BTA Acting Oddly?

layer3switchguy · 11/21/2006, 02:47 PM

Folks,

I've had a BTA in my tank for about 2 weeks now. At first she was pretty shy and hid under a rock. After a few days she emerged and seemed to be doing well. Her typical routine was to shrivel up at night and hide under a rock, and when the lights came on in the day, eventually emerge and by mid afternoon would be fully exposed and rather large. The BTA followed this routine every day for a little over a week. I even saw her eat some mysis shrimp at one point...

Now the routine has changed, and she's spending about half the day exposed and half the day under the rock. I have it placed on the sandbed, attached to the side of a rock, in a moderate to high flow area.

Is this normal, or should I be concerned??

Thanks,
L3

Randall_James · 11/21/2006, 02:57 PM

In a new tank, no telling as these animals have about a 2% survival rate for wild captured.

A tank really should be a year old before adding one of these guys as the chemistry is just too unstable

you are going to need to post your exact water parameters

layer3switchguy · 11/21/2006, 04:18 PM

Thanks,

Water parameters look good:

NH4 - <0.25 mg/l
NO3 - 0.2 ppm
Alk - 4.23
CA - 410
MG - 1380

Water changes done every other week. Auto topoff with Kalk dispenser.

Cheers,
L3

Randall_James · 11/21/2006, 05:06 PM

Most do not really like strong flow from my experience, most will simply move to a better spot if they are not happy. I would try some small pieces of silversides or raw shrimp and see if it will eat. If it will not take the food, try again a day latter

I would not try to move it or anything else that might cause more stress.

Salinity should be close to nsw 1.025

layer3switchguy · 11/21/2006, 05:25 PM

Thanks. Wish me luck....

11/21/2006, 02:47 PM	#1
layer3switchguy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southern NJ Posts: 843	BTA Acting Oddly? Folks, I've had a BTA in my tank for about 2 weeks now. At first she was pretty shy and hid under a rock. After a few days she emerged and seemed to be doing well. Her typical routine was to shrivel up at night and hide under a rock, and when the lights came on in the day, eventually emerge and by mid afternoon would be fully exposed and rather large. The BTA followed this routine every day for a little over a week. I even saw her eat some mysis shrimp at one point... Now the routine has changed, and she's spending about half the day exposed and half the day under the rock. I have it placed on the sandbed, attached to the side of a rock, in a moderate to high flow area. Is this normal, or should I be concerned?? Thanks, L3 __________________ 120g Oceanic Tech (48x24x24) 90lbs of Live Rock ATB Small Cone ATI 8 Bulb Powermodule (T5) 2 Vortech MP40W Prodibio Profilux P3ex Controlled Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech

11/21/2006, 02:57 PM	#2
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	In a new tank, no telling as these animals have about a 2% survival rate for wild captured. A tank really should be a year old before adding one of these guys as the chemistry is just too unstable you are going to need to post your exact water parameters __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

11/21/2006, 04:18 PM	#3
layer3switchguy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southern NJ Posts: 843	Thanks, Water parameters look good: NH4 - <0.25 mg/l NO3 - 0.2 ppm Alk - 4.23 CA - 410 MG - 1380 Water changes done every other week. Auto topoff with Kalk dispenser. Cheers, L3 __________________ 120g Oceanic Tech (48x24x24) 90lbs of Live Rock ATB Small Cone ATI 8 Bulb Powermodule (T5) 2 Vortech MP40W Prodibio Profilux P3ex Controlled Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech

11/21/2006, 05:06 PM	#4
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Most do not really like strong flow from my experience, most will simply move to a better spot if they are not happy. I would try some small pieces of silversides or raw shrimp and see if it will eat. If it will not take the food, try again a day latter I would not try to move it or anything else that might cause more stress. Salinity should be close to nsw 1.025 __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

11/21/2006, 05:25 PM	#5
layer3switchguy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Southern NJ Posts: 843	Thanks. Wish me luck.... __________________ 120g Oceanic Tech (48x24x24) 90lbs of Live Rock ATB Small Cone ATI 8 Bulb Powermodule (T5) 2 Vortech MP40W Prodibio Profilux P3ex Controlled Current Tank Info: 120g Oceanic Tech