BTA's

[Brian]

How do you know if a BTA is happy? I just recently got one and it was doing fine up until last night. For some reason it looked like the tentacles were smaller and shorter. I directly fed it yesterday night and it took the food but never really extended as far as it has been the past couple of days. Does a BTA draw back in on itself when it is eating? Does a BTA have a certain behaviour before it splits? This BTA is pretty big with a very nice almost neon green coloring so was just wondering if this is to be expected before it splits? Right now the BTA has been getting some pellets and Mysis shrimp every other day and seems happy. It does sit in a rock surrounded by anthelina (sp?). Could the other coral on the rock block too much of the light to keep the BTA pulled in? If so I have no problems getting rid of the SPS if it will make the BTA happy.

 

Thanks,

 

Brian

[WallyBackm]

Brian, this is the one you bought from me, right?

 

Re the anthelia, that anem has been sitting there for almost a year. If it were affecting it, it woud move. It will contract when eating, but by the next morning should expand again. Has it started roaming at all? If not, I wouldn't worry too much.

 

What lighting is it under/how high in the tank?

[Brian]

Right now the rock is on the sand be in a 90 tall. Currently running is the 4 56watt PC and the 2 400 watt MH. Not sure if it should be higher but it seemed happy when I first put it in. THe arms were fully extended for the past 5 days and was eating fine. At first I thought it had finally moved but it was still there just pulled in. I'll check it today when I get home. It might have been that I fed it too much or was just unhappy about something. I'll update when I get home tonight and have another look at it.

[Brian]

Got home and the BTA was fully extended and looking happy. I guess the other day it had just gotten too much food. OH well live and learn.

 

Brian