New RBTAs

[ezuc]

These guys arrived yesterday after being help up in shipping for an extra day. They're pretty small, maybe 2-3". All were described as RBTA variants.

Planning to keep them in the QT for a couple of weeks, then add one to the display once I get a better idea what they might look like.

Question: How long to start feeding? Should I start with mysis?

Before acclimation -2 were looking a little rough
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20151224_006.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20151224_006.jpg.html)

After acclimation in QT (ambient room light) - believe it or not they looked better than before acclimation
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20151224_008.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20151224_008.jpg.html)

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20151224_010.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20151224_010.jpg.html)


After 12 hours in QT (under LEDs) - 2/3 decided to relocate, including one about 1/2" from the surface, but seem pretty happy. The one to the left of the red one is the most suspect looking one, but looking better.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20151225_001.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20151225_001.jpg.html)

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20151225_003.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20151225_003.jpg.html)

[Dkuhlmann]

Do not feed them, only give them good light, steady parameters and decent flow. Nothing else

[ezuc]

Don't feed ever or just for a while?

QT light is a 165w led, running at 25% for now. Will slowly move up to 50-75% over the next couple of weeks, assuming they respond OK. Display is Radion XR30, running at 75%.

[Dkuhlmann]

You really don't ever have to feed them, but if you do maybe 2x per week some mysis or other small pieces of fresh seafood like shrimp, clams, salmon, scallops etc.

They will grow faster if you feed them and they might split if you over feed them.

[ezuc]

OK, thanks.

[TrevorHenry]

You should've done the research prior to buying anemones, would been a smart idea for the long run. Let them accumulate to the QT tank, 1-2 weeks. You can start feeding after that which most people will say Mysis. Small little bits. Don't want them to eat to much and throw it up and then cause a Ammonia spike and kill them. Pay attention to signs of stress, gaping mouth etc

[ezuc]

No food for a couple of weeks while in QT. Got it.

[ezuc]

One of them managed to squeeze through the egg crate and relocate next to the power filter. Fortunately it didn't get sucked up before I found it. Wishing I had a sponge filter, but will have to fashion some type of guard around the filter intake.

[ezuc]

So it's been about a week. One is hiding under a rock, but looks fully inflated as far as I can see. The other two, which are the two that looked worse from the beginning, are on the side of the tank, but not fully inflated. One is near the bottom, the other about halfway up. I can't get a really good look at them, but they don't appear to be gaping, just not fully inflated. Wondering if there is too much light? They're under a 165W LED at 25% intensity.

[rffanat1c]

Quite possible. Mine took two weeks to finally come out to the light on the same light at less intensity

[OrionN]

If they keep hiding in the dark you got to bite the bullet and move the rock out to some light. I am not sure why but sometime anemone just hid away until they died

[ezuc]

I took out the rock and put each nem into a 2" pvc cap (saw this on one of Leishman's posts). Since they've been hiding, I decided to add a couple of layers of screen material to reduce the amount of light.

First thing in the am with only blues on. Before blues turned on they were all fully inflated. The one in the middle has started to hide.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20160102_007.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20160102_007.jpg.html)

After a few hours with the whites on. Sorry for pic quality, but should give an idea. They are all balled up (only showing 2).
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20160102_009.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20160102_009.jpg.html)


I've turned off all the lights. Any thoughts on what I should do next? Leave lights off for a couple of days, use only whites, only blues?

[manilaboy1vic]

If they keep hiding in the dark you got to bite the bullet and move the rock out to some light. I am not sure why but sometime anemone just hid away until they died

my first one did this.. as i thought they would move on their own to optimal conditions.. this one did not. he bleached and eventually died.

[anizato]

They are dying, believe me, I had three that looked exactly the same, one died in a few days, the other two lived on for two months but ended up dying. I should have treated them with Cipro. Look at this: http://www.*********.com/threads/treatment-protocol-for-sick-anemones.172179/

you can still save them.

[ezuc]

I've read a lot about people using cipro for carpets, but not BTAs. I assume it would be the same protocol?

Since Saturday, the lights have been on @20-25% with 2 layers of screen. They seem much happier. Sunday, they were fully inflated before the lights came on, then pretty close to fully inflated with the lights on all day. I wasn't really home at all Monday, but this AM they are also fully inflated and one has relocated. I took a real quick pic of 2 this AM, really bad pic, will try to get a better one tonight while the lights are on.

What does everyone think? Should I treat with cipro immediately or give it a few more days?

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20160105_0011.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20160105_0011.jpg.html)

[ezuc]

Here they are tonight after all day under the lights. They look better than they have since arrival 2 weeks ago :). That being said, maybe they still need treatment? I've got no immediate plans to move them out of QT, so can keep an eye on them there.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20160105_003.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20160105_003.jpg.html)
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20160105_004.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20160105_004.jpg.html)
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20160105_005.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20160105_005.jpg.html)

[Sandberg1222]

Your anemones really don't need anything but good water quality and good lighting. I've had a couple of my nems get a bit chopped up in my wave maker only to totally recover a couple of weeks later. Rbtas are hearty strong anemones as long as your giving them the water quality and lighting they need and you do not damage the foot.

[ezuc]

Thanks, QT tank is pretty stable, so think I'll just let them chill in there for a few weeks. I want them to get a little bigger before introducing to display anyway. Afraid the clowns will beat them up too much, that is assuming they actually take to one...

[anizato]

Awesome it looks like they weren't so bad after all! It is a good thing you have the QT, seems like they will be fine. Let us know when you transfer them or if anything changes.

[ezuc]

Was gone on business for a couple of days, when I returned it looked like things had gone backwards. One was looking really rough (pic below), the other 2 OK.

I decided to go ahead and treat them all with cipro. Day 1 underway...

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p118/ezfelker/EzReef/WP_20160114_003.jpg (http://s126.photobucket.com/user/ezfelker/media/EzReef/WP_20160114_003.jpg.html)

[ezuc]

Ugh, major screw up. Disconnected QT from auto water change system, but forgot to take out all the tubing. During middle of the night, one end fell out, creating siphon and draining tank which was filled by auto topoff. Woke up to a flood and QT tank filled with DI.

Changed water and hoped for the best, but two doa when I got home from work. The other looks OK, but in a spot where I can't get a really good look at it. Not too hopeful, but it it makes it through the night, then maybe.

Of course, there's still the issue of the carpet...On the positive side, the 10g of salt water was diluted with 30-40g DI. My wife is a saint.

[anizato]

Sorry to hear about the tragedy man! Simple mistakes can turn out to be major disasters in our hobby. We can't afford to screw up ... On the flip side, it was only the QT and not your main display or a frag tank. What was in the QT at the moment it happened?

[ezuc]

Just the nems, thought the one might pull through, but didn't make it.

Picked-up a RBTA from the LFS last week. It promptly went OWOL and hasn't been sited for 3 days...From what I've been able to read, sounds like it happens sometimes and all you can do is wait them out.

[anizato]

Your RBTA disappeared?!! Have you checked the overflow or the filter sock?

[ezuc]

Found in the filter sock the day after last post. Took a beating, lost all the tentacles on one side. But after 6 weeks in rehab (and blocking the lower return on the overflow), it went back in the display yesterday. It's still rather small so hopefully the clowns don't notice it for a while...