Just inherited a LTA.. I think

MikeD

MikeD

New member
Anyway, I got about 100lbs of LR this week and the original owner had these pretty large LTA's on a rock. He was able to chip away rock to get at the HUGE one but he didn't want to try to get the others off because their feet were so deep in the rock. He just gave them to me. Can anyone help ID the type or common name besides 'LTA' for me. And perhaps give me some info on requirements? It will be going into my 120 gal system (or 160 depending on what I choose) in 2 months. Right now, they're living in my 37 gal rubbermaid bin. I'm going to put a 250watt HQI 14k phoenix RO3 fixture over the rock tub over the next week. Also, I found this other little guy on another rock and was wondering if it was a baby of the bigger anemones or if you think it's something else. They are about 3 or 4 of the large ones and then that lil baby. I might not be able to keep all of them (may be too much for me!). Do you think I can sell them locally? If so, what is the going rate on a LTA like these?

Pic 1:
5823lta2.jpg


Pic2:
5823lta3.jpg


Pic 3: The baby?
5823ltababy.jpg


Mike
 
Really, the big ones just have really long tentacles.. What distinguishes the lta from the bta? I only see that little one with thicker tentacles. Or, do LTA's simply have skinny tentacles without them ever getting 'fat'?
 
Anemone FAQ with pictures:
http://www.carlosreef.com/AnemoneFAQ.pdf

BTAs, Entacmea quadricolor, do not have visible verrucae.

LTAs, Heteractis crispa or Macrodactyla doreensis, both have visible verrucae.

Even without pictures, the description of smaller specimens in a colony immediately bring "BTA" to mind; unless of course we are discussing Majano or Aiptasia :>)

Good luck with them and enjoy.
 
There is no way to give a positive id on the first anemone pictured. The second anemone is a bubble tip anemone, e. quadricolor. To get a positive id can you get a picture of the underside of the bigger anemone?
 
Underside!? Yikes... Maybe if I get the MH on there, I can get a better pic or maybe the tentacles may 'fatten'. I read the faq and it scares me as it says that BTA's could be PITAs (well, very difficult to maintain). I'm not doubting myself but I'm just worried because it's in my 'rock pool' waiting to go into my new tank which will happen in June. The rock that these anemones came on share the rock pool with rock from the same originating tank. I should be fine right? Especially if I get the MH on next week? Right now, there is a 24" dual PC fixture and a 24" T5 fixture with two bulbs in it. Not the greatest but hey, MH is coming next week - I need to find a way to mount them to my PVC light hanger...

BTW, if it's BTA, and the color is more on the pinkish / purplish side as opposed to green/brown, would it be classified as a rose bta? or just pink bta?
 
BTA are all different colors
those are all the same kind of BTA lots of clones of the same anemone

what about BTA being a PITA did you HEAR?:)
 
In that FAQ, it says that BTA's are the most difficult of anemones to take care of but it seems like everyone wants the RBTA. I never even tried to keep an anemone because I couldn't afford high end systems like I can now (MH lighting for example) so I best left them to not suffer in my poor tank condition! But now, bwahaha I'm growing lots of stuff in these tanks of mine! And by June... BWAHAHAHAHHA.. okay it's late...
 
What he said ^

Also, they look like Rose Bubble Tips that are very bleached. I would feed them 1/4" of smaller pieces of shrimp or silversides. Then get the MH's over them as soon as possible. They should color up nicely for you.
 
Let me ask the guy I got them from. He told me just recently when I asked about them that he's had the anemone (Original) since 2005 and the previous owner had them since 1999!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9605125#post9605125 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IndyMatt
What he said ^

Also, they look like Rose Bubble Tips that are very bleached. I would feed them 1/4" of smaller pieces of shrimp or silversides. Then get the MH's over them as soon as possible. They should color up nicely for you.
Click to expand...

I think they're some what bleached, not all the way yet, you can definitely save them if you get your water right!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9605663#post9605663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xbambamx
I think they're some what bleached, not all the way yet, you can definitely save them if you get your water right!
Click to expand...

What do you mean by get your water right? I acclimated them to fresh saltwater so the params should be good. Let me see what the prev owner said too about the color (waiting on reply). The container its in is a 37 gal tub but with probably only 20-25 gals of actual water since there is 100lbs of rock in the tank (should do good for filtration too). I was planning on doing about 2.5 gallon water change every week until I move.
 
Definitely let the tank cycle before you put them in there. Put all the rock in their other than the rocks these guys are attached to in the new tank. Let these guys sit with light over them while the main tank cycles for about a month and then test the water parameters. IF everything looks good parameter wise that is when I would put them in the tank. Usually it is said to wait six months before you attempt an anemone. Obviously you won't be able to do that so watch them closely. I am in no way an expert so I am sure someone with more experience will chime in.
 
New tank won't be ready to start for another 2 months. All the rock that's in there now is fully 'cured' as it has been in the system from the guy I bought it from for many years. It was a half hour drive with rocks being wrapped in wat paper towels. So far, this 'rock pool' seems to be in good order.
 
Stability, periodic feeding with bite sized meaty foods, medium lighting, protect them from filter/pump intakes, and make sure they don't touch the heater.
 
If you have room for it, the Rubbermaid stock tanks are awesome holding tanks. Check around local feed stores, I get the 100 gallon ones for about $65 from Tractor Supply (which is not much more than the retail price of one BTA let alone four or five of them ;) You can put lights on them, drill them, transfer these bta's to them and they'll have a much better chance of survival with more water volume and light. Definitely do feed them.

I have what I think is a similar color morph and they seem to be fast splitters, watch out for that as you are changing them around a lot here. If they split just do a water change and keep an eye on them, and they may not eat for several days until the mouths heal.

Alternately you could find a temporary home for them with another reefer with an established tank until your tank is ready. If yours split as often as the one I have like them, they may get their own clone out of the bargain as well.

Keep us posted! :)

-Sonja
 
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