BTA Closing Up

[jmc1024]

Hello all,
I introduced a BTA into my tank 2 1/2 weeks ago. Seems to be doing well, has nice color eating well and settled into a rock nicely. Over the last few days I've notice it shrink up twice, once on Sat and then again today. I've read that it does do this from time to time especially when expelling waste. It seemed to be doing so on Sat but didn't notice that today (could have missed it). Additionally, I have to clowns that haven't been hosted yet.

My question is, is this normal? How often do BTA's usually close up? Do we think that it's expelling wast, could the clowns be attempting to be hosted? Should I be worried?
Thanks,
Jay

 

[theMeat]

i wouldn't feed a lot, and not more than once a week. i feed mine once every few months and they'v been in my tank growing for years. Some ppl never feed them. Since we spoke last one of my nems, the one my pair of clowns was hosting, moved. The clowns stayed in their spot and now their nem is all alone. The clowns are now under a toadstool that was nearby.
Temp or ph swings can make nems close up

 

[jmc1024]

Once a week really? I read an article that said 2x a week but thanks I'll slow down the feeding and see what happens.

My BTA positioned itself perfectly under the clown's hang out. Still waiting to see it it'll host.

 

[theMeat]

Yeah, and just a coupla a few small pieces. Like the size of a pencil eraser.

 

[jmc1024]

Yeah I've been giving him about that size of shrimp or salmon. However I was feeding 2x a week and was squirting some pellets to try to get the clowns interested. What do you think the possibility of an amphiprion ocellaris clown being hosted by my BTA?

 

[theMeat]

My pair were hosting one of my rbta, until the other day, when the nem moved out on them.

 

[jmc1024]

How far did he move? I surprised they wouldn't follow him.

 

[theMeat]

Moved about 4 feet across my 6 foot tank. There's another rbta about 2 feet away from where they hang yet they stay in their spot.

 

[jmc1024]

themeat,

So I've only been feeding my bta 1x a week like you suggested. He's been looking pretty good. Most times very full and healthy looking, mouth is shut tight. However today he seem almost inverted. Was hoping to get your thoughts, is this typical? Thanks Jay

 

[Waleedwale1]

Any chance you have a pic?

 

[jmc1024]

Does this help? Most of the time he looks great thought.

 

[jmc1024]

But most times he looks like this.

 

[theMeat]

Hard to tell from pic. Looks upside down. Sometimes if the nem takes in food, and the food goes deep enough....when it doesn't need food, or the food is too big, or it's something it doesn't want or can't digest for whatever reason, it will spit it out and look something like the pic.
It's fairly new to your tank and has been throu transport. Let it settle in and find a good spot. When you touch it it uses up energy and stresses it so no touchy. Which is why i wouldn't feed it much. A couple of very small pieces once every couple of weeks. Think silver sides are best. Throw out the head and tail, the guts are best.
Don't see a problem with feeding mysis shrimp a couple of times a week, as long as you're not touching it, just gently blow some across it's tentacles. Worms work well too. If you're doing that than don't feed silver sides every few weeks.
If your temp and ph stable, parameters in range, and tank is established, it will do fine. As mentioned, some ppl never feed their nems. I feed mine every few months and they'r doin great. I just feed my tank and they get some in the flow.
Oh, wouldn't feed the nem pellets or flakes because they could have things other than flesh, which is what that nem needs.
If the tentacles get long and lose their bubble and color then it's likely a not enough lighting issue. But until it finds a good spot, and you give it time to settle, that's just a guess.

 

[jmc1024]

Thanks for all of your input. I haven't been touching at all, even when I feed i use a baster to push some food it's way. I was feeding pieces of frozen shrimp. Funny the tentacles were always in bubbles. However since it's last move the tentacles have become long and lost their bubbles. However they seem to flow better in the current. Guess I'll just wait and see how he does. Thanks again