2nd nem? any possible issues?

[reef tank 2.0]

I currently have a 130 gallon tank. Mixed Reef, and one BTA. The BTA is on one end of the tank and is a good 6-9" in diameter.

I have the opportunity to get a rose BTA. Are their any issues that I would need to consider if I were to take the 2nd BTA on?

 

[humphreyhh]

btas shoukd be ok to mingle together. But there are always outliers that can't eve deal with their own kind... anemones are weirdos.


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[hottuna]

Some talk about chemical warfare between wild caught and captive bred BTA's...Don't know if it's true,but I've seen one guy post a warning that his whole tank full of "high end" sunburst anemone clones got wiped out after he introduced a wild caught specimen...just saying

 

[davocean]

No issues, other than you may end up w/ more than 2 at some point, often a split occurs when new to tank

 

[D-Nak]

Some talk about chemical warfare between wild caught and captive bred BTA's...Don't know if it's true,but I've seen one guy post a warning that his whole tank full of "high end" sunburst anemone clones got wiped out after he introduced a wild caught specimen...just saying

I've read/heard about this too. It's a point of contention and I'm not sure where I stand. I definitely don't think nems become "domesticated" to the point where they no longer have allelopathic tendencies. In order words, I don't think the time in captivity determines how strong their chemical defense mechanisms are. We don't even know if allelopathy actually affects the same species.

There are also male and female BTAs and I think this affects how they interact with one another too. Plus, there are both apparently colonial and solitary forms of BTAs.

All that said, if you're talking about normal BTAs and RBTAs, then I don't think it's a big deal to have some together. You'll know if a few weeks if they're not compatible.

 

[dmsprague]

I have purchased 3 from different sources and now have over 40. They have finally stopped splitting and are growing large but all get along some are just about on top of each other. Funny thing is except for an occasional run away they tend to stay put.

 

[davocean]

I'm usually not concerned w/ same species, and many keep nem specific w/ multiples, especially BTA's.

The only time I ever had an issue was mixed species, LTA and crispa, and that spans a 33 year period of keeping anemone's, and they were directly up against each other as one moved.

I don't doubt chem warfare exists and can happen, but I don't see or hear much about it really, and I think my one time was from direct contact of mixed species.

BTA's I've had multiples touching and never saw an issue.

New to tank BTA's often split from what seems to be new tank/params, possible shock or stress, that's pretty common.

Of course this is just my own personal experience I'm sharing, and they are animals, so many things are possible, but I would not expect issues.

Touching, doing something that disturbs them, much like you'll see even euphyllia slime up from handling them would more likely trigger a response IMO