What is wrong with my RBTA?

[pjdiddy]

What is wrong with my RBTA? Have it for about 5 months now and recently looking sad/sick. Tank is a little over a year old. Water parameters is on point except for the 20 Nitrate. My salinity is also a little off but not much. Its tank mates is just a pair of clown, which it hosts. It retracts sometimes, but the mouth is shut and the foot is still holding strong.

Also, it is under a Radion G4 pro in 60% intensity and about 8 inches above the water. Fed it a quarter of an inch of silverside last week with no problem. What do you guys is its problem? Thanks.

 

[Reef Jeff]

How soon after you fed it, did this behavior start? It is normal for an anemone to retract and deflate one to several days after consuming food. They do this just before they expell the waste. But, since your concerned, I assume you have fed it before and didn't see this behavior?

20 ppm nitrate is a bit higher than anemones need, although I have seen BTAs live at that level for a long time without much ill effect. Anemones need detectable nitrate, but I would still start small water changes to try to pull it down lower. Never-the-less, I don't think that is the root cause of what you are seeing right now. How is your PO4 level? What are your other tank parameters?

 

[Zack K]

I can personally tell you I do not believe is your NO3 and PO4 Levels. Did the Anemone go back to its normal state after a little while? If so it could just be getting ready to expel waste like @Reef Jeff said. Is there anything around him that sends out sweeper tentacles? Ex: Galaxeia, Torch, Acans. I have 3 Rainbow BTA’s and they are thriving in 160ppm Nitrates and 2.0 Phosphates. So that’s not the issue_To my understanding_
-Zack