feeding my BTA

[MBVette]

I have had my BTA for about 6 weeks now. At the begining he was eating the silversides that I was giving to him, or at least it seemed that way.

Now when I feed him, he holds on to it for a few hours and then spits it back out (or seems that way as I find it attached to the overflow later)

Why would he not be eating, and could the silverside be to large for him? I am at a loss. When I feed Rods to the rest of the tank I usually try to use a turkey baster and push the rods into him and he eats it up quickly. So Im not sure why he keeps spitting out the silversides. Any advice would be great.

Thanks

 

[davocean]

Tank specs/params/time running/lights help.
How often are you feeding?
They don't need much spot feeding at all, but when I do, I prefer something safer than silvers(don't like them)
Scallops get gobbled pretty fast by mine, and I also feed raw shrimp, mysis.

 

[MBVette]

Have not run tests in the last couple weeks, so I will have to get them for the actual testing numbers..

But its a 210g aquarium running T5's 8 bulbs 60'' long. Lights are about 6 months old. They are on about 12 hours a day.

I am trying to feed it once a week right now. What is wrong with the silvers, why are they not safe?

 

[davocean]

Assuming tank is at least 6mo running too?
As for silvers, alot of people, myself included have had probs/nem deaths seemingly from them, I won't use them anymore.
Once a week is fine for spot feed, wouldn't do more unless small like mysis.
Post pics if you can.

 

[Swim]

You didn't mention if the BTA has a clownfish or pair living with it?

 

[vitek]

Try feeding it a small piece of raw shrimp from your local market that's what I'm feeding my BTA plus my clarkii clowns feed it mysis during the daily feeding try that . I would stay away from the silversides

 

[MBVette]

I have a pair of ocellaris, but they host my powerhead and want nothing to do with the anemone.

Can I buy a bag of frozen shrimp and use them, or should I just go and buy like 2 fresh shrimp every couple weeks.

 

[vitek]

U can use frozen but you can just buy a few make sure they are not cooked. Just chop them up and freeze in a small bag and you will be set for a while all you need to do is feed maybe twice a week

 

[rssjsb]

And the pieces should be about the size of the eraser on a #2 pencil. A whole silverside (or shrimp) is waaaay to big for the average BTA, even if it wasn't a bad idea otherwise. You can feed shrimp, clam, squid, anything meaty. I don't feed silversides or krill anymore at all.

 

[MBVette]

ok cool, I will switch the food. But I am still wondering what is wrong with silversides as I was told that they were good to feed them.

 

[rssjsb]

More than one well respected anemone-keeper here has reported losing long-established animals after feeding silversides. I don't know if was some bacterial problem or other spoilage-related issue, but the feeling is better safe than sorry.

 

[bues0022]

As a "rule-of-thumb" I use the following motto when feeding my anemones and fish: Aside from PE mysis and newly hatched brine shrimp, I only feed my animals things I wouldn't mind eating. Therefore, I make my own food using fresh, human-grade seafood and veggies. Chop, mix, freeze, feed.