110g Mixed Reef V2

[Delphinus]

Originally Posted by fishytime

Wont it wither away back there with reduced lighting? I ask this because mine did the same thing. It moved from up front to behind a rock and I have to strain even to get a look. I am concerned because it is quite dark where she has rooted( did I mention I just plain cant see it). Is ther some way to encourage her to move? Small powerhead maybe?

It can happen. Sometimes they are just adjusting to different light levels than they are accustomed to so they seek out a darker spot on their own, but whether they are smart enough to come out on their own...

A small powerhead works quite effectively in encouraging them to move. They don't like that at all.

I find that the best spot that they can find is one where they can completely wedge their foot ("pedal disk") into a cave or crevasse and then they can "peek out" (the top or "oral disk" only) into the light and current. Not too much current and not too little current. ("This porridge is too hot. This porridge is too cold. This porridge is just right." Good luck finding the happy medium.) If you make a spot like that in the front then it might stay put. Sometimes they just wander though. It's weird. My old brown BTA stays put like a rock unless it splits. My old rose would never split and would change spots all the time. Basically identical conditions (same tank). So I guess there is individual-to-individual preferences..

Anyhow short answer yes a small powerhead does work really well. I've had to do that trick in the past if I wanted to sell a clone and I couldn't get at it, I did the wee powerhead pointed at it trick and it encouraged movement within a couple of hours up to maybe the longest I think was about a day.