So I just tried to feed my new RBTA. I've had it for 3 days, and gave it a piece of raw shrimp (not the whole thing, just a small piece). Perhaps, I should have fed the fish first. My male c. pylei stole the piece of shrimp from the RBTA! My GSM clown managed to steal it back, but the clown wouldn't let the RBTA eat. The clown kept picking at the piece of shrimp, and chasing the other fish away. And then the clown would eventually drop it on the sand. And once the wrasses picked it up, the clown would go and steal it again, bring it back to the anemone, and start the process all over again. Eventually, I was able to get the shrimp back to the BTA, and I think it was able to finally eat, but I still can't believe the wrasse stuck its head in the anemone and stole the shrimp in the first place.
I thought anemones could sting fish???
- Thread starter msn711
- Start date
BTAs have one of the weaker stings out there. But a healthy BTA will still discourage most fish from stealing dinner. Initially, you may need to hold the piece of shrimp gently against the anemone's mouth (do no push the shrimp into the anemone's mouth). The anemone's mouth will swell outward and begin to envelop the shrimp (you can let go now).
After a few weeks the BTAs feeding response will be stronger (coiling around/folding over the food) and hopefully its sting will be stronger (it takes a significant amount of energy for an anemone to form nematocysts - the stinging cells - and when an anemone is weakened, one of the first noticeable signs is a lack of "stickiness" to the tentacles (and stickiness equals stings)).
FWIW,
Kevin
After a few weeks the BTAs feeding response will be stronger (coiling around/folding over the food) and hopefully its sting will be stronger (it takes a significant amount of energy for an anemone to form nematocysts - the stinging cells - and when an anemone is weakened, one of the first noticeable signs is a lack of "stickiness" to the tentacles (and stickiness equals stings)).
FWIW,
Kevin
