RBTA won't eat

Rewd · #1 12/15/2007, 02:53 PM

I've had my RBTA for a week now. The second day I tried feeding it a chunky piece of PE mysis shrimp and then the next day I tried krill. Two days later I tried krill again. Today I tried a small piece of a silver side. So far it hasn't taken any of them.

The food doesn't appear to stick to the nem either. Sometimes a my clownfish come by and yank the krill right out of it.

My tank is a 75G, 2x250 watt 10K halides, 200 watt PCs. I only have a nitrate test kit and at the moment that measures 10 or less. I don't have any pics but the RBTA is beautiful and doesn't appear bleached or in any kind of stress.

Shouldn't it be feeding by now?

boozerell · #2 12/16/2007, 07:18 AM

Take this for what it's worth, I'm new to this...but here's my experience. The LFS I got my BTA from told me to let it settle in for two weeks, prior to trying to feed it. After having it for a week it purged itself and shrunk for a couple hours. (Scared the crap out of me) Next morning, all was good again. During this time I fed the fish as usual, and yesterday I bought some of that rod's food. As soon as I put that food in the tank it stretched out it's tentacles and made sure it got some. Now I don't know if it finally settled in and that's why it ate or if it was the rod's food. (We were a day shy of the two week mark.)
Also you need to get a complete testing kit. Your nitrate is high in my opinion, and BTA like perfect water conditions.

Rewd · #3 12/16/2007, 07:56 PM

Thank you! I have not seen my BTA shrivel up in the way you describe until today. I didn't freak out though because I know that's what they do.

I'll try feeding him again tomorrow.

alanscott · #4 12/16/2007, 08:08 PM

It does take them a while to acclimate, so don't worry about feeding it for a few weeks.

Rewd · #5 12/16/2007, 11:52 PM

It ate tonight.

hybridgenius · #6 12/17/2007, 01:42 AM

I wouldnt worry about having PERFECT water conditions... they can handle nitrates pretty well. Im glad its eating now... I was going to say try cyclopeeze.

Rewd · #7 12/17/2007, 05:15 PM

I don't really consider a reading of 10 to be "high" for nitrates anyway. Although it is normally lower; I haven't been doing water changes regularly since I broke my RO unit. Once I get a new one weekly water changes will resume and I'm sure that will go down if I do an extra one here and there.

GSMguy · #8 12/17/2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rewd
I don't really consider a reading of 10 to be "high" for nitrates anyway. Although it is normally lower; I haven't been doing water changes regularly since I broke my RO unit. Once I get a new one weekly water changes will resume and I'm sure that will go down if I do an extra one here and there.

10 for anemones is high

seapug · #9 12/17/2007, 06:45 PM

If it's not melting or dissolving just leave it alone. They don't need as much "food" as seems to be the popular conception nowadays. You have plenty of light and light is what they need most. Wait a few days or more then try again with the mysis.

ahullsb · #10 12/18/2007, 01:28 AM

You might need to fend off your fish or any inverts if they are pulling the food back out. It sucks, but I have a fish and two shrimp that can't leave it alone.

OkiNano · #11 12/18/2007, 08:12 AM

drew hows the tank doing? Got any pics?

Rewd · #12 12/20/2007, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by OkiNano
drew hows the tank doing? Got any pics?

Sup derek.

nah, haven't gotten around to taking any. I tried snapping some with my cell phone camera but its a POS. I got this nem at SF about two weeks ago but you weren't there that day. how's life up there?

Rewd · #13 12/20/2007, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ahullsb
You might need to fend off your fish or any inverts if they are pulling the food back out. It sucks, but I have a fish and two shrimp that can't leave it alone.

yep, what I've had to do. stupid clowns... they should be feeding the damn thing not stealing from it.

OkiNano · #14 12/21/2007, 12:14 AM

things have been busy up there...I just got back from school and worked today...we have some awesome stuff in and its all on sale

Rewd · #15 12/22/2007, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by OkiNano
things have been busy up there...I just got back from school and worked today...we have some awesome stuff in and its all on sale

i know i know I was planning to come up again this weekend but it conflicted with all the heavy drinking I planned before I knew about the 25% off sale