LTA as host for ocellaris

[Chelsey]

While browsing the "Post your insane anemone pics here" thread I came across a few pictures of ocellaris/perculas hosting in LTAs.

I recently purchased a baby purple LTA and while I think it's gorgeous it would be even better if my snowflake pair would host in it I'm not sure if it's a crispa or doreensis and I don't know how to tell the difference between the two.

At any rate, neither species is a natural host for ocellaris but that being said neither is a BTA (at least according to this thread that's in the FAQ section at the top of this forum. How likely are my clowns to find the LTA and host in it? I've got a 28 gallon HQI nano cube and the clowns + an anemone will be the only things in it. Right now it's the LTA and clowns, but if I can't get them to host I'll likely move the LTA and get a BTA. Any tips or tricks? Thanks in advance!


Chelsey

 

[Toddrtrex]

The only thing I did to get my ocellaris ( two different pairs over the years, one of them being B&W ) was to give them time. In both cases it took about a month or two for them to be hosted by my LTAs.

 

[Chelsey]

Good to know! So far my LTA has not found a spot where it's happy and continues to move around I've tried burying it in the sand and putting tiny pieces of rubble around it to hold it in place but it's not happy there either. I suppose my LTA will need to settle down before the clowns can host

 

[Toddrtrex]

How deep is the sand bed? Is the LTA's mouth tightly closed? You may also want to try turning off any powerheads while it settles in.

 

[kimsie]

Chelsey - one thing I've found helpful with my clowns and anemones is to feed over the anemone. So squirt the food directly over the anemone - this will get them in the same area of the tank. I think it helps.

 

[Chelsey]

Mouth is tightly closed and the only flow I've got going are the standard return pumps that come with the HQI nano, nothing extra. As of right now the sandbed is probably 1.5" but I have been doing some reading and will likely add at least another inch of sand tonight.

Thanks for the help Kimsie! If I remember correctly you have a gorgeous dark purple LTA, among other anemones. Am I right?

 

[clowns101]

a sand bed for a LTA needs to be four + inches they do best in four inches.

 

[wicked_NaCl_h2o]

My clowns have always jumped into my plta way before it has a chance to attach its foot to the bottom of the tank. So I don't think it would hurt the lta if the clowns decide to jump in. This is my experience..if the lta is hosting clowns it settles in faster than with out clowns.

 

[1fishkeeper]

I have a pair of WC pink skunks that where going into my LTA while it was in my hand on the way to the bottom of my tank. I only had it in the water for only about 10 seconds before they went diving into it. But just give them time its kind of like flipping a coin you can never call it everytime if a clown will host or not.

 

[Chelsey]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think pink skunks naturally host in LTAs.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13614155#post13614155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chelsey
Correct me if I'm wrong but I think pink skunks naturally host in LTAs.

Actually, the natural hosts for pink skunks are; Crispa, magnifica, gigantea, and mertensii. But, I did have my skunks with two different LTAs, and are now currently hosted by a Haddoni.

 

[Chelsey]

Yep, I'm wrong

Crispas are considered LTAs too though, aren't they?

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13615553#post13615553 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chelsey
Yep, I'm wrong

Crispas are considered LTAs too though, aren't they?

Did I imply that?


Once in a blue moon they are, but not normally -- at least not that I see.

A Heteractis crispa, is more often referred to as a Sebea, where as a Macrodactyla doreensis is called an LTA.

 

[Chelsey]

No, you didn't imply that at all, I am just used to being incorrect, which is why I try and do a lot of reading I've been reefing for ~5 years and some days I still feel like I don't know jack. I guess it's a good thing I got one of the easier anemones!

I added another inch or so to the sandbed tonight but I still have more to add. I didn't want to add it all at once in the event of a major catastrophe. Would it be possible for me to make a 4" mound for the nem and then have the rest of my tank have a shallower sandbed? I will obviously do what's best for the LTA but if I can get by with a mound and it be happy I might try that.

I also forgot to add earlier that it has been readily catching food out of the water column when I feed the fish and is eating really well. I have not yet spot fed it krill or silversides because I think I read somewhere that it's best not to feed them until they're settled in.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13615657#post13615657 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chelsey
No, you didn't imply that at all, I am just used to being incorrect, which is why I try and do a lot of reading I've been reefing for ~5 years and some days I still feel like I don't know jack. I guess it's a good thing I got one of the easier anemones!

I added another inch or so to the sandbed tonight but I still have more to add. I didn't want to add it all at once in the event of a major catastrophe. Would it be possible for me to make a 4" mound for the nem and then have the rest of my tank have a shallower sandbed? I will obviously do what's best for the LTA but if I can get by with a mound and it be happy I might try that.

I also forgot to add earlier that it has been readily catching food out of the water column when I feed the fish and is eating really well. I have not yet spot fed it krill or silversides because I think I read somewhere that it's best not to feed them until they're settled in.

I was teasing you about the "wrong" thing. I've been doing this for 15+ years, and still am learning.

Yes, you could make a mound, I did that in the past, and it works pretty well. And depending on the size of it, you can take your time adding the rest of the sand. The bigger that they get, the more sand it will require.

If it eating food that you feed the fish, you can try spot feeding it, just make sure that you use small pieces until it is fully settled in.

 

[Chelsey]

I will feed it small pieces as you suggested, but out of curiosity why is it necessary to feed them small pieces?

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13615704#post13615704 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chelsey
I will feed it small pieces as you suggested, but out of curiosity why is it necessary to feed them small pieces?

It will be easier for it to digest it. Plus on the off chance it isn't fully settled, wouldn't want a big piece that wasn't fully digested sitting inside it. In addition it take energy to eat, so the smaller the easier.

 

[Chelsey]

Last night I added enough sand to have a 3"+ sandbed. I was gone all day today and when I got back this evening I saw that my anemone had found it's sweet spot...it's planted itself on the top rock in my aquascape I guess if it decides to move it'll have the ideal sandbed :lol:

 

[Apercula]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13620071#post13620071 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chelsey
Last night I added enough sand to have a 3"+ sandbed. I was gone all day today and when I got back this evening I saw that my anemone had found it's sweet spot...it's planted itself on the top rock in my aquascape I guess if it decides to move it'll have the ideal sandbed :lol:

I have a LTA that has been happily living on top of a rock since May, and has grown like crazy in that time.

 

[Chelsey]

I'm glad to hear that it'll do fine up there. It ate two small pieces of krill tonight + whatever else it could catch before the clowns ate.