LTA Question

[GottisEgo]

So after my episode with my GBTA taking a trip into my Koralia, and getting the tank back to normal, I decided to take a trip to Tropical Isle to use up my $98 Credit I had. Picked up a beautiful Powder Blue, real small. And a Green tip LTA.

My question. I introduced him to my tank after about an hour drip acclimation process, and he has yet to attach himself to anything. His tenticles are either fully or partially inflated, and his mouth is closed or partially closed. What is the process with LTA's, as I know BTA's move around everywhere and stick to everything.

Thanks for any advice!

Doug

 

[coldshutter]

Takes some time, I would worry after 3hours of not attaching. THe foot could have been torn but I doubt it. Whats it doing now?

 

[GottisEgo]

It has not attached since Sunday. To anything. I'm starting to think he is a ticking time bomb. It's weird, I cant seem to keep Nem's. If he is indeed kicking the bucket, I'm not getting anymore. Rediculious because when they croke, they smell and are nukes in your tank.

My parameters were normal and ideal conditions. His mouth is partially open, which is contrary to my last BTA where he was healthy.

 

[GottisEgo]

Any ideas? Should I yank this guy out of my tank?

 

[Jennifer]

It could take a week or so for the nem to settle in, not to worry. If you said the mouth was wide open then I would worry. Mine took a week or so to dig in then it was fine.
OOOHHH yes they stink when they die. The first one ever I bought croaked over night wow was that foul.
Here is a growth sequence for you. 1 yrs growth, and the last pic is a few months old. The oral disk is now 12 in across not including the tentacles. I am still waiting for it to split. Good luck with yours it should be ok.

 

[GottisEgo]

Alright I will continue to moniter it. It hasent really moved since I introduced it. really leaning against one of the rocks. If I see that it's about to expire he is outta there before hand, as I have experienced that smell, and care not to again.

 

[Bidadari]

Try increasing the flow in the tank. Do you have sand? LTA will bury its foot in the sand and attach to either your bottom glass or rock. I used to have LTA, and for the longest time it wouldn't attach until I increased the flow in my tank, and it attached right away. Not sure if you can cover the intake of coralia, but I would recommend you do that if you're going to keep anemone in your tank. I know maxi jet has a foam (you have to buy it separately) that will cover its intake.

 

[GottisEgo]

So I put him in an awesome spot, but I gotta tell ya he doesnt look to good. His mouth is wide open. spitting out some brown matter. Half is tenticles are deflated.

 

[JayM]

if it's brown matter, that may be anemone poop. if it looks like he is turning inside out, it is NOT good.

Also, the tentacles will shrink and expand; it's a normal part of their normal process

 

[GottisEgo]

It's Brown matter. I'll keep watching him.

 

[Jennifer]

Thats not sounding so good. Brown stuf could be just poop though.
Lta's do not seem to like high flow, more like low flow. But resist trying to move it to a spot you want it too. Let it find a spot it wants. Everytime you try to reach in and move it just ends up stressing the nem even more.
I would check your levels again adjust any that you need being carefull not to push them too far all at once. Nems do not like harsh changes in levels. They are most affected by temp and salinity changes as well. If all is well with the levels just let it settle in.

Are there any tears in the foot?
Can you see any mesenterial filaments poking out?

 

[Jennifer]

Also if it squats down and discharges a whitish fog thats most likely a bad sign.

 

[GottisEgo]

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[GottisEgo]

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[Jennifer]

Hard to tell but it seems ok from the pic.
How is it today?
Its color looks a little pale. What do you have for lighting?

 

[Jennifer]

I almost forgot that the foot of these guys are red.
I have not seen mines foot since I placed it in the tank 1.5 yrs ago.

 

[JayM]

other than not putting the foot down, and the mouth being a little more open than usual...it looks OK.

they take a while to find their way sometimes....

 

[GottisEgo]

I have T5's for lighting. He came to me alittle bleached, but when I first saw him he had nice green tips. I am sure after some feedings, and over time he will regain his color.

He looks very good today, but still has not dug himself in yet. I am going to try and make a hole in the sand were he is tonight and move him in there. His foot is def red.

 

[GottisEgo]

FYI, The LTA died. Thank god I came home just in time to find him. He must have recently kicked the bucket as he didnt foul the water or anything. Got him out of the tank fast.

Question? Why in the hell are Nems so hard to keep. Everything else I have is thriving. Weird.

 

[Jennifer]

Wow I am so sorry. I did not see that coming.

They only seem to me to be difficult to acclimate to a new tank.
Once there they seem to be ok. Mine has been through all sorts of things. MOSTLY my time as a newbie. And not watching my levels enough.
The first 1 I bought died due to salinity problems. When I started I did not own a refractometer. I used the old swing needle type, those things should have a warning them "for fish only or something. The swing needle meter said my water was at 1.023 when in reality it was 1.031. The nem did not stand a chance. Most LFS keep there water at like 1.015 to combat algae and disease. So to go from that to 1.031 is just way more than can be tolerated.
Other than that I would say high nitrite and nitrate levels would kill a nem.
My nitrates have never gone above 5ppm which is prob why my nem has done so well.

I would say to double check all your levels. If you are going to the next meeting bring in a water sample and have Josh check you levels with the clubs test kits.
Maybe you will try again with another nem sometime.