Anemone smart enough to know the shade?

[jdizzle707]

My anemone has picked up a spot between a rock and a large Kenya Tree. He hasn't looked as healthy as when I first picked him up. Lost quite a few tentacles and maybe an smaller in diameter by an inch.

Is this guy smart enough to know that there are other spots in the tank with more light or should I move his rock so he gets maximum lighting? He looks like he could use more light.

I'm running 2x150 MH (phoenix) and 2x54W (T5 actinics).

THanks

 

[GhostCon1]

What type of anemone is it? From what I've read, most nems will move around till they find a spot they like.

 

[vaporize]

Not they are not, they are stupid. they will move into the shade and maybe die in there (BTAs). They choose flow first before they choose the lighting. So if they stay in the shade, make sure you move it back out to somewhere you can feed it.

 

[Steve71175]

This is a great question. I have a 6 month old GBTA that chose to settle down underneath an overhang and doesn't get direct light. It's growing quickly and appears healthy aside from being slightly bleached. I've toyed with the idea of trying to move it to a spot where it can get better light. But, I've always thought that they will move to a spot that has good flow and lighting.

 

[vaporize]

good flow - yes, lighting does not seem to be as big a factor. In terms of flow they are annoying that they will prefer the "suck" flow like getting into a powerhead; more than the outflow (blown by a powerhead).

I was once told by a collector that alot of the BTA are actually collected in deep water like 40-60 feet + , so they are actually slowly acclimating to the stronger lighting.

 

[dh350twin]

Along for the ride i just purchased my first GBTA and am interested to hear all oppinions.

 

[Steve71175]

Bumping this thread to get more opinions.

 

[SLove1104]

I keep hearing that nems will move if they don't like their placement... My experience, they stay where I've put them... lol.

I have a GBTA that found the first rock it came to once I put him in my tank... an inch away. Hasn't moved since I got him two weeks ago.

My RBTA that I got 4 months ago did the same thing. Though this guy found a place that wasn't very viewable so I moved him... He stayed put there too... I also moved it again two days ago... still there and hasn't moved...

So ya... Neither one of my nems move... Unless of course they actually like the spots I put them at... They are both almost to the substrate about 30" under 400w MH...

 

[GhostCon1]

My Haitian pink tip moved about 5 inches from where I put, thought it was good, then it moved again 2 days later in between two rocks.

A flower nem that was a hitchiker has moved all over these two rocks, he moves everyday.

 

[nikon187]

They can and will move on their own but i wouldn't call them smart as they don't have a brain.

 

[BonsaiNut]

In my opinions anemones chose location based on the following:

(1) Physical security of their base / foot
(2) Flow
(3) Lighting

I have seen many anemones "commit suicide" by moving back into or under a rock pile to find a secure location that turns out to be low flow and / or no light. Sand anemones will do anything to find a deep location in a sand bed, while rock anemones will seek out cracks and crevices in the rock work.

I have had large anemones that anchor themselves way back in the rockwork, and then extend themselves 12" or more to reach light and flow. In the event of danger or stress, they can pull themselves far back into the rocks.

 

[Spazdad]

mine loves to hide in a cave and pop out when its light out.. If the clown ****es him off he just backs into the hole.

 

[mavjoy]

I just got a RBTA yesterday and it already moved by this morning in between 2 rocks. It's more shaded but it's still getting some light. The flow is good but just worried of not getting enough light. How often do you guys feed it?

 

[dh350twin]

Bump for a good topic

 

[jdizzle707]

I have two: A GBTA and a GBTA with a purple foot.

The GBTA with purple foot has stayed with the rock I got with him. The rock is a flat overhang situated 3/4 towards the top of the tank. His foot looks secure and comfy but he is right next two two large Kenya trees. He has been eating a small cube of tuna every other day--I might cut that back down to a weekly feeding. IMHO, it still gets a lot of light but it is shaded by the Kenyas. What worries me about this guy is him losing a lot of tentacles. All my water params are in check except for my alk which is around 7dkh.

Photo when I first got him:

What he looks like a couple weeks ago (thought he was splitting but he didn't):

The other GBTA has moved deep in the rocks. I have to really get an angle with a flashlight just to see the tips of his tentacles. The tentacles are still nice and green. Sometimes expanded and sometimes not. One time he occupied so much of the rocks underneath that I thought he split into two. But I can't tell for sure. My Maroon clown follows him under the rocks at night. I might have to make a decision soon to tear down my rockwork just to get to that guy. I certainly dont want him dying in there and blowing up the rest of my tank. Wish I can get my new tank up and running so I can isolate the nems and SPS from the fishes.


BTW, in efforts to raise my alk, I've been dosing Reef Builder by Seachem. 6 teaspoons per gallon dripped overnight.

 

[schriss]

Just found this great thread.

My GBTA is in my tank for 2-3 days and it basically stayed where I put it, it just moved 1 inch into a crevice. Problem is it's VERY shaded area and there was no way it would extend to reach out the light. I left it be until I found this thread.
So I did an experiment, took my 5W flashlight and pointed at GBTA with only few cm distance, it started to inflate and turned in my direction. Whatever side I was puting light on, it would turn in that direction inflating bubbles.
For few minutes I tried to make it move by puting light on the edge of it, but no luck. I wonder if it was able to feed some from the 5W flashlight, I was playing with it for 10-15 minutes.
So I just moved it, remembering it liked the crevice, I put it where the front glass meets the side. It seems to like it so far, it inflated and extended the foot and didn't move. But I did all this 1h before lights were out, so will now see if it moves at night or not.
The flow it's getting should be identical as in previous spot as it's still below MP10 and same distance, but not shaded by fragrack.
Amazing is that the move didn't seem to stress it much. It quickly attached itself where I wanted and inflated as usual, extending a little bit forward.