Wondering BTA

[allan]

After a week of wondering around my tank this fella finally settled in a quiet corner.

Now if I can just figure out how to herd my two clowns over to it...

2910

[seatrueblue]

About the getting your clowns to use the bta as a host. If they don't take to it immediately then you may end up waiting a while. You could try the taping a picture of a clown with its host anemone on the tank. There are people that say this works. I think its silly, but I guess it doesn't hurt to try. lol

[msmith619]

I found this link to a really good site for any and all questions you ever wanted to ask about BTAs. Way more information than any other site I have seen. If you thought about asking it, it has been addressed here!
Mike
http://www.karensroseanemones.com/thesickrose.htm

[LittleReef]

There are a couple of free online books about Anemone fishes, and their host anemones.


THIS (http://www.nhm.ku.edu/inverts/ebooks/intro.html) is a very good book by Dr. Daphne G. Fautin.

[captexas]

Were they hosting in it before it started moving around? If so, try putting their food next to the anemone so that they have to go over to it to eat.

[allan]

Thanks for all the advice. I really like the one about the picture :)

Unfortunately my earlier assertion that both my BTA and I had come to understanding was incorrect. Wonderlust has seemed to take the creature to the back aquarium wall near the surface of the water.

This morning when I found it I quickly moved my K4 to the front (not happy with that) to prevent a mishap.

I think it's moving around so much perhaps looking for food. I've sprinkled some in its maw while feeding the other fish but I haven't fed it any larger pieces yet. I've been waiting for it to settle down. Could it be looking for food?

On a side note, my larger clown has been looking at it...

[seatrueblue]

What kind of clowns do you have? The anemone is looking for a good spot in your tank. Where it can get plenty of light, flow, and protection for its foot. If its not attached to a rock and still moving around. I would look for a crevice in a rock and stick the anemones foot in there.

[allan]

I have the orange and black lined clowns. Percs?

Three days and it still is in the upper rear corner of my tank. I fed it last night a chunk of HEB shrimp. She devoured it readily and seems happier for it.

I have a long tentacle that rolls around like a tumbleweed. I've placed it within crevices, within a rocky moat, within a cave that it can reach out for light to no avail. She sticks for a minute and within the day is loose rolling around the tank. She looks healthy but quite frankly I've run out of places to put her.

[seatrueblue]

Your bta is on the glass near the surface of the water? What kind of lights do you have?

An lta that won't attach when
1. not happy with the water movement<usually this is the reason
2. its annoyed with other things in your tank. examples : inverts, other anemones, fish or parameters.
3. its foot is damaged

Long tentacle anemones like calm waters and they like their foot in the sand. How deep is your sand? How long have you had the long tentacle?

[allan]

I have a 72" tank that's 18" deep. My lights are two blue HO actinics 36", two white HO 36" (both sets are T5), and two T8 36" blue actinics.

I do not believe that her foot is damaged, it appears to be uniformly brown with minor striations.
Could be water flow in the area that I originally placed her. The annoyance can certainly be the p-shrimp. Those fellas are the most opportunistic little animals that I've ever seen. If I were able to catch them I would remove them to the fuge.

The long tentacle has been with me going on two weeks. Didn't know about burying her foot. But I've definitely given her the opportunity to bury it herself. Sand bed is anywhere from an inch to three inches in parts. Safe mean would be right at the 2" level.

[MKCindy]

Well, Allen, she is just not ready to settle down yet. Mine roamed for a while on my back wall, so of course I couldn't see or get to her, then one day she settled down on a LR and stayed for about a year. Recently, I upgraded to a Mag 12 return and the BTA moved right in front of the return and loves the increased current in her new home. On a side note, if you have the newer K4, they came with a protective cross shield and directional attachment that holds it in place. It keeps snails from going in too. If you are not using it, might be a good idea.

[allan]

That right there may be the problem. I've been trying to keep it in minimal flow areas.

This morning it looks as if she is going to travel again. I will have some patience and see where she ends up.

[seatrueblue]

I do not believe that her foot is damaged, it appears to be uniformly brown with minor striations.


When you say brown foot.. are you talking about your BTA or LTA? LTAs don't have a brown foot, it is either orange or bright red. Can I see a picture of the LTA?