What’s wrong with my RBTA?

[ChaoticQcumber]

How to make my RBTA happy?
I’ve had Alfred for about 4 months now and he was doing ok when I first put him in the tank. I did a water change like I normally would but I didn’t realize the alk was way too low and that upset him, but he made some small improvements after the parameters became stable. I do have a couple emerald crabs in there for bubble algae and one of them might have upset Alfred RBTA, but that was a few weeks ago now. He has now shrunk way back up into the rock work where he’s getting almost no light and has been tucked inside of himself. He’s still got his color and he’s firmly attached to the rock work; I’m just at a loss as to why he’s unhappy. I also have a LTA, a Derasa Clam, and two clowns in the same tank and they’re all thriving… I’ll attach pictures of the tank and poor Alfred, I’m really worried about him and I’m not sure what to do. Please help!

The last couple of pictures are of my tank and Wadsworth, my LTA. My two clowns are Charles and Hank (Darwin clown and DaVinci clown {we already have a Leonardo DaVinci clown in our big tank}). My clam is Alexander Clam Shell and he’s the newest edition. *My pictures are taken with orange glasses over the lens*

 

[KrisReef]

I don't know, but this old post may be helpful?

Anemone Compatibility??

Hey what anemones can live together without harming each other? I was thinking of doing a tank with carpets, BTA, and LTA. :)

www.reef2reef.com

 

[ChaoticQcumber]

I don't know, but this old post may be helpful?

Anemone Compatibility??

Hey what anemones can live together without harming each other? I was thinking of doing a tank with carpets, BTA, and LTA. :)

www.reef2reef.com

The RBTA has been in the tank and upset longer than I’ve had my LTA. I keep thinking that if I keep everything stable and happy that Alfred will come back out, but that has yet to be seen. I’ll check out the article though thank you!!

 

[KrisReef]

Just the specific post

The RBTA has been in the tank and upset longer than I’ve had my LTA. I keep thinking that if I keep everything stable and happy that Alfred will come back out, but that has yet to be seen. I’ll check out the article though thank you!!

about chemical warfare.

BBT's need lots of light and they like to eat regularly to stay "puffy." When they wander and crawl in a hole they are not feeling alright. HOpe yours snaps out of it.

 

[ChaoticQcumber]

Just the specific post

about chemical warfare.

BBT's need lots of light and they like to eat regularly to stay "puffy." When they wander and crawl in a hole they are not feeling alright. HOpe yours snaps out of it.

Is there anything I can do to help him out? I’ve been increasing my light steadily and I was feeding him fairly regularly, but I’ve seen other posts saying not to feed them if they’re shrunk up like that…

I’m super new to this, the other tank is my boyfriends and he does all the corals and whatnot, but I prefer the fun critters. So we’re both new to the nems but not keeping stable parameters and general tank things if that makes sense. The LTA hasn’t been stressed or even near the RBTA so I’m not sure they even know the other one is there, I keep a lot of space for them so they don’t ever have to fight for space or food or anything. I really hope he snaps out of this too!

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Sorry if you already mentioned this, but how long has he been like this? IME, they can do this when they're unhappy, and then come out when they feel better. If it starts to melt, or let's go of the rock, that's when you have to worry.

 

[ChaoticQcumber]

Sorry if you already mentioned this, but how long has he been like this? IME, they can do this when they're unhappy, and then come out when they feel better. If it starts to melt, or let's go of the rock, that's when you have to worry.

He’s been like this for the past month, maybe two months… I’m assuming he’s unhappy but I’m worried about him getting enough light. Everything else in the tank is super happy and my parameters have been stable, I haven’t changed anything since I got my parameters in check. He’s strongly attached to that rock and still has his color, he’s just shrunk up. I’m not really sure what else to do to help him.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

He’s been like this for the past month, maybe two months… I’m assuming he’s unhappy but I’m worried about him getting enough light. Everything else in the tank is super happy and my parameters have been stable, I haven’t changed anything since I got my parameters in check. He’s strongly attached to that rock and still has his color, he’s just shrunk up. I’m not really sure what else to do to help him.

Wow, okay. That's pretty long. They can take awhile to get comfortable though. One day you might wake up and he'll be out, front and center. Just keep watching him, make sure he stays colorful, attached to the rock and isn't melting. Good luck :)

 

[ChaoticQcumber]

Wow, okay. That's pretty long. They can take awhile to get comfortable though. One day you might wake up and he'll be out, front and center. Just keep watching him, make sure he stays colorful, attached to the rock and isn't melting. Good luck :)

I’ve had him for about 4 months now and he was comfy, it was just when we did a water change that tanked my alk that he shrunk up, but that was a while ago. Should I increase my lights? That’s the only thing I can think of that might make any changes.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I’ve had him for about 4 months now and he was comfy, it was just when we did a water change that tanked my alk that he shrunk up, but that was a while ago. Should I increase my lights? That’s the only thing I can think of that might make any changes.

I wouldn't. You have an LTA and clam that are both happy. Generally you don't want to make a change to your tank to make one thing happy. If the anemone wanted more light, he'd come out for some. He's hiding in a cave because he most likely wants less light. :)

 

[ChaoticQcumber]

I wouldn't. You have an LTA and clam that are both happy. Generally you don't want to make a change to your tank to make one thing happy. If the anemone wanted more light, he'd come out for some. He's hiding in a cave because he most likely wants less light. :)

I’ll keep watching him, thank you!

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I’ll keep watching him, thank you!

Your welcome! Keep us updated!

 

[Rocks reef]

What size tank is it? You can keep mixed anemones in a tank, however, sometimes there is chemical warfare. Yes, RBTA and LTA are 'anemones', but that doesn't mean they will always play nicely together. This may very well be a case of chemical warfare and the RBTA lost.

 

[ChaoticQcumber]

What size tank is it? You can keep mixed anemones in a tank, however, sometimes their is chemical warfare. Yes, RBTA and LTA are 'anemones', but that doesn't mean they will always play nicely together. This may very well be a case of chemical warfare and the RBTA lost.

It’s a 20gal water box. I believe the RBTA was outgunned during some chemical warfare unfortunately.

 

[Rocks reef]

It’s a 20gal water box. I believe the RBTA was outgunned during some chemical warfare unfortunately.

I agree!

 

[jcmjoe]

Does he come out and inflate more as your lights go dimmer or at night? I agree with walkerlovestheocean, I would not increase the light.