BTA powerhead dilemma -- HELP PLEASE!!!

[jpndave]

My new RBTA decided to find the powerhead tonight. I thought it was well protected and out of the way but the rose had different ideas. I cut the powerhead apart to remove the rose but it did sustain some damage. Seems "deflated" like the powerhead sucked all the water out of the anemone. It will react if touched, contracting tightly.

Does it have any chance of making it? Do I cut my loses and pull it from the tank to avoid damage to other corals? Or, just be patient and hope for the best? Another thought is that the damage seems to be mostly on one side, is it worth a try to cut it in half and see if one or both sides have a better chance? Would a clean cut heal better than the jagged damage?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am really fond of the rose and hate to lose it, simply beautiful!

Thanks,

Dave

[Mastermind]

My GBTA had a similar mishap a couple weeks ago. Maybe a half dozen tentacles got sucked into my powerhead.

A couple weeks later, he's doing very well. I would let him rest for the night, and maybe give him a small spot feeding tomorrow if he'll take it.

Good luck!

[jpndave]

Thanks for the replies. So, sounds like there is a chance it may make it. It was very healthy going into this, just trying to get use to the tank. I had a recommendation to let it rest the night then try a small feeding tomorrow. What do you think of that advice? What do you feed usually, and what would you feed while nursing it back to health? I have some silversides but I don't think I should feed those in his condition. I have some frozen baby brine and could get something else, mysis?

It has opened up a bit but is still very deflated and very white in color.

[jpndave]

It has colored back up and re-inflated, I assume that is a good sign. It has moved to a different spot hiding under some rock face (top) down and contracted but has not re-attached itself. How important is it re-attaching soon?

[everl0ng]

im not sure about the reattaching, but that's good to hear that it is doing ok now.

[matttaylor]

Most BTA's, if healthy before powerhead dances, will heal quickly if the damage isn't to severe. Try and feed it something small such as mysis, brine, or small pieces of fish flesh. Then give it time to recover.

[Toddrtrex]

As long as the foot isn't damaged, the odds are great that it will be back to normal in no time.

Similar thing happened to my LTA,



Couple weeks later.

[jpndave]

The side of the foot was damaged (around the perimeter), the center appears ok. If the damaged foot is a huge deal, I wondered if it might be better to cut it in half. At least half of it would be ok, as the damage appears to be on just a portion of the foot.