Anemone not growing

[cincyjim]

Current is pretty good in my opinion. I have two 6095s running at 70% alternating from 70 to 60% during daylight hours. My return is a Vectra M1 running at full throttle so I'm probably getting 1400gph return after head loss. The RBTA seems really happy where it is just not growing any. Beats me lol.

 

[slief]

So I've had my rose bubble tip anemone for a little more the a month now. The problem is, it's the same exact size as when I bought it. My water quality is fine, I've even fed it several times. I have two hydra 26 leds. What usually causes anemones to not grow? Also, it has never extended its tentacles. It just looks like a circle of bubbles. I was told it may be due to them getting enough light and they do not need to extend their tentacles. If you have leds, let me know what you keep them at. Thanks.

First off, a month is not enough time to expect growth from an BTA? Second, RBTA's and other anemones are photosynthetic filter feeders and really don't need to be fed. They prefer systems that are somewhat nutrient rich and most importantly, mature systems. You should never put a BTA into a newly setup system. It takes a year and sometimes more for a system to be fully mature. How long has your tank been setup?

I've been keeping BTA's for decades. My current BTA is well over 2' across and I've had him over 10 years and he's been in the same spot in my tank the entire time. I have one of his twins in my other tank. I NEVER feed BTA's and they are always healthy and grow insanely large. I don't care what anybody tells you or what you read online but don't feed BTA's chunks of shrimp from the store or silversides or anything else. I know there are so called anemone experts with sites online that suggest doing so but it's not needed. Their metabolism isn't suited for those kinds of foods and while they will consume them, you will stress them and cause them to split which is a BTA's method of insuring it's survival. If you feed them anything, target feeding mysis or brine shimp via a turkey baster or syringe is all you need to do. BTA's should get most of their needed nutrition from nutrients in the water and excess food from the fish feeding. That said, BTA's do like somewhat intense light. As such, they usually find their way up higher in the water column. I will also note that BTA's like moderately high flow. Mine are happiest near the flow from power heads.

 

[Eel_Enthusiast1]

My tank has been running for approximately six months. Also, thanks for the info.

 

[slief]

My tank has been running for approximately six months. Also, thanks for the info.

Your tank is still really young and not mature yet. Do you have much in the way of fish as a nutrient source for the BTA?

 

[davocean]

Good comments made by Slief, especially on the issue of silversides, avoid them.

One thing to keep in mind w/ anemone's is what we typically see as signs in other animals as success, is not exactly true w/ anemone's, reproduction/splitting, and also size, size is not a real great determining factor, as they are photosynthetic, they may swell and expand in order to increase their surface area for more light intake, and they may reduce in size adjusting under new stronger light, so bigger does not always mean better.

I've had some anemone's for many years that changed size and color under different lighting or conditions or even changes in parameters, sometimes actually looking better when smaller as they colors seemed brighter.

I also agree a month is a very short time period of observation.