trackhazard
New member
I have a hammer coral I need to place and am wondering how close I can get it to an RBTA? Which one will win if the two are placed close to each other?
Hammer vs. RBTA? Who wins?
- Thread starter trackhazard
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G4546
New member
This is like asking if I pit a dog against a cat who will win? But, if you were to post that people would assume negative things. Corals are living creatures, each individually different and amazing. It's not "cool" to "make" them fight and see who "wins". There is an immense amount of information on the proper care of each of the animals you named that will lead you to the answer you seek, I suggest you do some research before just watching them fight. Or, ask your question a bit different mate, because Hammer VS. RBTA! WHO WINS? makes it seem like it's fight night. Cheers
trackhazard
New member
Did you even read my post or is it your MO to jump to conclusions?
And thanks for all the helpful info! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Mike31154
New member
BTA will do a number on Hammer Coral. I know this since one of my GBTAs moved a while back & has grown to the point that when it is puffed up during the day, it's killing off my Hammer Coral. Six heads of the Hammer are already bare & it doesn't take long either. A few touches/stings from the BTA & the Hammer starts receding quickly.
So ya, according to my personal experience, if you like your Hammer Coral, place it as far away from the BTA as possible.
So ya, according to my personal experience, if you like your Hammer Coral, place it as far away from the BTA as possible.
trackhazard
New member
Hmm. Thanks for the info. I was hoping to use the hammer to somewhat pen the anemone in. I thought I saw a tank on here using a couple strategically placed torch corals to keep RBTAs from moving around too much. Was thinking that maybe the hammers could do the same thing. I know glabrescens are a bit more aggressive than other Euphyllias so I was unsure about the hammers.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
AcroporAddict
There is no substitute.
I believe an RBTA will kill any LPS/SPS coral it comes up against. RBTAs will move and find a spot they like. Best advice I could give is let the BTA settle, then place your coral. And be prepared to move the coral if you see the BTA travel.
Mike31154
New member
^+1. I didn't mention in my earlier post that my GBTAs are also killing off some SPS pieces, my Kenya Tree coral is mostly closed up & shrinking and some brown zoas/palys are being suppressed. While the BTAs haven't actually moved much in months (since the last split event) and they'll likely stay put barring any huge changes, they've simply grown to the point where they're taking up a lot of space when fully inflated. I'm going to have to get in there and remove a couple of them or end up losing more coral.
And it doesn't end there, due to their increasing size, swimming room for some of my fishes is also getting limited. Not ideal for a tang.
And it doesn't end there, due to their increasing size, swimming room for some of my fishes is also getting limited. Not ideal for a tang.
Reefnation.Jon
In Memoriam
BTA's "typically" do not move across sand. I isolate mine on a rock island surrounded by sand.
cet98
"feed ur reef...feed it!"
+1 :thumbsup:
BTAs will move if they want to move. They will either move by foot or swell up and float.
Attempting to "block" it in with another coral(s) may only result in loss of life.
on the other hand...let's see some pix!!!
Biocubehqi
New member
My bta parked on top of my moon coral and after a day of the moon coral throwing sweepers and the bta turning parts of my moon coral white. They have coexisted for about two weeks together... The moon coral eats and appears to be healthy as well as the bta... It will be coming up on three weeks soon... I couldn't believe how hardy some corals can be...
Biocubehqi
New member
P.s the moon coral nolonger has white parts to it. It is nice and healthy...
trackhazard
New member
Interestingly enough, I just took a look in my wife's tank where she has an orange wall hammer keeping a lemondrop BTA in check. The BTA is pulling back away from the hammer.
Curious.
-Charlie
cichlidconvert
Member
Anemones are the top dog on the reef. I had a gigantic elegance coral in my tank and it packed a punch. And I had a bta get too Close ( there are 9 in the tank). Well the elegance held it's ground. But btas are notorious for doing something when they feel threatened. Chemical warfare. So I sold my beautiful elegance and large hammer that day and had to start doing water changes.the hammer had a couple dea tentacles from a touch. Corals will eventually lose. And as far as torch corals keeping a bta penned in. It's more likely the bta liked it's spot. There are hundreds even thousands of examples of this happening in tanks where they just up and move wiping out corals along the way.
Might start out that way. My hammer put out some really long sweepers, and seemed to be holding it's own. But that takes a lot of energy. Eventually it became too much for the hammer. It went downhill over a period of about 6 weeks.
Kevin
yaridong
New member
+1 on this comment. I have done the same in my tank where i keep all maxi minis and btas on a rock island. Maximinis and btas never leave that area.
Bta > any sps/lps i have seen.
Reef1589
Anemones for life
In my experience too.. Hammer .. or Euphyllia .. has kept my BTA's in check..
i was actually stung my my Hammer once on the knuckle.. that got pretty bad.. my finger got all swollen, and was very painful for about a week, and pretty much couldnt bend my finger at all it was weird, i probably shoulda went to the doctor's... but took my finger about 4 weeks to full recover..
