Bubble tip color?

geckoejon

Active member
Hello,

I have been actively looking for bubble tip nems for my new nem tank. While searching, I have found some that look almost like the color of a highlighter, if that makes sense. They are very bright like a highlighter, but kind of transparent.

I'm wondering if that transparent part is normal for some bubble tips, if they are partially faded, or what?

Any thoughts?
 
I wouldn't say it's normal. They are most likely bleached or have lost much off their zooxanthellae due to stress/poor water quality/lighting conditions.. It's hard to say without an actual picture.
 
I wouldn't say it's normal. They are most likely bleached or have lost much off their zooxanthellae due to stress/poor water quality/lighting conditions.. It's hard to say without an actual picture.

that's kind of what i was thinking, but wasn't sure. not sure if there are some nems that are just kind of transparent.

here are a couple quick examples. they are all from the same site, but i have seen many like them on numerous other sites.

thoughts???

http://shop.neptunescove.net/product.sc?productId=1971&categoryId=12

http://shop.neptunescove.net/product.sc?productId=1947&categoryId=12

http://shop.neptunescove.net/product.sc?productId=1945&categoryId=12
 
I agree, all they are is bleached anemones, once put into good conditions they will turn back to their normal colors which I am guessing is a standard green BTA
 

i found the article on 8-8-11. thanks for the info! i am wondering if one of mine was dyed that i picked up last weekend. i will try to post some pics today.

They all look bleached and will darken significantly while under good conditions

I agree, all they are is bleached anemones, once put into good conditions they will turn back to their normal colors which I am guessing is a standard green BTA

jemhidiah & shifty, thanks for the feedback. i was wondering... seems kind of shady selling them as a "highlighter" or some other name when it's just faded, imo. i will keep an eye out for the faded ones.

what are the natural colors of bta's? i have a nem tank that i'm trying to fill. i'm trying to get a variety, but don't want to get ripped off.
 
Whenever they use fancy names for bleached anemones, they are trying to move them out, often with some discount. Among my several E.quadricolor, I once rescued a bleached green one very similar to the 'highlighter' green you saw. After about a couple of months it regained fully the zooxanthellae and now it is back in it's natural color, medium green.
The most common colors for bta's are green and the popular (but supposedly rarer and more desirable) rose/reddish hued specimens. Then, you have lot's of variants with coloration on the tips, orange, yellow, purple etc. There are also speckled and orange/lime colored ones (lemondrop) as well as a blend of green oral disk and rose tentacles that spread out with a nice gradient (rainbow). I don't have personal favorites, but the rainbow and morphs are quite pretty.

Bta's are relatively 'hardy' (compared to the other hosting anemones), but then again, you can have one mulched by a powerhead and survive and thrive or conversely have one that is thriving for months/years then suddenly die. As you know, keeping the reef ecosystem as stable as possible is key and when keeping anemones it is even more important.
 
Those nems you linked are very expensive, and unhealthy BTA's. I don't know about near you, but I've always felt the right price for a RBTA or GBTA around me from a fellow hobbiests can range from $25-$50 for a clone depending on size and price. Look from a local, it will be healthier and cheaper.
 
I've been keeping BTA for 5-6 years and I have never seen any nems the colors in this link?
They have also done something to them to get them to shrink back. That will enhance their color but it is not a healthy state.
Has anyone ever seen nems like these in person?

I actually just saw some a few hours ago at an LFS in Anaheim.
They had some that were vivid red and some with speckles, however, they all were under very strong blue led's which enhances fluorescence. All had nice bubbles, but that's the trick most LFS stores use....virtually zero flow, which is unrealistic in a mixed reef tank.
 
I've been keeping BTA for 5-6 years and I have never seen any nems the colors in this link?
They have also done something to them to get them to shrink back. That will enhance their color but it is not a healthy state.
Has anyone ever seen nems like these in person?

a friend of mine has the lemon drop BTA, while not as deep yellow as the one in the pic. it does look close to it.
 
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