BTA Questions

[Mr_Cool]

I got a couple of bubble tips yesterday. One is green and the other is rose. They're both about 3" in diameter, and look like they're doing fine. The green one was on a rock I had to buy because they just could not get it off the rock. The rose one was loose, though.
I floated the rose one for about an hour, and then "placed" him where I wanted him. He kind of moved down between some rocks last night, but today he out a little better. The problem is that he's kind of on the back side of the rock. Can I move him to a better spot? How would I go about doing that, anyway? Or, would it be better to let him go, and see if he finds a better spot on his own? I just don't want him to hide where I can't see him.

Also, how long should I wait before introducing some clowns? Are the anemones big enough to host yet? Any suggestions here would be great. I was thinking about some Ocellaris and maybe some Clarkii's. I've heard to stay away form the maroon or tomatoes unless they are by themselves. Any input?

[jrnannery]

Welcome to the wonderful world of anemones, I'll be your tour guide. They will go wherever, whenever they wish. You have absolutely NO control, and my best advice to you is to enjoy them while they are visible, when they are visible.

I don't think you have to wait too long to introduce your clowns, but what are their comparative sizes? My mated pair are RARELY in the rather large LTA that I have. Usually, one will host one fish, and the bubble (Bubbles is its' name) will host the other clown.

Richard

[erick]

Leave him alone. Anemones are motile invertebrates (motile=moving). He will find a place that suits him and plant himself there . Dont worry about not being able to see him, they need LOTS of light, and he will find a place that suits him light/current wise, reaching towards the light (cant very well do that hidden beneath rocks) ^_^ ..... Having said that he WILL move around your tank, the other one might possibly move also, be sure to have sponges/protectors on all of your pump intakes, as they have this wonderful (joking) tendency to get caught and die in the intake/pumps! :o BTA's love to attatch their foot to rocks, so it is no suprise that one of them would not come loose, even better that you purchased him with the rock. The anemones can host clowns right now, although neither need each other to live a happy/normal life. Sometimes it can be a crapshoot as to whether an anemone will host/be hosted by a clown :wacko . My BTA has a Maroon clown that lives with him, but Maroons are notorius tank bullies, and have a large area around their choosen anemone that they will defend vigorously :angry . At my school (I teach), we have a condylactis that has a Clarki that feeds it. The Clarki doesnt get close to the anenomes tentacles though, so their relationship is kinda wierd. He will defend an area around the Conde, but refuses to touch him, unlike my Maroon and BTA in which the clown practically lives inside the BTA 23-24hrs a day :wub . Clarkis can grow quite large quite fast too. 1 Maroon or Tomato to a tank, or introduce mated pairs at the same time. You can mate/pair them yourself, but this too is a crapshoot :skeezy . If you do try it, take a large one and a considerably smaller one and try that pairing. Clowns are asexual (hope this term is correct) as any one can either be male or female or switch from one to the other (one will assume dominance and become the female... or male not sure of this dynamic, but they will change sex). Good luck, and BTW, dont be alarmed if you look at them and all of a sudden they look as if they are dying (shriveled up) :cry , they do frequent water changes to acclimate themselves to the changing environment, as they are almost 95%+ made up of water, and they will soon refill with fluid and look happy once again.

[Mr_Cool]

What about adding OTHER types of anemones? Could I add a Long Tentacled or a Condy? I've heard that they these kinds really move around and will sting other anemones or corals.

What about the Sebae? (Sp?) I've heard that these will host just about any clown, look great for a little while, then all of a sudden they die.

One more question: Should I worry about my Atlantic Blue tang if I add some smaller clowns? He really beat up a yellow tang about a year ago, and can be pretty territorial at times. But, that was with a tang. He pretty much leaves my four stripe damsel and the green chromis alone.

[erick]

I would not mix anem's.. Condy's are tough, but they can hurt your more expensive anem's. You can get condys from Port A if ya want to :unsure ..... It has been well documented that BTA's are known to split in tanks, and before you know it, you have a whole bunch of em, covering everything. They dont have to be large either, small ones have been known to split if conditions are right, or if they are prompted to split (thats another discussion). So if you add more anem's, you might be in for trouble down the line. All anem's can/will move and they all will sting anything they touch, the clowns just have an enzyme on their outer skin that keeps them from getting stung. I have had to cover my clams/corals when I noticed my BTA moveing to keep them protected (yet another story) :mellow Here is a pic of mine right after feeding, he's about twice the size in the pic, he tucks himself in when fed

[Mr_Cool]

OK. Thanks for the advice. BTW, I covered my power head intakes about 15 min. ago. ;)
( I acutally knew to do this, just forgot about it!)

[shockz]

My LTA is pretty big, and is nicely wedged in a corner of my 60g tank. He stuck himself inbetween the glass and a rock and footed on the sand. He didnt really move around the tank much at all, just kinda stayed in that one spot. He definately doesnt look like hes moving anytime soon. I want to add a BTA though, because my larger (false) perc is kicking the other 2 perc's out and wont let them in the LTA a lot of the time. He is pretty territorial about the LTA, so I wanna get the other 2 percs hosting in a BTA. Has anyone else had that problem with their percs? would a BTA and LTA be ok in the same tank? If so what would i need to watch out for...

[erick]

For one,you run the risk of the BTA and the LTA stinging each other :o , one will win and one will lose, or the possibility of the BTA or the LTA splitting and over-running your tank. 3 percs can be an unruly situation in a small tank. It is not suprising that the larger one is bullying the other two :angry . Another anemone might help, but the small size of the tank with 3 clowns in it will be an ongoing problem as all three grow larger :unsure . LTA's llike to get their foot in the sand, BTA's like rock..... If you get a BTA, make sure he has a couple of good rocks he can get his foot on spread around the tank, as he will search for a place that suits him. I feel that if you did introduce a BTA, and he quickly found a place to settle, you might be ok for a while... But remember that all anemones are motile, and can move at anytime :(

[jroescher]

I have 3 large bta's in a 120 tank, with 3 clowns (2 small percs paired and 1 large tomato clown). The anemones are at opposite ends of the tank, but the tomato clown controls ALL anemones.

I don't think mixing the clowns works well no matter how big the tank is.

[erick]

Heh, those Tomatoes are little bullies eh :cry ... I love the pitbull/bulldog look they have that goes with their attitude ;)