BTA not sticking

I got a BTA a while back and it was sticking firmly to the rocks before, but now it won't put its foot down on anything. It isn't floating around the tank (i have a giant clam shell that it is hanging around in) When I touch it, it is slimy and kind of sticky, but I can't get it to grab on to anything. When I do get it to hold onto the rock it just moves again so that it is floating in the clam shell. It fully expands itself every once in a while but it hasn't lately. Any ideas?

Running 2 Jebaos in the tank, but it can't get into either one. Flow in the tank is good, and lighting is high, levels all check out, but I can't figure it out.

Thanks.

Update: I tried getting it to stick again and after I rinsed my hands I noticed that my hand is stinging where the BTA tentacles were touching my skin. Good sign or bad?

 

Sounds bad. A BTA or any other anemone should always be footed and expand/inflate daily. If you anemone is not doing that the prognosis is poor.

If possible put the anemone is a low flow area with rock, if it does not attach in 24 hours I would remove it.

 

I moved it to another tank and it has swelled up to full size, but still isn't sticking. My clowns love it and are snuggling up all over it, but still no sticking.

 

Have you checked the foot for injuries?

 

Sometimes if it is being irritated, like by clowns trying to host, they won't stick or will stick themselves in a spot that isn't ideal light wise. its good that it is inflating, but i would watch the clowns for a bit.

 

i agree. the clowns can be preventing it from attaching

 

I'm setting up a new tank. I'l move the anemone without moving the clowns when it is all done. See if I can get it to stick in the new tank without the clowns annoying it.

Foot looks great. Has some kind of slimy stringy stuff floating around it. It still stings my hand when I touch it. Like my hand actually burns for a while after touching its tentacles.

 

FTR, contrary to popular belief, not all nems appreciate strong flow and lighting. The one that done best for me and never once moved in seven years was in my very first SW tank with an airstone-powered UGF and a standard single-bulb fluorescent hood.

Also, nems are highly sensitive to being handled. We may sometimes think we're only trying to help, but we're not helping at all; human intervention equals stress, and stress can cause it's health to further degrade.

 

+1 to all advice given so far, i would avoid touching it or moving it yourself you'll just stress her out more.

 

Don't touch it. Let it do its thing for a week or so.