2 part question

[j4mypets]

I have a BTA and until recently have had some aggressive fish so I couldn't have any crabs, shrimp etc. I added my BTA about 2 months ago, and its doing really well and don't want to do anything to harm him. Can I add crabs or shrimp, will they pick at the nem, or do that not bother them?

Also, how often should I be feeding the nem? I spot feed it just a small piece of scallop once a week, this doesn't seem enough to me. I know that do grab food out of the water column also. I do feed mysis and other food to my fish.

Thanks for any info.

 

[snulma1]

Most clean up crew crabs and shrimp will not bother your BTA. Every now and then they may agitate it and it will shrink. But most will not pick at it.

I feed my BTA 2x a week. And I feed it halves of silversides. I think as long as you have strong enough lighting, then 1-2x a week feeding should be fine.

 

[j4mypets]

snulma1- Thank you very much , hopefully that is why he is doing well, as in the other recent posts, he moves down toward the bottom of the tank also, I have 12k T5's that are brand new, so he must be getting enough light maybe too much. I am concerned because i am breaking down my 180 and he will be moved to a 29 gallon, and I am not sure which lighting i am going to go with.

Another question- Does anybody use LED's? Do the BTA's do ok with them?

 

[bues0022]

Some have done just find with BTA's and LED's. I have no experience in this though. If your lighting is sufficiently strong, you shouldn't even need to feed at all assuming a healthy BTA and proper living conditions. In fact, NOT feeding is a method to restrict its growth rate. I would also suggest not using silversides, and feed small bits of any fresh/frozen meaty foods you would normally feed your fish. There are more than a few cases where people have lost otherwise healthy nems after feeding a silverside.

 

[j4mypets]

bues0022- I had read that about the silversides, and have never offered mine any. I usually offer it scallops. I see alot of people feed theirs mysis, so I will try that also.