anemone help

[Moonstream]

I have decided to get a BTA from my LFS this weekend, and I have a few last questions.

1- would it be okay to feed a silverside twice a week and squirt mysis into the tenticles daily?
2- how can I tell if one is healthy?
3- when should I start feeding it?
4- should I ask to see it fed in the store?
5- what are some tricks I can use to get my A. ocellaris to host in it?

 

[ssavader]

Moonstream, here are the short answers:
1- skip the daily mysis, silversides 2x week ok
2- rich color, not whitened (there are no white BTAs despite what LFS people say), robust tentacles, closed mouth imperative, foot not torn imperative (will result in death)
3- the first week you have it, or after it gets "settled"
4- yes, avoid nems with a poor feeding response
5- try releasing the clown next to the nem, but natural hosting can take up to a year or might never occur.

 

[Toddrtrex]

The only thing I would change from Scott's post is the feeding at the store -- with some conditions.

If it would be a longer drive back, I would not have them feed it right before you get it -- the stress of being in the bag may cause it to regurgitate the food, which would foul the bag water fairly quickly. If you want them to feed it in front of you, do that a couple of days before you take it home.

And personally, I never fed my BTAs that often, they were lucky to be fed twice a month. Right before I sold my last one it was over 15" across.

 

[dalilgriffith]

I agree with Toddrtrex

BTAs are fairly hardy so as long as your parameters are okay and they tank is an established tank of 6 month or more with proper lighting, you should have no issue. My condy and Bta(s) are great even if the condy goes emo every day is shrivels up. lol. I just fed him a damsel and he didnt know what to do with himself. He was like, YUM!

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

Also..don't let them take the bta off the rock if its on a rock. They may say they can safely remove it but no matter what they really can't. If the bta you want is on a rock ..ask them if you can buy the rock the bta is on. If they say you can't then don't buy the anemone.