Bubble Tip Anenome

[fisherwoman]

I recently aquired a small bubble tip anenome. Its been in my 30 gallon tank for 1 week and seemed to be thriving. My false percula clownfish loves it, and the anenome even seems to be growing. However, when I woke this morning the anenome had pulled all of its tentacles into its 'stalk' or 'base'. Slowly its opening up, but is this 'normal'. Is it unhappy? Is this a warning sign of a premature death? Help!

[MikeP]

I wouldn't worry too much - if it detaches from the rock and balls up that's usually not good. My Bubble Tip will sometimes retract it's tentacles at night or when it needs a break from the clown. One thing to remember is to feed it a few times a week - I feed a couple of small silversides soaked in Selcon every 3rd day or so.

[Isis]

Make sure when feeding that the pieces are small and chopped or it will not completely digest the food, where it will later regurgitate the food (this usually happens at night so scavengers have time to eat it leaving you thinking that it did eat it all). You can also feed it other types of fresh saltwater fish, mine used to like smelt and cod.

[fisherwoman]

Thanks for the advice! My little anenome righted itself later on - so I guess I was just freaking out. I've also started to feed it live brine and will get it some shrimp next time I go to the store. Thanks

[matt]

Try feeding it a half cube of Formula VHP, if you can't get it to eat whole shrimp. They usually will accept this. I think the natural diet for BTA are crustacians, so krill or shrimp is probably the closest thing. Mine will take VHP and frozen krill, for almost 2 years now. As far it retracting, maybe the clown was irritating it a bit. If it's only been in the tank a week, it's probably still pretty stressed.

Matt

[::pete::]

My BTA and LTA both are feed a chunck (pea size) of frozen food every other day. As for the flavor, I give them whats opened at the time and sit and watch as they close up on it and finish it off. Both are doing fine. After losing the Sebea I stick to feeding them every other day and both anemones are looking bigger and better.

Pete

[Isis]

I am sure you know this, but I can't stress enough about putting sponge filters on your power heads....