Anenome getting HUGE!

peachie98

peachie98

Member
Okay...how do you tell when a bta is getting too big for your tank?
I have a 40 gallon and when my bta is extended it is probably at least 7-8 inches in diameter. I'm worried about my corals near it...so far the only thing I've had to move is my trumpet.
I don't know if I should find it a new home or as long as everything around it is okay should I keep it? (my maroon will be devastated if I take it out!).
If I should take it out...how the heck do you dislodge it and get it out? It's attached to the underside of a bunch of liverock far down and would dislodge everything to get to it. :(
 
peachie98

peachie98

Member
I think I'm overreacting...it's not bothering anything around it and it's really happy (so's my maroon...she's be really upset if I got rid of her 'nome).
I just want to know how big these things can get to? Is it going to be okay in a 40 gallon or will it outgrow it soon?
 
aqua_scaping

aqua_scaping

Member
well IT wont get to big but once it splits your going to want to take the clone and sell it so all u do to detach it is point a power head at it.
 
peachie98

peachie98

Member
Okay...here's some pics of my bta...full tank shot and a pic of it with my maroon (she's about 3" big now) with it, and of my sally lightfoot near it (huge slf as well).
It's getting a little crowded but hopefully everything will continue getting along (corals and anenomes).

What's the biggest bta have gotten in your tanks before?


 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
12" Across is not uncommon, I have heard of some BTA's reaching 14"+ they can get quite large, especially when inflated. As for the specific type of anemone you have, I would say BTA. In some instances it can be very difficult to tell an LTA from a BTA, one of the key indicators is, where it resides. Your anemone looks very healthy, if it were an LTA it would most likely be footed deep in your sand bed. BTA's prefer the rock work so they can retract and hide.
 
rod buehle

rod buehle

Member
Originally Posted by PerfectDark
http:///forum/post/2662133
12" Across is not uncommon, I have heard of some BTA's reaching 14"+ they can get quite large, especially when inflated. As for the specific type of anemone you have, I would say BTA. In some instances it can be very difficult to tell an LTA from a BTA, one of the key indicators is, where it resides. Your anemone looks very healthy, if it were an LTA it would most likely be footed deep in your sand bed. BTA's prefer the rock work so they can retract and hide.

besides where it chooses to reside, an LTA (M.doreensis) will have verrucae that is clearly visible.
The anemone in question is a BTA (E.quadricolor) and they can easily reach 12"
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by Rod Buehle
http:///forum/post/2662152
besides where it chooses to reside, an LTA (M.doreensis) will have verrucae that is clearly visible.
The anemone in question is a BTA (E.quadricolor) and they can easily reach 12"
Rod, if it were an LTA where would the Verrucae be located? I thought they are found on the stalk but from the pics you cant see the stalk.
 
ci11337

ci11337

Active Member
The RBTA at my local zoo is way over a foot, and thats just the body of it, the tentacles gotta be 6" too.
 
rod buehle

rod buehle

Member
Verrucae are the little "bumps" on the underside of the oral disc (top of the foot) . Sometimes they are different colored than the anemone but sometimes not. More often than not, the verrucae on M.doreensis ( LTA) anemones is white and clearly visable ( My eyes really arent bad :) but in the other thread, after I pointed out my opinion, I tried to make the others see for themselves without saying that someone is wrong.. Didnt work yet though ;) )
Here is the first pick that I could google that showed verrucae.

that is an H.mag
On an LTA the verrucae will be more prominent, white, and in longitudinal rows
 
peachie98

peachie98

Member
Yeah...It is definitely a bta. When I got it there were the little "bubbles" at the ends but as it grew they have disappeared. I only sometimes see a little enlargement at the ends once in a while when it's not fully extended out.
The base is attached to rockwork as well (actually to the top of a small cave so it's attached upside down and drops down then curves upwards towards the lights).
On top of that...it was ordered from here so unless they sent me the wrong anenome it should be a bta! hahaha
It's always been super happy and healthy...where it attached is right where I put it from day one and it seems super content!
What happens when they split...what can I look for beforehand to watch for it (definitely not enough room for 2 of these suckers so one would have to go to my lfs! haha). Is there a warning such as the rics and such that get an extra mouth or is it just all of the sudden?
 
J

jrthomas40

Guest
man i really wish i could keep anemones...for whatever reason they just dont do well in my tank...do good first few months then doom
 
perfectdark

perfectdark

Active Member
Originally Posted by peachie98
http:///forum/post/2662764
What happens when they split...what can I look for beforehand to watch for it (definitely not enough room for 2 of these suckers so one would have to go to my lfs! haha). Is there a warning such as the rics and such that get an extra mouth or is it just all of the sudden?
It depends on how it splits. Pedal Laceration is one type where the anemone will divide itself in half. It will start to look a bit funky, shriveled maybe mouth open maybe. Its never exactly the same. Or it may bud off of its stem to reproduce, this method doesnt make the anemone IMO look as bad. But there is a definite change in their appearance.
 
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