How long has a BTA bubble tip anemone lived in captivity in your tank?
- Thread starter diane4
- Start date
sula
Member
I'm at the "almost" 6 months mark - ask me again in a few weeks and my answer will change!!!
Didn't Thomas or someone have a thread going awhile ago asking about people's anemone experiences - how long they've had and what combination of lights/flow/etc were in the tank? I always wondered whether any conclusions were drawn from the data gathered...
Didn't Thomas or someone have a thread going awhile ago asking about people's anemone experiences - how long they've had and what combination of lights/flow/etc were in the tank? I always wondered whether any conclusions were drawn from the data gathered...
speg
Active Member
This is a great post. I only hope peoples responses are fact. I ended up getting my first anemone ever when my tank was very young, just finished cycling. I was clueless so.. naturally I didnt know that I should NOT get one. The anemone lived for about 4 months.. it had stayed in the same spot for a couple months but for some reason one day it decided it was time to move somewhere else... when I got home I found it in 4 different pieces in my overflow box. I assume it ended up walking into a powerhead.
I did go out that day and buy a new BTA... I almost wasnt going to... they were on sale at my LFS for $19.99 and I couldnt pass it up. My tank was much better established at that time.. so far the anemone is looking amazing and im around the 1 month mark. The way this BTA looks compaired to my first.. I believe my first was already on the dying path.. this one shows a lot of promise though and im expecting great things
Even when I first purchased it I placed it into my tank on a rock I thought it would look nice on.. I never figured it would just stay there.. it didnt move to another location or nothing.. its still there to this day.. right where I had dropped it in My clown took to it that night as well.
I did go out that day and buy a new BTA... I almost wasnt going to... they were on sale at my LFS for $19.99 and I couldnt pass it up. My tank was much better established at that time.. so far the anemone is looking amazing and im around the 1 month mark. The way this BTA looks compaired to my first.. I believe my first was already on the dying path.. this one shows a lot of promise though and im expecting great things
Even when I first purchased it I placed it into my tank on a rock I thought it would look nice on.. I never figured it would just stay there.. it didnt move to another location or nothing.. its still there to this day.. right where I had dropped it in My clown took to it that night as well.
thegrog
Active Member
Here is a pic of my baby! Has not had the bubble tips since I got it. It will occasionally display them, but not for long. My clowns totally ignore it though.
It never moved since I put it in my tank (55 gal). It has stayed put even when I moved it to a larger tank (125). Sits under MH lighting.
When I got it, it was around 3-4 inches across. Now when it is fully open, it spans almost a foot!!!!
It never moved since I put it in my tank (55 gal). It has stayed put even when I moved it to a larger tank (125). Sits under MH lighting.
When I got it, it was around 3-4 inches across. Now when it is fully open, it spans almost a foot!!!!
hot883
Active Member
Originally Posted by Speg
TheGrog would you mind posting your 'tips for success' ? Feeding, lighting schedual, etc?
I feed my BTA about every 4-5 days and so far that seems to work the best. I also keep my lights on a 9 hour schedual. Mine is under 2 96 watt pc's in a 46 gallon bowfront.
I too would be interested in the feeding schedule etc. on these. I got my 1st one yesterday and was told to feed it a small whole shrimp evry week. Thanks
TheGrog would you mind posting your 'tips for success' ? Feeding, lighting schedual, etc?
I feed my BTA about every 4-5 days and so far that seems to work the best. I also keep my lights on a 9 hour schedual. Mine is under 2 96 watt pc's in a 46 gallon bowfront.
I too would be interested in the feeding schedule etc. on these. I got my 1st one yesterday and was told to feed it a small whole shrimp evry week. Thanks
thegrog
Active Member
I have it under MH lighting. 4.5 watts per gallon. They go on at 9am and off at 9:30 pm.
Also got plenty of random water movement. Got around 17x turnover total.
I do weekly 10% water changes without fail. I also regularly test the water to make sure it is pristine. My nitrates are never higher than 1.0 as I have a low-range test kit. Most of the time they are zero. pH 8.3, Alk ~10dkh, Ca low 400's,
I have plenty of LR, live sand, a fuge running macroalgae and mangroves to remove waste. I also always have a carbon filter running.
As for feeding, it picks up scraps that I feed the rest of the tank. It usually gets a few small peices every night. I only target feed it about once every two or three weeks. then it usually gets a few small slices of Formula One or a few small chunks of my custom slurry blend.
Small, thin chunks are the key I think. Easy to break down and digest. I found that when I gave it larger, thick chunks much of the chunk ended up getting expelled a few days later undigested. With the smaller ones this does not happen. It always gets a variety of foods. With the formula one and my slurry, this is not a problem. They are easy to dissolve and break down too. I think this makes for quick, easily available nutrition.
This is my FIRST and ONLY anemone that I have owned. I am planning another tank to house a carpet right now. The halides come in this week and I will be building the hood next weekend. Leak testing the tank now. Once it is set up and fully cycled, then I will buy the anemone and send it to QT.
I have only ever lost two corals in my tank. One was a large colt that died suddenly without warning. No idea why. :notsure: The other was a small xenia frag that my coral beauty thought was lunch. He has left every other coral alone so I don't know why he liked this one. I have never lost a fish to disease either!!
For my "secrets" of success in not just anemone keeping, but coral and fish keeping, I'll tell you:
1. Research, research and research BEFORE buying ANYTHING! Know what it needs, what it is compatable with, what it is not compatable with, feeding....EVERYTHING!! Dont' get your information from only one source too, get it from as many as you can! I have read 10 or 12 books on reefs, corals, inverts, you name it. I have read THOUSANDS of posts on three different boards. NEVER IMPULSE BUY!!!
2. Quarantine!!!!! If it is wet, it gets a quarantine!!!! Fish, corals, inverts, and even rocks!! (live sand would be the only exception to this) Most everything is in QT for 4 weeks. That is 4 weeks of total health! If it is diseased and gets treated, the clock does not start until it is disease free! Does not have to be an elaborate setup. Just a simple 10-gallon tank with a sponge filter, a HOT filter, heater and a small light. Even anemones can survive a few weeks under a 65w PC light in a 10 gallon tank. Never lost anything to disease, and not going to start now! IMO, there is no such thing as a "reef safe" treatment for disease. In QT, I can treat it appropriately without treating something unnecessairly. Think about it, if one of your family members gets a cold, do you give everyone including the baby medication? Do you give them all the same dose? Of corse not!! Fish and corals are the same way. each needs a specific treatment for a specific illness.
3. Quarantine!!!! Can't emphasize this enough.
Well, time to get off my soapbox.
Help this helps everyone.
Also got plenty of random water movement. Got around 17x turnover total.
I do weekly 10% water changes without fail. I also regularly test the water to make sure it is pristine. My nitrates are never higher than 1.0 as I have a low-range test kit. Most of the time they are zero. pH 8.3, Alk ~10dkh, Ca low 400's,
I have plenty of LR, live sand, a fuge running macroalgae and mangroves to remove waste. I also always have a carbon filter running.
As for feeding, it picks up scraps that I feed the rest of the tank. It usually gets a few small peices every night. I only target feed it about once every two or three weeks. then it usually gets a few small slices of Formula One or a few small chunks of my custom slurry blend.
Small, thin chunks are the key I think. Easy to break down and digest. I found that when I gave it larger, thick chunks much of the chunk ended up getting expelled a few days later undigested. With the smaller ones this does not happen. It always gets a variety of foods. With the formula one and my slurry, this is not a problem. They are easy to dissolve and break down too. I think this makes for quick, easily available nutrition.
This is my FIRST and ONLY anemone that I have owned. I am planning another tank to house a carpet right now. The halides come in this week and I will be building the hood next weekend. Leak testing the tank now. Once it is set up and fully cycled, then I will buy the anemone and send it to QT.
I have only ever lost two corals in my tank. One was a large colt that died suddenly without warning. No idea why. :notsure: The other was a small xenia frag that my coral beauty thought was lunch. He has left every other coral alone so I don't know why he liked this one. I have never lost a fish to disease either!!
For my "secrets" of success in not just anemone keeping, but coral and fish keeping, I'll tell you:
1. Research, research and research BEFORE buying ANYTHING! Know what it needs, what it is compatable with, what it is not compatable with, feeding....EVERYTHING!! Dont' get your information from only one source too, get it from as many as you can! I have read 10 or 12 books on reefs, corals, inverts, you name it. I have read THOUSANDS of posts on three different boards. NEVER IMPULSE BUY!!!
2. Quarantine!!!!! If it is wet, it gets a quarantine!!!! Fish, corals, inverts, and even rocks!! (live sand would be the only exception to this) Most everything is in QT for 4 weeks. That is 4 weeks of total health! If it is diseased and gets treated, the clock does not start until it is disease free! Does not have to be an elaborate setup. Just a simple 10-gallon tank with a sponge filter, a HOT filter, heater and a small light. Even anemones can survive a few weeks under a 65w PC light in a 10 gallon tank. Never lost anything to disease, and not going to start now! IMO, there is no such thing as a "reef safe" treatment for disease. In QT, I can treat it appropriately without treating something unnecessairly. Think about it, if one of your family members gets a cold, do you give everyone including the baby medication? Do you give them all the same dose? Of corse not!! Fish and corals are the same way. each needs a specific treatment for a specific illness.
3. Quarantine!!!! Can't emphasize this enough.
Well, time to get off my soapbox.
Help this helps everyone.
thegrog
Active Member
Originally Posted by Bang Guy
Great looking Anemone Grog!
Thanks!! That pic is about 6 months old and in my 55. I wanted to take a new pic and post it, but it is pooping right now so I don't think you guys want to see that! I'll post a current pic when it is a little more......photogenic.
Great looking Anemone Grog!
Thanks!! That pic is about 6 months old and in my 55. I wanted to take a new pic and post it, but it is pooping right now so I don't think you guys want to see that! I'll post a current pic when it is a little more......photogenic.
T
thomas712
Guest
5 Years and still splitting and going strong.
T
thomas712
Guest
Originally Posted by Sula
Didn't Thomas or someone have a thread going awhile ago asking about people's anemone experiences - how long they've had and what combination of lights/flow/etc were in the tank? I always wondered whether any conclusions were drawn from the data gathered...
At one time I did start such a thread, but due to lack of participation it was unstuck and allowed to disapear into the dust.
Didn't Thomas or someone have a thread going awhile ago asking about people's anemone experiences - how long they've had and what combination of lights/flow/etc were in the tank? I always wondered whether any conclusions were drawn from the data gathered...
At one time I did start such a thread, but due to lack of participation it was unstuck and allowed to disapear into the dust.