BTA behavior

squid row · 09/05/2018, 01:01 PM

I bought my first BTA two weeks ago. It has moved around quite a bit and seems to find a new spot every few days

I don't know if it is eating but when I try to directly feed it a piece of mysis shrimp or raw table shrimp, it shrinks.

Lately, it has taken up a spot under a rock and I can barely see it. Colors look good from the portion I can see so should I just assume it is healthy and eating when I feed the fish?

I actually cannot get my hands or an eye dropper to where it is now even if I did want to try and direct feed it

This is my first attempt with a BTA

rvareef · 09/05/2018, 03:35 PM

sounds like its misbehavin

top shelf · 09/05/2018, 06:48 PM

Bta's seem to be the biggest movers, it should settle once it finds a place its happy. You can maybe try changing flow or lighting and see if that helps it settle. If it still appears healthy I wouldn't worry too much.

laverda · 09/06/2018, 02:27 AM

BTAs move only when they are unhappy or splitting in my experience. Most posts like this are when BTAs are added too soon to a new tank. It is really best to wait 6 months or so for the tank to get established before adding them. How old is your tank? What are your parameters? What lighting? What size tank?
Anemones want a hole a way from light and flow that they can withdraw into, where they can also reach out for light. They like a lot of light and flow as long as the flow is not blasting them directly. They also like nitrates in the water which they can uptake as food.

boombox3 · 09/06/2018, 03:48 AM

I can tell you when my rbta receives too large of a piece of shrimp he wont digest it and it shrinks. Give it a smaller piece of shrimp like less than 1/4 especially if small.

A.ocellaris · 09/26/2018, 11:37 AM

let it move where she wants. Do not force her to be at one specific location. What are your water parameters?

09/05/2018, 01:01 PM	#1
squid row Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 94	BTA behavior I bought my first BTA two weeks ago. It has moved around quite a bit and seems to find a new spot every few days I don't know if it is eating but when I try to directly feed it a piece of mysis shrimp or raw table shrimp, it shrinks. Lately, it has taken up a spot under a rock and I can barely see it. Colors look good from the portion I can see so should I just assume it is healthy and eating when I feed the fish? I actually cannot get my hands or an eye dropper to where it is now even if I did want to try and direct feed it This is my first attempt with a BTA

09/05/2018, 06:48 PM	#3
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	Bta's seem to be the biggest movers, it should settle once it finds a place its happy. You can maybe try changing flow or lighting and see if that helps it settle. If it still appears healthy I wouldn't worry too much. __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube

09/06/2018, 02:27 AM	#4
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	BTAs move only when they are unhappy or splitting in my experience. Most posts like this are when BTAs are added too soon to a new tank. It is really best to wait 6 months or so for the tank to get established before adding them. How old is your tank? What are your parameters? What lighting? What size tank? Anemones want a hole a way from light and flow that they can withdraw into, where they can also reach out for light. They like a lot of light and flow as long as the flow is not blasting them directly. They also like nitrates in the water which they can uptake as food. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

09/05/2018, 03:35 PM	#2
rvareef In Memoriam Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 664	sounds like its misbehavin

09/06/2018, 03:48 AM	#5
boombox3 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 170	I can tell you when my rbta receives too large of a piece of shrimp he wont digest it and it shrinks. Give it a smaller piece of shrimp like less than 1/4 especially if small.

09/26/2018, 11:37 AM	#6
A.ocellaris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Posts: 12	let it move where she wants. Do not force her to be at one specific location. What are your water parameters?