attack of the rbta

I2onL33 · 09/18/2009, 08:41 AM

i just picked up a rbta. it has been on a rampage since. it continues to "walk" and attack my corals - mushrooms and ricordea.what can i do? confine it? i dont want to get rid of it. i've had one before but it didn't attack like this one does.thanks.

Sugar Magnolia · 09/18/2009, 08:46 AM

It's trying to find a spot to settle down in. There's really not much you can do, other than cover any powerheads so it doesn't get sucked in. Mine wandered around for three weeks until it found a spot it liked.

fishyfood · 09/18/2009, 08:56 AM

Yeah, mine did the same thing as Sugar's. One day it walked up the overflow and almost got sucked into the Tunze. It lost a tentacle and a day or two later, seemed to find a spot where it settled for years, happily perched and eventually splitting.

I2onL33 · 09/18/2009, 09:09 AM

so i just have to wait till it settles? can i force it to settle by confining it? ive already lost mushrooms and ricordeas. dont want to lose anything else.

spw4949 · 09/18/2009, 09:31 AM

Unfortunately you just have to wait until it finds a spot, mine took about 2 weeks, damaged my torch, killed a few shrooms, finally has found a spot it likes....their so cool to look at but can be such a PIA, if it wasn't for my maroon I probably wouldn't have one.....

bradleym · 09/18/2009, 09:39 AM

I have a RBTA in a 15g tank and it only moved for two days. I got an intense 40w dual cfl to make sure it has plenty of healthy lighting, and I set up my water flow til it's tentacles waved about as much as a big old healthy one at my lfs. Not very scientific, but the 2 things its looking for are proper water movement sufficient lighting for photosynthesis. If it finds those it should settle down. Also a good food source helps, so maybe if you give it a snack when it goes where you want it? LOL

To be honest, I might just have gotten lucky, but that's what worked for me.

spw4949 · 09/18/2009, 10:17 AM

I think you got lucky but there's nothing wrong with that, you need a little bit of luck in this hobby

Playa-1 · 09/18/2009, 06:46 PM

I agree, cover the powerheads and make sure your water parameters are very stable. If the Anemone gets unhappy it will move. Many things can make the Anemone unhappy and cause it to want to move. Once it start moving it can damage other livestock in its way and is very susceptible to being sucked into a powerhead and shredded. A shredded Anemone in your tank can cause serious water quality issues very fast and then you have real problems. Don't be surprised if it moves to the back of the tank and crawls under a rock. Gotta luv Anemones

susan92368 · 09/18/2009, 07:02 PM

you're not trying to move it around are ya? that will bring its demise for sure. It should settle down soon. just let it be, move your corals up so it doesnt sting them.

mtisc323 · 09/18/2009, 09:37 PM

You can also confine it with a fish net and tie the fishnet to a rock you want it to stick to ... If you keep it confined fora week or so its foot should take hold, and when you take the netting off, hope its happy enough there to stay

Wilku · 09/18/2009, 10:09 PM

My attached over night. I guess I was very lucky. And it only moved about 2".

09/18/2009, 08:41 AM	#1
I2onL33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 71	attack of the rbta i just picked up a rbta. it has been on a rampage since. it continues to "walk" and attack my corals - mushrooms and ricordea.what can i do? confine it? i dont want to get rid of it. i've had one before but it didn't attack like this one does.thanks. __________________ Lee. Current Tank Info: 58gal

09/18/2009, 08:46 AM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	It's trying to find a spot to settle down in. There's really not much you can do, other than cover any powerheads so it doesn't get sucked in. Mine wandered around for three weeks until it found a spot it liked. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/18/2009, 09:09 AM	#4
I2onL33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 71	so i just have to wait till it settles? can i force it to settle by confining it? ive already lost mushrooms and ricordeas. dont want to lose anything else. __________________ Lee. Current Tank Info: 58gal

09/18/2009, 09:31 AM	#5
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	Unfortunately you just have to wait until it finds a spot, mine took about 2 weeks, damaged my torch, killed a few shrooms, finally has found a spot it likes....their so cool to look at but can be such a PIA, if it wasn't for my maroon I probably wouldn't have one..... __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

09/18/2009, 09:39 AM	#6
bradleym Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Shrewsbury/St. Louis, Mo Posts: 3,878	I have a RBTA in a 15g tank and it only moved for two days. I got an intense 40w dual cfl to make sure it has plenty of healthy lighting, and I set up my water flow til it's tentacles waved about as much as a big old healthy one at my lfs. Not very scientific, but the 2 things its looking for are proper water movement sufficient lighting for photosynthesis. If it finds those it should settle down. Also a good food source helps, so maybe if you give it a snack when it goes where you want it? LOL To be honest, I might just have gotten lucky, but that's what worked for me. __________________ Happy reefing means sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Current Tank Info: 92g corner round. No sand, lots of mushrooms.

09/18/2009, 08:56 AM	#3
fishyfood Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Westford, MA Posts: 30	Yeah, mine did the same thing as Sugar's. One day it walked up the overflow and almost got sucked into the Tunze. It lost a tentacle and a day or two later, seemed to find a spot where it settled for years, happily perched and eventually splitting.

09/18/2009, 10:17 AM	#7
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	I think you got lucky but there's nothing wrong with that, you need a little bit of luck in this hobby __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

09/18/2009, 06:46 PM	#8
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I agree, cover the powerheads and make sure your water parameters are very stable. If the Anemone gets unhappy it will move. Many things can make the Anemone unhappy and cause it to want to move. Once it start moving it can damage other livestock in its way and is very susceptible to being sucked into a powerhead and shredded. A shredded Anemone in your tank can cause serious water quality issues very fast and then you have real problems. Don't be surprised if it moves to the back of the tank and crawls under a rock. Gotta luv Anemones

09/18/2009, 07:02 PM	#9
susan92368 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Macomb, MI Posts: 79	you're not trying to move it around are ya? that will bring its demise for sure. It should settle down soon. just let it be, move your corals up so it doesnt sting them.

09/18/2009, 09:37 PM	#10
mtisc323 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 53	You can also confine it with a fish net and tie the fishnet to a rock you want it to stick to ... If you keep it confined fora week or so its foot should take hold, and when you take the netting off, hope its happy enough there to stay

09/18/2009, 10:09 PM	#11
Wilku Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 8	My attached over night. I guess I was very lucky. And it only moved about 2".