Why does my BTA hate light?

[Mr. T]

Ive had my BTA in for a 2 weeks now and he seems to despise light. When I first brought it home it hid under some rocks totally out of light. Now it has its foot under a rock and every morning I wake up and check how everything is and hes always fully open and looking very happy and healthy. I go to school until 2:30 so I dont turn the lights on until I get home, and when I do he shrivels up and I can hardly see him. When I just put the actinic on he seems to open up partially, and once the lights go off he is again fully opend about an hour later. Why is this?

[Mr. T]

Also what is this brown stringy stuff that my BTA is expelling?

[Marc03]

You say you do not put the lights on until you get home from school........

anemones need lots of light, at least 10 hours a day
You deffiently should buy a timer for your light or turn it on when you go to schoool.

also what type of lighting do you have and how many watts.

BTA's like to have thier foot in a dark space, and wil reach out for the light, if you have good lighting, he is probably jsut getting usted to it. Don't try to move him with your hands youll just stress him out even more!

[Mr. T]

Ive got 2 vhos...75 watts each and a 20 watt NO actinic. Over a 20L. And what is the brown stuff?

[Marc03]

if your lighting is that bright he is deffiently just getting usted to it.


about the brown stuff, he is probably just going to the bathroom.... when is the last time you fed him?

Also, why did you wait to get home to turn you lights on

[Mr. T]

I leave to go to school at 6:45 and if I turn the lights on that early I will only be home for a few hours while the lights are on. So I run the lights from 2:30-10:30.

[Marc03]

you dont have to but i recommend you buying lighttimers, (extremely useful when you go on vacation) and running your lights from 9-9.

[Mr. T]

I already have a hair algae problem...if I leave my lights on that long it will be out of control. I am currently doing frequent water changes to help reduce the algae growth.

[BlAcK_PeRcUlA]

Ok,

I think that your anemone is bleaching and reacting to the light negatively because it was kept in dark conditions(the lfs and shipping bags to the lfs) and expelled most of it's symbiotic algae. These symbionts make food for the anemone with the lights. Without this, it's only other means of getting nutrition is eating. I hope that you're feeding it a lot.

This brown stuff that it's expelling from its mouth could be waste or it could be the algae that i was talking about. the latter is the worse one. If you are not feeding it, or haven't fed it in a while then it is probably the second choice and you need to slowly get it used to your lights by leaving them on for 1 hour a day, then increase the time each day till it's about 10-12 hours a day. You really should get a timer like marc03 says. it's much better to set during the day in my opinion.

Now to the algae. There is some other reason that's causing the algae to grow. It could be many things like overfeeding, overstocking, your water having some bad crap in it that fuels the algae.... and so on. You need to find out what's causing it to grow then fix it.

Sorry for the long post anyways.

[Mr. T]

I dont believe its bleaching...it has kept its green color all along. The algae is cause by phosphates in the water...But I will try the light increasing schedule.

[BlAcK_PeRcUlA]

you should get a RO/DI unit. that would probably take care of the problem.

[OrionN]

Originally posted by Mr. T
I dont believe its bleaching...it has kept its green color all along. The algae is cause by phosphates in the water...But I will try the light increasing schedule. When the anemone is bleaching, it is loosing the brown color. In your case, the anemone will become very light green.
Minh Nguyen

[Tpareefer]

I have had two BTA's turn white and die on me. They were very healthy when purchased, but within two months slowly turned white and shirvled up. I would feed them twice a week, some cut pieces of silversides which they would readliy eat. Despite weekly feedings, they still turned white and shirveled up. They both would also hide from the light, both moving into caves. I now have 2 65w 10,000 daylight and 2 65w blue actinics PC's on a 55 gal. Is this enough light to sustain a bta? I heard that they do not require as much light as other annm's. I this true? My tanks water chem is good with a slightly low ph of 8.0. Any suggestions??:smokin:

[Marc03]

did you have proper reef supliments, and what did you feed it

[Tpareefer]

I add Kent Marine superbuffer every week to try to sustain a reasonable ph and alk, which, for some reason has been a challange, and aragaMILK every other day for supplements. All my other corals are doing great but never a bta, so far.:mixed:

[Tpareefer]

I feed it small pieces of Silversides.

[skippy]

I feed my BTA Formula One, Every day (1x day).
I have 5 BTA's and they like different light levels. Two enjoy the light and stay out on top of LR. Two seem to crawl up under the rocks(there foot) and stretch out when the lights come on. The other stays semi shaded. This "can be" normal behavior for them.

Kip

[Mr. T]

Update on the BTA:
3 days ago I thought I had lost it, it was all shriveld and not looking good, it stayed this way the whole day. 2 days ago it was fully opend but had bleached himself and is now a very white green color. Yesterday after attempting to feed it peices of shrimp unsucessfully throughout the week it finally gobbled up a nice peice of squid, it definatly likes squid. Today when I woke up it had crawled to a higher rock I'm guessing in search for light. I turned the lights on and it kinda shocked it and it shriveld up but after about 2 minutes it was opend again. It slid down the rock about an inch still in full exposure to the lighting fully opend. Is this a good thing? If so will it regain its symbitic algae and if so how soon?

[Tpareefer]

I tell you what...these darned things are a PITA!!! I have all kinds of corals thriving in my tank..but the two BTA's that I had tried have both done horribly. My maroon clown loves the BTA and I sure wish I could keep one healthy. Does anyone know what is the "proper" way to care for these animals. Do BTA's need strong MH lighting or are they not as demanding as the other annm's? How often should you feed them? Mr. T...sounds like the same thing that i went through with my BTA's...any suggestions??:(

[Mr. T]

Yes they are a pain in the *** and stressful as well.

[shawn maybee]

doing extra water changes will only add to your allge problem ,,i would say try adding some bionic or some sort or cal add. this will help a little ,best way is to add a refugium

[Mr. T]

The BTA has become my life..:mad2:

[Mr. T]

Anyone can help me on the update i posted?

[melev]

You need to read this article. (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/bubbletipanemones.htm)

My BTA has been doing very nicely, and I have to give that article all the credit. Here's a page of its progress. (http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/bta.html)

This is in a 29g with 110w of PC lighting. Last December, I added an extra 55w of light, which didn't phase it a bit.

[Mr. T]

I currently have 170 watts over a 20L

[Mr. T]

I have read that article twice now, and have viewed your page before. Eh, I just dont know.

[melev]

Mr T,

I just updated that page yesterday, that is why I thought it might help. Sorry.

[Wee Man]

crap man i just bought a bubble tip and it seems to b showing similar characteristics

[Wee Man]

which brings me to my next question, my anemone seems to b hiding where u can barely c him should i replace him to a place with LESS light?

[melev]

When I bought mine, it crawled off my showcase shelf and under the LR were I couldn't even see him at all. A couple of days later it crawled out through the crevices and has never moved since. It found where it wanted to be on its own.

Plus it ended up within 3" of that prized location anyway. :D

[Mr. T]

My BTA seems to be doing fine except now he just walks around at night. Every time I wake up hes in a different location. Not sure if he just likes running laps around the tank or cant get comfortable.

[Mr. T]

:eek2: still running around...

[Marc03]

HE probably hsnt found a spot he likes yet.

Wee Man... just leave him in there, he will eventually become usted to the light. Moving him will jsut stress him out even more.

[phdezra]

Every time I wake up hes in a different location.

I am not an expert, but this doesn't seem right. In Dr. Ron's Host Sea Anemone booklet, I believe he points out that an anemone should not keep moving around. Get his book, it might help. Here is a link (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0966454952/rosensaft-20) to it on Amazon.

[jmp998]

Originally posted by Mr. T
My BTA seems to be doing fine except now he just walks around at night. Every time I wake up hes in a different location. Not sure if he just likes running laps around the tank or cant get comfortable.


If you're not already, feed your anemone. This sometimes helps BTA's settle down. Mine eats anything but prefers krill (eats this the fastest/most).

[Mr. T]

I have been feeding my anemone and it has eaton about 1 chunk of shrimp or squid every 2-3 days. Today it ate 6 pieces of shrimp and one peices of squid...I am afraid to feed it anymore. Is this normal?

[OrionN]

Just feed it every few days, a reasonable amount (about 2 cm3). If you feed it too much, it will just regurgitate it out at night and can foul up your water.
Minh Nguyen

[Mr. T]

So it just wasnt incredibly hungry? Its just going to spit all that food out tonight?

[OrionN]

Originally posted by Mr. T
So it just wasnt incredibly hungry? Its just going to spit all that food out tonight?
Watch it to night, and in the AM. Make sure you tank that goey mess out once it spit it out.

[Mr. T]

Yep he is starting to spit out some of the chunks...I guess its better they havent been digested yet.

[BlAcK_PeRcUlA]

Today it ate 6 pieces of shrimp and one peices of squid...I am afraid to feed it anymore. Is this normal?

Thats a lot to feed an anemone in one day... feed a lot but not that much.

[melev]

Originally posted by Mr. T
Yep he is starting to spit out some of the chunks...I guess its better they havent been digested yet.

I feed my BTA a very small piece of meat every few days. He never expels chunks of food as waste. They expel what they can't eat. If you are buying an uncooked shrimp or two at the deli, take the shrimp and cut it into 5 equal sized pieces. I peel it as well. Freeze it and then just give your BTA one piece every 3 days.

You shouldn't see any waste in your tank later, and your BTA will grow nicely. Has it stopped travelling yet?

[Mr. T]

It has been in the same spot for the last two days now, but it wouldnt suprise me if he has moved when I get home. And how long is it suposed to take to regain his benefitial algae now that he has been sitting out in the light.

[melev]

What color is he now?

[Mr. T]

When I first got him he was green...then he turned white and almost clear. Now he is a solid off white colar with small (tiny)green points on its tentacles...

[OrionN]

Originally posted by Mr. T
When I first got him he was green...then he turned white and almost clear. Now he is a solid off white colar with small (tiny)green points on its tentacles...
Off white is good. He is getting more brown. Hope he will turn brown-green soon. Just keep on feeding him, but not more than 1-2 cc every 2-3 days. If he puke, back off on the feeding.
Minh.

[Mr. T]

This makes me happy, hopefully he will pull through and regain his color. He has caused me much stress.

[Mr. T]

But then again I have caused him even more stress...so I guess I deserve it.

[Mr. T]

the bta has stopped jogging around well for the past 4 days he has been in the same spot...is this spot alright though? He is just kinda hanging out on the sand...hes not attached to any rock or anything...i dont want to move him and disturb him but is this fine for him to just sit on the sand?

[JazzMan]

Has the color improved? What does he look like now?

[Mr. T]

Hes an off white...when they bleach themselves only the tentacles bleach right? Because the body is still brown...

[OrionN]

Not attach to anything is a bad sign. Hope he will do well.
Minh

[Mr. T]

he is about 1.5 inches away from the nearest pieces of LR should i give him a little nudge with the turkey baster?

[Mr. T]

thats .5 inches not 1.5 sorry bout that...

[OrionN]

Push him over a little so he touches the rock. I hope he will attach and settle down.
Minh Nguyen

[Mr. T]

will do...he is fully open and eating...where he is though

[Mr. T]

I tried taking pictures but for some reason the water was cloudy today...

[Mr. T]

and another from a different angle

[Mr. T]

Im sorry, I just couldnt resist...

[Mr. T]

I woke up this morning at 6 am and the water was clear so I decided to take some better pictures...

[Mr. T]

and..

[Mr. T]

last

[melev]

You said before that it wasn't attached to the rock, so this looks like progress to me. :)

What do you think made your water cloudy?

[Mr. T]

it goes cloudly at random

[melev]

What type of substate? What color is the cloud?

Is it sand? bubbles? leached fluid from macros?

[Mr. T]

CaribSea Seaflor Fiji Pink Reef Sand 15 lbs

the cloud seems to have a brownish tint to it...i cant figure it out

[melev]

Does it happen in the mornings or at night? How often each week? I'd be worried myself.

Do you have any fish that might stir up the sand?

[Mr. T]

no fish...it happens randomly...no pattern that i can notice