BTA Issues

[cody6766]

I cant seem to keep BTAs alive in my tanks. I've tried seemingly healthy specimins from a couple of sources and the results are always the same, the anemone slowly withers and dies. This has happened in every tank I've had, all of which support acros and other corals without issue. The tanks are always well established and healthy before the addition of the anemone, but they never make it. Some have had clowns, some have not, none were abused by over zealous clowns.

I'm at a bit of a loss on this. My tanks are stable, lighting is adequate, flow is proper (I keep a mixed reef) and I don't have other critters that would prey on or irritate the animal. I've tried float acclimation and drop acclimation. Basically, I've tried or checked everything I know to check. What could I be missing?

Thanks guys.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Have you ever treated them with cipro before putting them in your DT?

There are some great sticky's at the top of this forum you should read. One things for sure, something is wrong, it's either insufficient lighting, or water parameters are off. BTA's are strange creatures and do some strange things that will make you think they are dead or dying, you need to know the difference.

 

[cody6766]

I've never treated with cipro, or any other dip. These clearly wither and die. They just slowly shrink away to nothing, and sometimes hide behind the rocks to do so, but not always.
Lighting isn't an issue. Right now I have a Kessil A350 over the nem, but this has happened under MH, T5s and LEDs, all of which were growing petty much every major category of coral, as well as clams. Everything grows quite well, aside from the nems. I successfully kept a condy early on, but couldn't keep a bta in the same tank.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Read the sticky's about anemones. I gave you two things to think about and you don't think it's the problem. There is a reason to treat with cipro. Go read the sticky!

 

[cody6766]

I plan on it. I want disregarding your advice, just trying to give as much amplifying data as possible since this seems to be more than one of those, "my month-old, 5g tank is covered in algae. Why do my tang and anemone look bad? " threads. I thought cipro was more of a carpet nem treatment, but I'll give it a read and see what I learn.

 

[Fish Bowl]

Cipro is far from just a carpet nem treatment. I consider it to be an essential now with anemones of all types since one infected one can ruin an entire garden full of them including BTA's. No BTA is an exception to potentially having an infection including those high dollar ones.

 

[cody6766]

Good to know. Looks like I need to track down some cipro and get to work. Thanks for the advice, guys

 

[Fish Bowl]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12101
I've used that with some pretty good success so far.

 

[Reefvet]

I cant seem to keep BTAs alive in my tanks. I've tried seemingly healthy specimins from a couple of sources and the results are always the same, the anemone slowly withers and dies. ... Basically, I've tried or checked everything I know to check. What could I be missing?

You've said nothing about where you're getting them. LFS or online ?

There are very few natural predators for a BTA.

Cipro is far from just a carpet nem treatment. I consider it to be an essential now with anemones of all types since one infected one can ruin an entire garden full of them including BTA's. No BTA is an exception to potentially having an infection including those high dollar ones.

I've kept BTAs for the last 2 decades. I brought home 2 a year ago when they were attached to some live rock I wanted at my LFS and now have 10 because they're flourishing. 40B, NSW, a pair of Kessils A350s and they just keep growing and splitting.

I've never treated a BTA and I've never seen anyone need to. They're about as bullet proof as anemones get.

 

[Fish Bowl]

You've said nothing about where you're getting them. LFS or online ?

There are very few natural predators for a BTA.



I've kept BTAs for the last 2 decades. I brought home 2 a year ago when they were attached to some live rock I wanted at my LFS and now have 10 because they're flourishing. 40B, NSW, a pair of Kessils A350s and they just keep growing and splitting.

I've never treated a BTA and I've never seen anyone need to. They're about as bullet proof as anemones get.

I agree that they're bullet proof as far as anemones go, but even bullet proof animals can have issues "take mandarins for example whom are essentially resistant to ich but can definitely be infected with it as well". I'm pretty fortunate that I like to qt all my new additions including various bubble anemones and their morphs otherwise I would've suffered some losses in my 100 or 180 gallon because of some infected anemones. They're the kinds that constantly expel zooxanthellae (not normal after an adjustment period) and constantly deflate and inflate with gaping mouths and finally wither away if not treated. Usually people wouldn't treat them because non "designer" kinds are dirt cheap so if it dies, its on to the next one. Not to mention Ciproflaxin isn't cheap at all for the recommended dosing rate either.

 

[cody6766]

Sources have been local, all from reliable stores. I'm going to order some cipro tonight and try it out on my nem.

 

[ocellaris123]

You've said nothing about where you're getting them. LFS or online ?

There are very few natural predators for a BTA.



I've kept BTAs for the last 2 decades. I brought home 2 a year ago when they were attached to some live rock I wanted at my LFS and now have 10 because they're flourishing. 40B, NSW, a pair of Kessils A350s and they just keep growing and splitting.

I've never treated a BTA and I've never seen anyone need to. They're about as bullet proof as anemones get.

+1

I have kept alot of btas, and none of them have need any sort of treatment from cipro; gigantea, haddoni and ritteri are another story.

To the op, how long does it take for the bta to wither and die?

 

[ocellaris123]

You've said nothing about where you're getting them. LFS or online ?

There are very few natural predators for a BTA.



I've kept BTAs for the last 2 decades. I brought home 2 a year ago when they were attached to some live rock I wanted at my LFS and now have 10 because they're flourishing. 40B, NSW, a pair of Kessils A350s and they just keep growing and splitting.

I've never treated a BTA and I've never seen anyone need to. They're about as bullet proof as anemones get.

+1

I have kept alot of btas, and none of them have needed cipro; gigantea, haddoni and ritteri are another story.

To the op, how long does it take for the bta to wither and die?

Are you feeding the bta's?

 

[cody6766]

Sometimes a few weeks, this time a few months. I feed a few times a week, bits of raw, frozen shrimp placed on the nem. All the while, less "bullet proof" animals grow.

 

[ocellaris123]

Can you describe how they are withering away? Are the tentacles slowly turning into knubs and the anemone just decreases in size until it dies?

 

[LPSguy]

Could be the shrimp, it's often treated with preservatives to keep them from turning pink. Change to VHP frozen, mine love small wigglers.