LTA Moved HELP!

R

ryan80

Guest
Let me start by saying that my water quality is very stable, nitrates undetectable (thank you macro-algae), salt 1.25 checked with a refractometer, etc. Have a sunpod with 2 150W 14K halides over 46 gallon and the tank is over a year old.
So I have a LTA that has gotten huge--as in about 16" across when he is fully extended. He has been very happy for about 6 months, however, last night he suddenly sucked back up into the rocks and now is between the rocks and the glass. He can get no light back here and I am worried that he is going to die and nuke my tank--at only 46 gallons I am pretty sure that nothing will survive a death of something that large.
I am assuming that he moved either because I moved a powerhead about 3weeks ago and he was getting too much flow or because a couple of weeks ago my stupid gold stripe maroon started kicking around sand on a nearly constant basis. She clears it out down to the glass right underneath the anemone. I know this is common behavior, but she gets sand all over the anemone, and he usually retracts some when she starts doing it.
Any ideas other than trading it in for a nice small bubble tip that hopefully will settle on the rocks away from the sand. Not thilled about getting anything that could move around a lot and sting all of my corals.
 
truperc

truperc

Member
If it just moved, I would say you should wait.
I guess if you wanted to, you could create heavier flow where it currently resides and see if it moves again as a result.
 
alabama reefer

alabama reefer

Member
It may of felt it was time for a change. At 16" across it would take a lot of wilting away before it died. LTA's are generally sand dwellers. All clown hosting anemones are capable of roaming.
 
rwp1202

rwp1202

Member
LTA's tend to move around every once in a while especially if the flow or lighting changes in the tank. It may be under a rock right now, but it will find it's way out. Just wait and it should settle down in a week or two.
the other thing that could be happening is that it could be getting ready to split. Mine moves around right before it splits and usually ends up right back where it started after it has mowed a path across my 100 gallon reef.
 
sea_nacl_h2o

sea_nacl_h2o

Member
Originally Posted by rwp1202
http:///forum/post/3067005
LTA's tend to move around every once in a while especially if the flow or lighting changes in the tank. It may be under a rock right now, but it will find it's way out. Just wait and it should settle down in a week or two.
the other thing that could be happening is that it could be getting ready to split. Mine moves around right before it splits and usually ends up right back where it started after it has mowed a path across my 100 gallon reef.

Ltas (m.doreensis) don't reproduce asexually they only reproduce sexually. What you are talking about is probably a bta(e. quadricolor) with out the bulbs or bubbles.
My lta will close up at times, like when my chrysopterus annoys it by kicking up sand. Then it will also close up with I need to change the carbon. Do you have a carbon filter? If not, you might want to run carbon. My LTA gets super happy after a carbon change.
 
R

ryan80

Guest
Running carbon at all times. I traded him in to my LFS--will likely use the credit for a little BTA. A foot and a half wide anemone is just too big for a 3 foot tank.
 
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