Too Much Clowning Around? Poor GBTA...

[cedzaquaddiction]

Alright. So, my maroon clowns have finally found my GBTA, and all seemed well when they started hosting it. I'm plumbing my sump, so some flow has changed and the nem has gone on the move.

He moved up on the glass, and that's when I noticed it. My clowns have literally rubbed off all of the nem's tentacles. I'm not exaggerating. He is literally a bald blob now.

Will the clowns eventually kill the nem, or should I just let them be?

Thanks all!!!

 

[jdavid]

I was reading up on BTA's yesterday and I read that this can happen and they can regenerate the tentacles. I would check your water params and make sure everything is right for it to get better. Also, as long as the nem is attached to something it is ok. When it starts rolling around the bottom of the tank, remove it.

I dont have any first hand experience with BTA's just what I read

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

The nem is dead.

 

[shanepike]

Aw, man. I'm sorry to hear that

 

[rdnelson]

Oh man. I hate to hear that. :-(

 

[saltloco]

That's a bummer. I've had the same thing happen with a long tentacle and gbta. By the same clownfish.

 

[hnguyen]

The same thing happened to me when I had my tank awhile back. I bought a small RBTA that was about 2-3" around and put in two maroon clowns. The clown was almost the same size as the nem when it started to host. At first the nem looked beautiful!! All bubbly and everything, then about 2-3 weeks of having the maroon hosting it, it started to lose a lot of its tentacles until there was nothing left. That's when I went out and got a bigger GBTA and places it right next to the RBTA. By doing that the clown started to host the green one more often since it was bigger and that gave time for the RBTA to recover and grow until it was big enough to support the clown. I know this info may be a little to
Late since you said your nem is dead now but maybe it will help you know if you decide to try it again.

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

Thanks for all of the encouragement everyone. I'm going to wait until I have some of the other projects out of the way before I get another one. I'm sure my clowns aren't happy about it. They were literally addicted to that thing.

May not do a BTA next time. Want something a little more exotic (but not a carpet, either)...

Any suggestions???

 

[saltloco]

The rainbows are really colorful. I think they can be pricey. But really awesome looking.

 

[jdavid]

maroons will host anything.. from equipment to condys

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

Just ordered a large RBTA from Spike's coral. Shipping out Monday!!! He has one left if anyone is looking!!!

 

[frantz]

Forgive me if I've missed some of you post before but you do know that nems will shrivel up and come back right? Just want to make sure you don't start tossing them when they still have a chance. That being said, Maroons can be nem killers. You really need to make sure you get one that is much bigger than the fish. It took a few months before my Maroons would just sit in the nem rather than jig around like a fish out of water. Try to get the biggest one you can, or possibly get 2 or 3, while they will typically only host one, they may go to the others giving the main one a break.

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

Thanks Frantz. Trust me, this nem was toast. It more than shriveled up. it was literally dissolving, and everytime I touched it, something else fell off like chalk. Even though it was rolling around the tank like tumbleweed, the clowns were still trying to get at it. Ran carbon and did a couple of 30g water changes after removing it to be sure everything else was not effected.

Maroons are extra tough on nems, it seems. I am sure that the one I have on order is big enough for them. Since it's being shipped, I'm considering placing him in a 10g (plumbed to my DT off of my sump by himself with good lighting and flow for a couple of days to get him acclimated to the tank water and temp before I subject him to my clowns...

Thoughts???

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

She's in acclimation now...

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Holy Bonus Batman!!! Thanks Glenn at Spike's Coral!!!

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[outdrsyguy1]

I look forward to seeing that nem all fat and happy soon!

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

You and me both.

Feeding her a piece of squid in case she doesn't eat for a couple of days while she gets used to the DT.

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Her foot looks healthy too. No cuts or scrapes. Glenn did a good job removing her from her rock.

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[cedzaquaddiction]

Nom Nom Nom!!! He ate the whole thing. I guess it's good that she's eating in acclimation. Now she'll have plenty of strength to handle the clowns and plenty of energy to get acclimated to the DT. I'm about to put her in!!!

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BTW: Here's the BirdsNest frag already coloring up!!!

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[cedzaquaddiction]

One clown has already found her. Videos and pics are uploading now...

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics...

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[outdrsyguy1]

looks like a happy trio
I look forward to seeing more pics in a week or 2
;P