Please help. Is my BTA dying??

[Hunterbaker21]

Ok I literally just joined this forums and I know I'm probably not in the right thread or whatever but I really need someone to give me some advice, I have a 55g it's been up for 1 year, I bought a rather large BTA 2 months ago and it has been doing great, but I've never had one and I don't know a whole lot about them, it went from fully expanded hosting 2 clowns to completely closed up and the tentacles are super thin, looks like some clear thin slime strands coming out of it. Please, I really need some advice from someone who knows more about them, thank you for anything.

 

[Reeferdood]

Hard to say from the picture..
BTA's normally do better in rockwork versus being on the glass..
Is the mouth gaping wide open?

 

[Hunterbaker21]

I can't tell because it's literally closed completely, and it won't stay on rocks, it moves around 24/7, it hasn't stayed in the same spot for over a day since I've had it, I failed to mention that I fed it a piece of shrimp about the size of a pinky nail last night, I'm not sure if I messed up by doing that or what

 

[Reeferdood]

Well,
If it moves a lot it is not happy.. Both of my BTA's have been in the same area for a year...
Secret to keeping them off the glass is pit the rocks away from the glass, they usually don't move across the sand
He might just be expelling the shrimp too....

 

[Reeferdood]

 

[Hunterbaker21]

Wow that's pretty, and it went to the back glass first and it moved across the sand a good distance, it hasn't been back on rock since, and also it did come into contact with my tube anemone but idk if it hurt it or not, maybe that could be the reason?

 

[Diesel]

As @Reeferdood already mentioned, if the move a lot they'll not happy.
Can you show us some test results of your water?
ALK
PH
Po4
No3
Temp
Ammonia
Nitrite
Do you have any power heads in the tank?
If so you might want to turn them off till your BTA settles down.

 

[Hunterbaker21]

I turned off the light and it opened up but the tentacles are still not coming out, I can turn off the power heads but it will be tomorrow before I can do any tests, but should I turn them off or just turn them down alot?

 

[Diesel]

Off.
When your nem is on the move a lot you don't want him to find shredded up tomorrow morning.

 

[Hunterbaker21]

But he's always on the move, I kind of regret getting it in a way because I don't know much about them, but my clowns instantly hosted with it the day I put him in the tank, they have never left until today because they can't get in, but they haven't stopped trying yet lol. I turned the one closest to him off and turned the opposite side down a lot

 

[Reeferdood]

But he's always on the move, I kind of regret getting it in a way because I don't know much about them, but my clowns instantly hosted with it the day I put him in the tank, they have never left until today because they can't get in, but they haven't stopped trying yet lol. I turned the one closest to him off and turned the opposite side down a lot

You never know; the clowns might be upsetting the nem causing it to move..o_O

 

[muddydan]

Im a novice compared to most of the people in this forum but with both of my BTAs they moved around a lot in the beginning until they found their happy place then settled down. Like they said makensure the water and lighting is fine then be patient

 

[MCooper]

My bta has been hiding since placement 1 month ago and is becoming Tiny and white . Any advice? Water is good and everything else in tank is good

 

[jenreefer]

Nems need great lighting and to be fed once or twice weekly. Water parameters need to be stable. Even a .5 fluctuation in Alk at night can make them unhappy. Once they find a good spot and stay put, you are usually ok.

 

[MCooper]

Nems need great lighting and to be fed once or twice weekly. Water parameters need to be stable. Even a .5 fluctuation in Alk at night can make them unhappy. Once they find a good spot and stay put, you are usually ok.

Can't feed him as he is so tough to reach!

 

[muddydan]

If he's white it sounds like he's bleached and probably needs better lighting. They have photosynthetic symbiotic bacteria which helps give them color and dies off or gets expunged in poor lighting.

 

[MCooper]

If he's white it sounds like he's bleached and probably needs better lighting. They have photosynthetic symbiotic bacteria which helps give them color and dies off or gets expunged in poor lighting.

I don't think it is lighting as I have more then adequate lights in the tank with 3 hydra 26hd fixtures