what's going on with my rtba?

Buffcole · 09/05/2012, 09:10 PM

I bought this beautiful rtba.

http://s1269.photobucket.com/albums/...t=eb0d5019.jpg

A week and a half later....I find it looking like this.

He did travel to the back of the tank and I don't know if he is splitting or dying. Can someone help??

http://s1269.photobucket.com/albums/...t=711eb701.jpg

Thanks!

scarface70706 · 09/05/2012, 10:38 PM

is that his mouth or his foot?

skyline377 · 09/05/2012, 10:40 PM

If it is a RBTA in the first pic it looks like it's bleaching, the second pic looks like it's a goner.

Dapg8gt · 09/05/2012, 10:51 PM

Agreed the first pic does look like its really bleached out.. Was it a green bubble or a rose cause the pic looks like it is yellow or green vs pink.. Last pic is the nem turned inside out most likely it's on it's last leg and dying.

Does it have a bad smell to it? when you bought it were the tentacles sticky at all. I had a friend who decided to start a tank after seing mine and went out and was sold a nano and water from a shady Store and they sent him home with everything including an anemone and that's exactly what happened to his. I have read on here of them actually recovering from it but not sure. How's your parameters?

TealCobra · 09/06/2012, 08:38 AM

Definitely looks bad. Can you post some information about your tank such as lighting, parameters? How long have you been in the hobby. These things will help nail down what is causing the problem.

Buffcole · 09/06/2012, 11:57 AM

Scarface, it is his mouth, foot is at the bottom.

Water parameters are all fine and sg is at 1.0026 temp is at 78. This is a 120 g reef tank. I have 3 wrasse (melanarus, 6 line, pink fairy), yellow tang, 2 darwin clowns. I have been keeping freshwater fish for over 10 years and saltwater over a year.

I never had an anemone before so I didn't know what I should be looking for. I guess they sold me a bad one. It is a neon green bta, if that helps at all. I fed it mysis when I first got it and it ate fine, then it started moving and went to the back of the tank (still good lighting-metal halides). Then I fed him once he attached and then I found him a couple days later like that. This is what he looks like now.

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...e/dffbb383.jpg

Also, this is what a skunk cleaner shrimp did to my crocea clam. I found him on it 5 different times and it took me 2 nights to catch him. I protected the clam every night but I guess he did too much damage. Anyone heard of a cleaner shrimp eating a clam. I did find some stuff on google that they did, I just didn't know that.

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...e/68bbd306.jpg

Thanks for the help!!

TealCobra · 09/06/2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffcole

Scarface, it is his mouth, foot is at the bottom.

Water parameters are all fine and sg is at 1.0026 temp is at 78. This is a 120 g reef tank. I have 3 wrasse (melanarus, 6 line, pink fairy), yellow tang, 2 darwin clowns. I have been keeping freshwater fish for over 10 years and saltwater over a year.

I never had an anemone before so I didn't know what I should be looking for. I guess they sold me a bad one. It is a neon green bta, if that helps at all. I fed it mysis when I first got it and it ate fine, then it started moving and went to the back of the tank (still good lighting-metal halides). Then I fed him once he attached and then I found him a couple days later like that. This is what he looks like now.

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...e/dffbb383.jpg

Also, this is what a skunk cleaner shrimp did to my crocea clam. I found him on it 5 different times and it took me 2 nights to catch him. I protected the clam every night but I guess he did too much damage. Anyone heard of a cleaner shrimp eating a clam. I did find some stuff on google that they did, I just didn't know that.

http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...e/68bbd306.jpg

Thanks for the help!!

Something is definitely a miss in the tank though. Are you sure your phosphates and nitrates are really low or zero? The BTA was already in poor health IMO due to it's coloration. Is 1.0026 a typo or do you mean 1.026? Cleaner shrimp shouldn't mess with the clam unless it was already dying. The smell of a dying clam will put your tank inhabitants on high alert for a free meal.

Buffcole · 09/06/2012, 12:44 PM

Yes, 1.026.

Clam has been fine, had it for over 7 months, really healthy.

Nitrates are zero. I don't know what the phosphates are. Also do a 10% water change every week.

TealCobra · 09/06/2012, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buffcole

Yes, 1.026.

Clam has been fine, had it for over 7 months, really healthy.

Nitrates are zero. I don't know what the phosphates are. Also do a 10% water change every week.

It is difficult to identify the cause of clam death. Usually it happens quickly and you don't have a lot of time to react. I'm assuming the clam is dead or nearly dead if that picture represents it's current state. Once they begin to gape and/or retract inside the shell it's just a matter of time.

Buffcole · 09/06/2012, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TealCobra

It is difficult to identify the cause of clam death. Usually it happens quickly and you don't have a lot of time to react. I'm assuming the clam is dead or nearly dead if that picture represents it's current state. Once they begin to gape and/or retract inside the shell it's just a matter of time.

TealCobra, what should the neon gbta have looked like? What makes an anemone get bleached or have an unfavorable color? Why would a store sell something to someone that is not healthy?

fishroomlady · 09/06/2012, 07:01 PM

I looked a couple of times and didn't see what lighting you are using. Both of those issues could be lighting in addition to parameters. I believe calcium is important for reefs and alkalinity and magnesium.

Unfortunately, stores want to make money and they want you to buy their livestock. Sometimes, when I've complained about things from stores, it is up to us to make sure the specimens are healthy. And sometimes, stores may not have staff working that know the difference between a healthy specimen and not.

fishroomlady · 09/06/2012, 07:01 PM

Oops, that should have calcium is important for clams...

TealCobra · 09/06/2012, 07:09 PM

The bleaching and lack of green color is concerning. BTAs should have more color than that. Bleaching could be from lack of light or being exposed to too much light too soon upon acclimation. I would lean towards lack of light and nutrition prior to purchase.

Buffcole · 09/06/2012, 07:51 PM

Yes, they didn't have too much in the way of lighting. However, I have metal halides and calcium is 450 mag 1400 alk 9.2

pryorrods · 09/06/2012, 08:18 PM

I think your nem was probably in a tank with very low lighting for some time, then after you put it in it's new home, was shocked by the high lighting of your MH's. I've seen this countless times. I've purchased many types of large anemones that were just fine in a store under only a couple of T5HO's. My tank, however, has 10X (or more) the lighting output of a tank like that. Corals and anemones can't acclimate to such a huge change in lighting......it takes a long time, especially when going up in lighting.

Lighting duration and intensity have to be knocked down significantly for a period of time in order to aclimate successfully. Using multiple screens under the MH's and raising the height of the lights is the best way to go.

Just because an anemone will take food doesn't mean it is healthy. Also, a white anemone is generally a sick anemone, usually meaning it's bleaching. I have had them come back from being completely white to bright green, red, purple, brown, etc, depending on the species, but it does take time and attention to water quality and lighting.

kevin32 · 09/06/2012, 08:29 PM

Maybe it's not getting enough light?

BigPurp · 09/07/2012, 01:24 AM

light shock, possible.

Check parameters, double check with another test kit-- could be faulty.

Do you have any inhabitants which might bother him? What livestock do you have? Where did your liverock come from?

tkeracer619 · 09/07/2012, 02:07 AM

It is definitely a GBTA

This is what its supposed to look like.

Did you feed it anything?

They can bleach from all sorts of bad things. Often bad collection or transport overheating.

Don't poke or prod it. Leave it in a low flow area protected from anything that can chop it up and see if it comes back. If it does, then you will need to start feeding. If it starts to sloth, its done and care should be taken to remove it and get the thing outta there cuz it is going to smell terrible quick.

09/05/2012, 09:10 PM	#1
Buffcole Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 62	what's going on with my rtba? I bought this beautiful rtba. http://s1269.photobucket.com/albums/...t=eb0d5019.jpg A week and a half later....I find it looking like this. He did travel to the back of the tank and I don't know if he is splitting or dying. Can someone help?? http://s1269.photobucket.com/albums/...t=711eb701.jpg Thanks!

09/05/2012, 10:51 PM	#4
Dapg8gt Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pacifica Posts: 3,741	Agreed the first pic does look like its really bleached out.. Was it a green bubble or a rose cause the pic looks like it is yellow or green vs pink.. Last pic is the nem turned inside out most likely it's on it's last leg and dying. Does it have a bad smell to it? when you bought it were the tentacles sticky at all. I had a friend who decided to start a tank after seing mine and went out and was sold a nano and water from a shady Store and they sent him home with everything including an anemone and that's exactly what happened to his. I have read on here of them actually recovering from it but not sure. How's your parameters? __________________ 15 years in the hobby yet still learning every day. 280g radium lit sps flat living in my garage rent free. Current Tank Info: 105g SPS dominant euro braced powered by 4 ecotech pumps and lit by an ATI powermodule controlled by a reef angel =).

09/06/2012, 08:38 AM	#5
TealCobra Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: McKinney, TX Posts: 896	Definitely looks bad. Can you post some information about your tank such as lighting, parameters? How long have you been in the hobby. These things will help nail down what is causing the problem. __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 300g Marineland DD Reef Tank

09/06/2012, 07:01 PM	#11
fishroomlady Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 329	I looked a couple of times and didn't see what lighting you are using. Both of those issues could be lighting in addition to parameters. I believe calcium is important for reefs and alkalinity and magnesium. Unfortunately, stores want to make money and they want you to buy their livestock. Sometimes, when I've complained about things from stores, it is up to us to make sure the specimens are healthy. And sometimes, stores may not have staff working that know the difference between a healthy specimen and not. __________________ "You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?" - Talking Heads Current Tank Info: 65 gallon wide reef tank

09/06/2012, 07:01 PM	#12
fishroomlady Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 329	Oops, that should have calcium is important for clams... __________________ "You may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?" - Talking Heads Current Tank Info: 65 gallon wide reef tank

09/05/2012, 10:38 PM	#2
scarface70706 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 1,364	is that his mouth or his foot?

09/05/2012, 10:40 PM	#3
skyline377 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Daly City Posts: 264	If it is a RBTA in the first pic it looks like it's bleaching, the second pic looks like it's a goner.

09/06/2012, 11:57 AM	#6
Buffcole Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 62	Scarface, it is his mouth, foot is at the bottom. Water parameters are all fine and sg is at 1.0026 temp is at 78. This is a 120 g reef tank. I have 3 wrasse (melanarus, 6 line, pink fairy), yellow tang, 2 darwin clowns. I have been keeping freshwater fish for over 10 years and saltwater over a year. I never had an anemone before so I didn't know what I should be looking for. I guess they sold me a bad one. It is a neon green bta, if that helps at all. I fed it mysis when I first got it and it ate fine, then it started moving and went to the back of the tank (still good lighting-metal halides). Then I fed him once he attached and then I found him a couple days later like that. This is what he looks like now. http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...e/dffbb383.jpg Also, this is what a skunk cleaner shrimp did to my crocea clam. I found him on it 5 different times and it took me 2 nights to catch him. I protected the clam every night but I guess he did too much damage. Anyone heard of a cleaner shrimp eating a clam. I did find some stuff on google that they did, I just didn't know that. http://i1269.photobucket.com/albums/...e/68bbd306.jpg Thanks for the help!!

09/06/2012, 12:44 PM	#8
Buffcole Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 62	Yes, 1.026. Clam has been fine, had it for over 7 months, really healthy. Nitrates are zero. I don't know what the phosphates are. Also do a 10% water change every week.

09/06/2012, 07:09 PM	#13
TealCobra Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: McKinney, TX Posts: 896	The bleaching and lack of green color is concerning. BTAs should have more color than that. Bleaching could be from lack of light or being exposed to too much light too soon upon acclimation. I would lean towards lack of light and nutrition prior to purchase. __________________ Matt Current Tank Info: 300g Marineland DD Reef Tank

09/06/2012, 07:51 PM	#14
Buffcole Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Atlanta Posts: 62	Yes, they didn't have too much in the way of lighting. However, I have metal halides and calcium is 450 mag 1400 alk 9.2

09/06/2012, 08:18 PM	#15
pryorrods Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Pottstown, PA Posts: 84	I think your nem was probably in a tank with very low lighting for some time, then after you put it in it's new home, was shocked by the high lighting of your MH's. I've seen this countless times. I've purchased many types of large anemones that were just fine in a store under only a couple of T5HO's. My tank, however, has 10X (or more) the lighting output of a tank like that. Corals and anemones can't acclimate to such a huge change in lighting......it takes a long time, especially when going up in lighting. Lighting duration and intensity have to be knocked down significantly for a period of time in order to aclimate successfully. Using multiple screens under the MH's and raising the height of the lights is the best way to go. Just because an anemone will take food doesn't mean it is healthy. Also, a white anemone is generally a sick anemone, usually meaning it's bleaching. I have had them come back from being completely white to bright green, red, purple, brown, etc, depending on the species, but it does take time and attention to water quality and lighting.

09/06/2012, 08:29 PM	#16
kevin32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: North OC, 92683 Posts: 901	Maybe it's not getting enough light? __________________ Tank: 40 gallon Breeder w/ Overflow. 30lb of Liverock. 40lb of live sand. Light: Aquaticlife T5 Fixture Fish: False Percula pair, royal gramma

09/07/2012, 01:24 AM	#17
BigPurp Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Norman, OK Posts: 41	light shock, possible. Check parameters, double check with another test kit-- could be faulty. Do you have any inhabitants which might bother him? What livestock do you have? Where did your liverock come from?

09/07/2012, 02:07 AM	#18
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	It is definitely a GBTA This is what its supposed to look like. Did you feed it anything? They can bleach from all sorts of bad things. Often bad collection or transport overheating. Don't poke or prod it. Leave it in a low flow area protected from anything that can chop it up and see if it comes back. If it does, then you will need to start feeding. If it starts to sloth, its done and care should be taken to remove it and get the thing outta there cuz it is going to smell terrible quick. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.