BTA Dying

so this is a bubble tip that was purchased a little over a week ago. It roamed the tank taking to dark holes/caves with no light so i had no way of feeding it within the last week. when we brought it home, it was healthy and full and now the tips appear to be either missing or possibly chewed? But it has had its mouth open (no strings coming out) for quite a while and it will not eat the shrimp we tried to feed it. I know you are supposed to let it rome and find a spot that it likes but we did flip the rock it was hanging upside down from last night so we had access to it in case we need to take it out... It has begun to shrink and well as shrivel on the tips, any thoughts or idea's as to what is wrong with the bta? I am worried that it is on the verge of dying and need to know if it needs to come out of my tank (dont really want to lose my clowns, fire shrimp or corals) or if there is any help for it at all.
ph-8.2
ammonia-0
salinity-.26
phosphates-always low (dont have exact # right now)

Running 150w metal halides
flow-mg1200, 2 nanos

 

I would suggest that the lighting might be too much my LTA did try to hide at first too and just roamed once.
How old is the tank? Are you able to keep the light low for a bit? Do you have carbon running?

 

looks bleached. Was it white when you got it, or has it bleached since you got it? If since, then it may be improper light acclimation.

 

It was a lot whiter when i purchased it, so it has darkened some. but the tentacles looked a lot better. i can maybe increase my light distance from the water but i don't know if that will help.The tank is about 7 months old.I do have a large bag of carbon and resin running in the back.

 

You could cut the lighting time down.... I did that and m bta came out of it dark cave after a while.... good luck with it!

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Interesting,I have a bta sometimes it shrinks too but it seems to feed,maybe it's just stressed right now,I usually feed mine at night with a turkey baster,is that how you feed yours.

 

Yeah i tried to feed it with a turkey baster but now it is hanging under a rock. I was reading in another forum that someone would put food on their finger and let the anemone take it from them. but where its located now i cant even do that.

 

Your best option is to leave it alone. The more you disturb it, the more stress you cause for the nem and yourself. Not all nems are accustomed to strong lighting or flow and it may take some time for it to acclimate itself to your tank.

 

+1 lower the lighting and flow in the area just let it get use to it's new home. Like my lta it takes a little time.