RBTA problems

alexk3954 · 08/21/2006, 11:45 AM

I got a free RBTA from someone's tank because it was splitting too much. Now after a 2 hour drip acclamation and 2 days of putting it back on the rocks I cannot get the thing to attach to the rocks.

ph 8.2
alk 10
cal 400
nitrate less than 5
ammo 0
nitrite 0
temp81

lights are T5 so there is more than enough light. The current is gentle .

tedmc2 · 08/21/2006, 11:54 AM

Mine moved around for a day before settling into a hole in the rock. Try placing it in a crevice or hole.

LOTUS50GOD · 08/21/2006, 11:59 AM

It will walk till it finds a good spot... Also they like stong current.. I
have a SEIO 1500 about 4 feet from my two RBTA.. They are 14" across each.

alexk3954 · 08/21/2006, 12:24 PM

the problem is more that the thing won't attach to the rock in the first place

RBTA · 08/21/2006, 12:43 PM

Did you check your salinity? If its to high I've noticed my BTAs might deflate or fall of the rock they are on. So maybe thats the problem?

alexk3954 · 08/21/2006, 12:48 PM

salinity is 1.025

RBTA · 08/21/2006, 01:01 PM

hmm is the flow moving it around too much? It could be the flow isn't giving it a chance to settle on the rock. Anyway, what you could do is make a little pile of rock with cracks and crevices and gently place it in one of those cracks and crevices. Not so much that it is stuch and forced to stay in there, but enough to make sure the flow doesn't get to it. I did that with mine when I first got it and it attached to the rock within hours and then moved to a spot it liked better. But the main thing to not do is once it attaches do not try moving it to a better spot. That can put stress on them and its probably really stressed right now so that wouldn't be too good.

Hope it attaches for you.

rdmpe · 08/21/2006, 01:13 PM

They need a hole that they can retract into when they feel threatened. They also like very strong light and good current. Your best bet is to find a spot in very bright light with a crevice that you can tuck it's foot carefully into.

Check out how far this one's foot is back in that crevice, and it is stretching way up and over to maximize it's exposure to the halide above...

At night it is almost completely down in that crevice in the rock...

08/21/2006, 11:45 AM	#1
alexk3954 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 374	RBTA problems I got a free RBTA from someone's tank because it was splitting too much. Now after a 2 hour drip acclamation and 2 days of putting it back on the rocks I cannot get the thing to attach to the rocks. ph 8.2 alk 10 cal 400 nitrate less than 5 ammo 0 nitrite 0 temp81 lights are T5 so there is more than enough light. The current is gentle .

08/21/2006, 11:54 AM	#2
tedmc2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 384	Mine moved around for a day before settling into a hole in the rock. Try placing it in a crevice or hole. __________________ In a world gone mad, only a lunatic’s truly insane - Homer Simpson Current Tank Info: 18" cube, 12" cube, ADA MINI-S

08/21/2006, 11:59 AM	#3
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	It will walk till it finds a good spot... Also they like stong current.. I have a SEIO 1500 about 4 feet from my two RBTA.. They are 14" across each. __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

08/21/2006, 12:24 PM	#4
alexk3954 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 374	the problem is more that the thing won't attach to the rock in the first place

08/21/2006, 12:43 PM	#5
RBTA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DE Posts: 573	Did you check your salinity? If its to high I've noticed my BTAs might deflate or fall of the rock they are on. So maybe thats the problem?

08/21/2006, 12:48 PM	#6
alexk3954 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 374	salinity is 1.025

08/21/2006, 01:01 PM	#7
RBTA Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: DE Posts: 573	hmm is the flow moving it around too much? It could be the flow isn't giving it a chance to settle on the rock. Anyway, what you could do is make a little pile of rock with cracks and crevices and gently place it in one of those cracks and crevices. Not so much that it is stuch and forced to stay in there, but enough to make sure the flow doesn't get to it. I did that with mine when I first got it and it attached to the rock within hours and then moved to a spot it liked better. But the main thing to not do is once it attaches do not try moving it to a better spot. That can put stress on them and its probably really stressed right now so that wouldn't be too good. Hope it attaches for you.

08/21/2006, 01:13 PM	#8
rdmpe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,737	They need a hole that they can retract into when they feel threatened. They also like very strong light and good current. Your best bet is to find a spot in very bright light with a crevice that you can tuck it's foot carefully into. Check out how far this one's foot is back in that crevice, and it is stretching way up and over to maximize it's exposure to the halide above... At night it is almost completely down in that crevice in the rock...