

Hi all,

I recently purchased a BTA when I first brought him home he moved around just a little to find his favorite spot and bubble up. For the next 3-5 days I would notice he wouldn't be out much during the day and I wrote it up to him aculimating to the new lights because he would bubble up in the morning and night when blues we're on.

Yesterday I noticed he started climbing up my overflow and I hot worried he would get stuck so I pointed a return at him in hopes of easing him back down. Instead he just posted up in the corner.

Is he getting ready to split or possibly sick? I attached a current photo I didn't think to take one after he first settled in.

Thanks in advance!

rkpetersen · Jan 21, 2021

Nothing there to suggest it's going to split. Probably just moving around, trying to find a happy spot. If it's climbing to higher spots on the tank, it may be that it wants more light.

As the current location isn't great, you can 'reset' it by gently prying/peeling the foot off the glass there, being very careful not to tear it, and repositioning it elsewhere. If you're unsure of your ability to do it with your hand, an old credit card works pretty well to remove an anemone without harming it.

Drwsky · Jan 21, 2021

I checked on him this evening and found him shrivelled up with what looks to be a whole in the middle. Is there anything I should worry about?

rkpetersen · Jan 21, 2021

That doesn't look great. How old is your tank, and what are your tank parameters?

#reefsquad

Drwsky · Jan 21, 2021

Before I got him I checked and it was at 0 amonia, 5 nitrate, and 0 nitrites. The only thing I have done since I put him in is refill my ato with RO water I double checked my salinity and was at 1.026

ScottR · Jan 22, 2021

Do you have more info about your tank, system, lighting? Age of tank? Are you keeping any corals currently? Anemones usually are a bit finicky when they first go in and take time to get settled. They will move around before they find a happy spot but sometimes they end up in a powerhead or will hide under rocks. Definitely want to make sure you have a guard on any powerheads.

Drwsky · Jan 22, 2021

Sorry missed the question about the tanks age. It has been cycled since July and has a cuc, 3 yellow damsels, 1 photon clown, an purple Austrian hammer and purple and green Australian Duncan frag, with some nuclear green palys, finger and cabbage leather and some basic green zoa's and mushrooms. All corals seem to be healthy although I haven't been able to get all three heads of my Duncan to fully open since I've had it. I also have notices some green and blue corline algy growth on my rocks.

I checked on him before bed and seems to be looking better but still hanging out by the overflow.

rkpetersen · Jan 22, 2021

This looks a bit better. Given that it seems somewhat unhappy, might be best to just leave it there for now rather than trying to move it as I previously suggested. Don't try to feed it either, just leave it be. I'd probably put a piece of plastic mesh in front of those overflow slots too, at least temporarily.