Baby BTA

[bigtim40]

I got a new bta the other day, and it is only about the diameter of a soda can, if that. How big should I let it get before adding clowns to the tank. I have heard that if the anemone is too small, the clowns will beat it up. How long might this take?

 

[55semireef]

I would say at least 8 inches.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Also depends on the type of clown(s) you plan on getting. In experience GSM are the hardest on BTAs.

 

[55semireef]

agreed

 

[AquaReeferMan]

You dont have to wait till its 8 inches. It took mine about a year to get that big. I would wait a couple of months and then add a juvenile pair of clowns. If they are small they wont annoy it as much.

 

[elegance coral]

I agree with 55Semireef. I can't believe I just said that.:lol:
Hold off on the clowns and give the pore guy some time to recover. It's hard to predict how rough a clown is going to be on and anemone. After the anemone is settled in, eating well, and grows allot. Then start thinking about clowns. Good luck.

 

[phender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9950382#post9950382 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
I would say at least 8 inches.

Some BTA's never get that big. If you let the disk get to 5" that is big enough to house a couple 2" clowns. It will likely expand quite a bit as it gets used to your tank over the next couple weeks. Its not really growth, it will just fill itself with more water.

 

[55semireef]

Your right Phender. Some BTAs split before they reach that size. Was that what you meant?

 

[elegance coral]

Great! The one time I agree with you and your wrong.

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9957705#post9957705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elegance coral
Great! The one time I agree with you and your wrong.

I am not really wrong, I was just voicing my opinion which is what this board is about. There are many factors to it. Like Toddrtrex mentioned, its also depends of what type of clowns you have. I would rather have an 8 inch BTA that hosts two maroon clowns than having a 5 inch BTA obviously because maroons are very aggressive with their anemone. But Phender pointed out that not all BTAs reach 8 inches because some just split before they reach that size(I think that was what he was implying).

Anyways Elegance Coral, I am sure we will agree on other things down the road.

 

[phender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9957612#post9957612 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
Your right Phender. Some BTAs split before they reach that size. Was that what you meant?

Yes, in many cases they split, but in some cases they just get to that 6-7" mark and just sort of stay there. I have had a few that would not grow beyond that, nor would they split, no matter how nice I treated them.

I would not however (like you said), put a big female maroon in a BTA much less than 8".

I always suggest that the anemone's diameter is at least twice as wide as your longest clown for gentle clown species, three times larger for rough clowns like maroons and polymnus.