Anemone not sticky

[mikeintosh]

I just purchased an green bubble tip anemone with a purple base which seemed quite healthy. It settled into a spot nicely and seems to be doing well in the tank. I was wondering, though, if there should be cause for concern if the anemone isn't sticky. Because of the lack of stickiness, I can't feed it.

Will it eventually get its tackiness back?

Thanks

 

[flasher1]

Believe it or not, I have not fed my BTA since the second week I had it. Anemones have a photosynthetic zooanthelae in them which form a symbiotic relationship with the anemone. The anemone gives them a place to live and the zooanthelae provides the anemone with excess food.

Mine is very healthy and it wont take food either. What kind of lighting is your nem under and what are your params just to be on the safe side??

Mike

 

[Toddrtrex]

IMO, a healthy anemone will take food -- it may be a matter of getting the right type of food -- but they should always take it.

I don't feed my BTA all that often, but when I do it will grab the food and consume it completely in less than 30 seconds. ( heck, that goes for my LTA and Haddonii carpet as well )

mikeintosh -- how long has it been in your tank??

 

[fatdaddy]

Re: Anemone not sticky

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10048522#post10048522 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikeintosh
IWill it eventually get its tackiness back?

I bought a BTA when I was a noob from the LFS. It was bleached and it has been somehow holding on the last 9 months. It originally accepted shrimp pieces, but then stopped eating that. I thought it was fine as it had recovered it's on board algae and become a rusty brown color. However, it was slowly shrinking and it continued to refuse food. What to do?

I was feeding some zoos ground up mysis shrimp, so I give the BTA the last squirt. It immediately closed up and ate it. I've been steadily feeding it since then, and it looks much better and has even recovered some size.

It still won't eat silversides or shrimp, but it will eat rehydrated plankton, mysis shrimp, krill, etc.

I'd recommend trying different foods until you find something it likes.

Not sure about the stickiness. It's lack of stickiness makes it a lot harder to feed mine, but I put in the extra effort. It's tentacles are looking better, so I'd give it a big fat maybe.

I also have a maroon clown hosting in it, and it's under MH lighting.

 

[mikeintosh]

I have it under about 180w of pc's and 300 watts of 14k mh lighting. So I know lighting shouldn't be an issue. I've already had prior success keeping an rbta, but never encountered a healthy "looking" anemone that wasn't sticky. The maroon pair even try their hardest to keep food in it.

I'll give other types of food a try, though.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[mikeintosh]

I have it under about 180w of pc's and 300 watts of 14k mh lighting. So I know lighting shouldn't be an issue. Params are pretty much zero. I've already had prior success keeping an rbta, but never encountered a healthy "looking" anemone that wasn't sticky. The maroon pair even try their hardest to keep food in it.

I'll give other types of food a try, though.

Thanks for the feedback.