Looking for Advice on LTAs - Specifically Red

[bradleym]

First, everyone please welcome my newest addition, and first try at a LTA

Now then, if there is anything I ought to know for keeping a LTA, especially if red ones act different, I would love some help. I have successfully kept BTAs, Haddonis, Magnificas, Maxi Minis, and a few others, so I am not new to anemones, but I wanna make sure I get this right because I haven't ever found a red one before, and won't likely see another soon.

As a special treat, I would love it if you guys could post some pics of red LTAs all grown up so I can really get a feel for what I'm in for. Thanks everyone in advance.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Nice looking anemone,I haven't kept a red but I had a really dark purple one.It grew to big for my tank and sold it.

 

[bradleym]

Hey thanks man. Yea I read they get up around 12-18 inches and I'm hoping that's the case here, because then it will fill up all that empty sand bed in front of it.

P.S. it's only 3 inches currently.

 

[worm5406]

Mine was that small when I first got it. I will have to take a picture of it tomorrow and let you see mine.

 

[bradleym]

That would be greatly appreciated. The internet seems to have a serious lack of full-size and established red LTAs.

 

[bradleym]

Bumping for pics of happy adult red M. Doreensis. So far this is all Google had to offer:

 

[worm5406]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VhRuD0bjUNY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Ron Popeil]

this is the only one i have ever seen in person....


unfortunately, it didnt fare well. i now have a purple LTA that is doing very well in its place.

 

[bradleym]

this is the only one i have ever seen in person....


unfortunately, it didnt fare well. i now have a purple LTA that is doing very well in its place.

Yeah... That's what scares me and partially why I started this thread. There don't seem to be any of these that live too long, and I was hoping someone knew the secret as to why.

Mine is currently wedged between two rocks and looks happy during the day, but every night it expands until it comes unburied from the sand. The mouth stays open maybe half an inch or less most of the time, but it never deflates, and it ate and digested a small piece of scallop 2 days ago, so I'm not even sure where I stand with it.

 

[Roshan8768]

I got my purple LTA about a year ago and I definitely agree with you about the serious lack of pictures online of established adult specimens. I have never seen the red color morph before in person, but that looks pretty awesome! Just don't touch it, I had mine move/roll around the tank for about 3-4 months after which it settled in its current location. They do seem to prefer being close to the base of rock work, or between 2 solid surfaces, so there's a good chance it'll stay where it is right now

 

[vdub2013]

From what I understand the Red LTA's really prefer to be in their own, smaller tank where they can get individualized care.

Its best to give this guy a new home, possibly a friend who is just starting a tank and needs a nem to put in it.

 

[chromisdaddy]

Red LTA

Red LTA

For what it's worth, Preuss Pets in Lansing, MI has a massive red anemone that is thriving in one of it's main displays. I believe it is an LTA, not bubble tip. They are very friendly and you could give them a call, I am sure they would be happy to share their feeding schedule/parameters.

I just picked up my first purple LTA there last weekend.

 

[sh0ck]

Got only purple, but I love the color of my little piece.
So far 2x I had to remove dollabela from her, no harm to snail tho... (probably unfortunate placement of my jebao stream).
I planted her in 4" high plastic cup for easier rellocation, so far sitting happy in it.

 

[Antonbarron]

Here's s purple one I had for a few months, was doing great, opened up to 14" and then I went out of town for a week and it was gone when I got back, no sign it was ever there at all!

http://redirector.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id=1723982c8080e8b2&itag=18&source=picasa&ip=0.0.0.0&ipbits=0&expire=2961691980&sparams=id,itag,source,ip,ipbits,expire&signature=661BCDEE57ACE99A7DFB6D4B56A0C48B7D0FA2E9.168DE03944407F6A374D60F26008742091E270A4&key=ck2

 

[OrionN]

bradleym,
So how is your red Doreensis doing. There seem to be very few Red LTA that is establish in reef tank here on RC.