RBTA question

cholland

cholland

Member
I got a RBTA about a month ago. He was being hosted by my gold stripe maroon and my smaller white stripe maroon. Yesterday when I came home, the clowns had moved to the other anemones in the tank. The RBTA looks normal, like coloration and eating. The only difference lately is the tentacles have been retracted for about 2 days.
Is this normal or is there something wrong?
 
T

thomas712

Guest
One theory is that the clowns may be taking the nematocysts from one anemone and bringing them to another thus stinging it. A little mucus transference perhaps.
 
22caddy

22caddy

Member
One theory is that the clowns may be taking the nematocysts from one anemone and bringing them to another thus stinging it. A little mucus transference perhaps.
Exactly, but depends on what the other anemones are.
 
cholland

cholland

Member
The other anemones in the tank are bubble tips. I only have PC lighting, so I did not get any other kinds for fear of killing them.
I don't think they were taking the nematocysts to another anemone. They were just taking the tentacles into their mouth and then biting off the tip. Sometimes they did not bite off the tip, but it was strange behavior nonetheless.
All the anemones are spaced out in the tank, so none are close to each other. I did that so that each clown would have their own and would not get into disputes.
As of today they have completely abandoned the RBTA. I spot feed the RBTA last night and it ate, but still looks stubby.
:confused:
 
T

thomas712

Guest

Originally posted by cholland
I don't think they were taking the nematocysts to another anemone. They were just taking the tentacles into their mouth and then biting off the tip.
As of today they have completely abandoned the RBTA. I spot feed the RBTA last night and it ate, but still looks stubby.
:confused:
Hmmm, If something were biting my tips off I would be firing my nematocysts at it, thus lodging them in their mouth and around there facial area. I would also be shrinking due to the damage they were causing me.
If the clowns then went from anemone to anemone these nematocysts could easily be transfered.
Also I might be leaking some type of chemical into the water column that might affect other corals and animals with the wounds that I had recieved from having my tips bit off.
I would not rule out this theory. At least I would consider it as a possibility, but then I'm no expert.
I would think as long as the anemones are not clones of the same anemone this could be the problem.
Thomas
 
cholland

cholland

Member
"Also I might be leaking some type of chemical into the water column that might affect other corals and animals with the wounds that I had recieved from having my tips bit off."
I agree with your above statement, so I tested the water yesterday and nothing was wrong. But it makes me nervous everyday while I am at work.
I just hate to lose it. I got a really good deal on it and of course it is a very colorful addition.
Thanks for the advice!
 
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