BTA feeding schedules?
- Thread starter jferrier
- Start date
T
thomas712
Guest
No regular feeding here, in fact I'm convinced that its not really good to over feed an anemone. BTA's can get food in many ways.
1 LIGHTS - A MAIN INGREDIANT one that should not be ingnored and often is. People think that the anemone is like a fish, the lights are only on so that YOU can see them but they need to be fed like the fish do. These are photosynthetic animals and need good strong lighting or they die.
2 by deliberate feedings.They need an occational feeding yes but not like three times a week.
3. by feedings from the symbiotic guest whether it be clownfish, shrimp, crabs. You see not only can the anemone get food from these guys as in clown bringing a flake and spitting it into the anemone but anemones can be some what of a ditrivore as well taking in nurishment from the excriment from these animals.
4. by tanking what it can find in the water colum, whereby a hapless copopod may find itself stuck to the tentical of an anemone, any pod or bug could be food for an anemone.
I have gone many weeks maybe as long as two months without feeding my (5)BTA's, they are fine and healthy, and hosting two false percs.
People who feed them deliberalty 3 and 4 times a week, do you really think they get that much in the wild? rant...
Thomas
1 LIGHTS - A MAIN INGREDIANT one that should not be ingnored and often is. People think that the anemone is like a fish, the lights are only on so that YOU can see them but they need to be fed like the fish do. These are photosynthetic animals and need good strong lighting or they die.
2 by deliberate feedings.They need an occational feeding yes but not like three times a week.
3. by feedings from the symbiotic guest whether it be clownfish, shrimp, crabs. You see not only can the anemone get food from these guys as in clown bringing a flake and spitting it into the anemone but anemones can be some what of a ditrivore as well taking in nurishment from the excriment from these animals.
4. by tanking what it can find in the water colum, whereby a hapless copopod may find itself stuck to the tentical of an anemone, any pod or bug could be food for an anemone.
I have gone many weeks maybe as long as two months without feeding my (5)BTA's, they are fine and healthy, and hosting two false percs.
People who feed them deliberalty 3 and 4 times a week, do you really think they get that much in the wild? rant...
Thomas
T
thomas712
Guest
Originally posted by jacksonpt
How big is the tank, and what kind of lighting do you have?
THis can be a valid point, if your lighting is substandard or a little low then feeding it deliberatly could be more important.
Good point.
THomas
tsl
Member
In my opinion, over feeding anemones is what leads to their early deaths in aquariums. I have kept the same carpet anemone since 1998 and if it gets feed once every three months it is lucky. These animals need light more than they need food and if you over feed them you are asking for an early death IMO.
jacksonpt
Active Member
Originally posted by TSL
In my opinion, over feeding anemones is what leads to their early deaths in aquariums. I have kept the same carpet anemone since 1998 and if it gets feed once every three months it is lucky. These animals need light more than they need food and if you over feed them you are asking for an early death IMO.
I'd be interested to know your tank setup, and what you dose, if anything. How much growth have you seen in your carpet?
I'm a big fan of carpet anemones. I'm on my second S. Haddoni. The first outgrew my tank in just under a year, this one I've had for just over a month.
I've done some reading on these wonderful animals, but I would by no means consider myself and expert. IMO, carpets need more than just lighting and what they can get from the water column. They are predatory animals, and as such, on occasion they need some meaty food. While I'm not sure I agree with feeding them 3-4 times per week, I do believe that they should be fed more frequently than one every 3 months. Though I guess the feeding schedule could be affecting by the quality of your water column.
And just for the record, so the person who started the thread will be clean... BTAs are very different from carpets.
tsl
Member
Experience. When I have feed anemones regularly they have not done well. They do fine for a few months and then die all of a sudden. When you leave them alone and feed them occassionally, they seem to do much better. I can only speak from my experience, but this is what I have seen. If you have clowns hosting in an anemone they do a good job of taking care of it. They drop small pieces of food into the anemone and the anemone also feeds off of their waste. The anemone also gets nutrients from the water.
I'm not trying to tell anyone how they should keep an anemone, that is your choice. Just wanted to share my experiences.
I'm not trying to tell anyone how they should keep an anemone, that is your choice. Just wanted to share my experiences.
T
thomas712
Guest
Originally posted by waterfaller1
What do you base this opinion on??
Sounds like 5 years experience to me. He also said it was his OPINION. so take it as such.
:nervous: still love me carole
THomas
jacksonpt
Active Member
What did you feed the anemones that didn't do well? And what species of anemone were they?
I'm not trying to attack you or your experience... I'm glad you've had success with your current carpet. However, your experience differs from what is generally considered to be the norm for keeping anemones.
I'm not trying to attack you or your experience... I'm glad you've had success with your current carpet. However, your experience differs from what is generally considered to be the norm for keeping anemones.
tsl
Member
I only feed the anemone meaty foods, such as shrimp or fish every three months. It does however get a few fish food pellets that fall into it every day.
One of the main reasons I stopped feeding the anemone regularly was because I did not want it to outgrow my tank. Carpets can become very large and I did not want it to take over my tank. The anemone has maintained its size since I have owned it. It has not shrunk and grows very slowly, just the way I want it. I have had it for many years, so I must be doing something right.
One of the main reasons I stopped feeding the anemone regularly was because I did not want it to outgrow my tank. Carpets can become very large and I did not want it to take over my tank. The anemone has maintained its size since I have owned it. It has not shrunk and grows very slowly, just the way I want it. I have had it for many years, so I must be doing something right.
tsl
Member
I have had bubble tips and other carpets. At the time I had those anemones I also had another tank setup as an aggressive setup with a couple of puffer fish. So I had a lot of frozen meaty foods on hand for feeding them, which meant that I feed the anemones a lot more since I had the foods. These anemones did not fare well after a while.
My current anemone gets feed fresh fish or shrimp when I go salt water fishing and have fresh red fish or speckled trout. I also feed it fresh shrimp when I have that on hand. This particular anemone does not get any frozen foods. Maybe that has something to do with my success in keeping it so long too, I can't be sure.
Like I said this is just my experience. Others may have had success with other methods. Do what you think is best. I am not trying to come off as an "anemone specialist". I just wanted to let people know what has worked for me.
My current anemone gets feed fresh fish or shrimp when I go salt water fishing and have fresh red fish or speckled trout. I also feed it fresh shrimp when I have that on hand. This particular anemone does not get any frozen foods. Maybe that has something to do with my success in keeping it so long too, I can't be sure.
Like I said this is just my experience. Others may have had success with other methods. Do what you think is best. I am not trying to come off as an "anemone specialist". I just wanted to let people know what has worked for me.
jacksonpt
Active Member
You exeriences can only help... thanks for sharing them with us.
One more quesiton... did you ever try to keep btas and carpets together, in the same tank?
I would think (no science behind this) that the use of fresh food can only help your anemone. Nice job with it... do you have any pictures?
One more quesiton... did you ever try to keep btas and carpets together, in the same tank?
I would think (no science behind this) that the use of fresh food can only help your anemone. Nice job with it... do you have any pictures?
tsl
Member
I actually tried to keep a BTA with the carpet I have now several years ago, but didn't have much success. I put the BTA on the other side of the tank from the carpet, but it would never set its foot. I wound up taking it back to the LFS after a week, because it would just get blown around the tank and I didn't want it to die on me.
That was the only time I tried keeping them together.
I might have some pictures at home on my computer. I will have to check after work. I have been meaning to take some new pictures, but just haven't had the time.
That was the only time I tried keeping them together.
I might have some pictures at home on my computer. I will have to check after work. I have been meaning to take some new pictures, but just haven't had the time.
jacksonpt
Active Member
Several people have had experiences similar to this. Many people think carpets and BTAs do some type of chemical fighting when they are placed in the same tank... even tanks as big as 200g. I don't have anything to support this, it's just what I have read on other boards.
jferrier
Member
Interesting schools of thought. I initially asked the question because I read an article where this guys anemone split into over 30 clones over a period of time and he had been feeding 3 times a week for a month followed by a 15% water change two weeks in a row. I've had my bta now for over 2 years and have fed it once to twice a week and it keeps getting larger but has never split.
And, about the anemones fighting I had a long tentacle for a few days and my bta moved from a spot he had been in for over a year clear across the tank to the other anemone in just a few hours and they started stinging each other. Somehow it knew there was competition for its host clown.
And, about the anemones fighting I had a long tentacle for a few days and my bta moved from a spot he had been in for over a year clear across the tank to the other anemone in just a few hours and they started stinging each other. Somehow it knew there was competition for its host clown.
tsl
Member
jacksonpt,
You wanted to know about my setup:
I have a 120 gallon corner reef. It is lighted with VHOs on an Ice Cap ballast. I have a sand bed, although it is not as deep as I would like. I probably have about 250 pounds of live rock and will be getting some more in the near future. I am also going to setup a refugium next month when all of the parts I ordered come in.
I use the following additives:
Kent Marine Turbo Calcium
Seachem Reef Complete
Seachem Reef Builder
Sea-Lab No 28
Tropical Science Marine-Max
All I feed is New Life Spectrum Marine Fish Formula daily and occassionally I feed Tenera Red for my two dwarf angels. As I said before, the only things I directly feed the anemone are fresh shrimp and fish.
You wanted to know about my setup:
I have a 120 gallon corner reef. It is lighted with VHOs on an Ice Cap ballast. I have a sand bed, although it is not as deep as I would like. I probably have about 250 pounds of live rock and will be getting some more in the near future. I am also going to setup a refugium next month when all of the parts I ordered come in.
I use the following additives:
Kent Marine Turbo Calcium
Seachem Reef Complete
Seachem Reef Builder
Sea-Lab No 28
Tropical Science Marine-Max
All I feed is New Life Spectrum Marine Fish Formula daily and occassionally I feed Tenera Red for my two dwarf angels. As I said before, the only things I directly feed the anemone are fresh shrimp and fish.