Prepare a site for GBTA?

[DonaldLL]

Hello all,

I've searched and didn't find much on this topic. I have purchased my first anemone and it will arrive tomorrow. I have a location in mind where I'd like the GBTA to settle. I hope to have my pair of Gladiator Clowns (Amphiprion ocellaris) reside in the GBTA. Is there something I can to to prepare the site where I'd like the GBTA to set up 'house'? The location I have in mind already has plenty light and decent flow. I want the anemone to settle on the bottom but should I build up some rubble or should I just place a flat rock on the bottom, or expose the glass bottom? How do I prepare the site to give me the best chance of having the BTA stay in that location?

Any help is greatly appreciated
Thanks

 

[garygb]

BTAs need to have a hole in the live rock to attach. They like their column partially surrounded by the walls of rock in the hole. A perfect attachment for BTAs is a their foot in a hole on the underside of a piece of liverock so that their body makes a J shape, with the tentacles coming out from under the rock and into the light. You said you want your BTA to settle on the bottom, but BTAs are rock dwellers, not bottom dwellers. They will wander if you don't provide the proper attachment site. Be sure to keep any power head intakes covered in case the anemone wanders into a power head, if it gets sucked in that will likely kill the anemone and perhaps any fish in the tank.

 

[DonaldLL]

Gary

Thank you for the information. I understand the picture you describe. Can you/do you actually try to create this kind of setup and is there a way to 'coax' the BTA to attach where you want it to? Or should I just let nature take it's course and the BTA will find its own attachment site?

donald

 

[garygb]

I have chiseled out a hole in the live rock before. You could just search for a piece of live rock that has a hole in it. I've placed the anemone's foot in the hole and had success with the anemone attaching and staying put.

 

[billnPS]

I, too, have had success with placing BTA's foot in a rock hole & it didn't migrate elsewhere. Provided you have decent flow, good water parameters & good lighting, your nem may stay put. But anemones have minds of their own & will settle where they feel most comfortable. It's really a crapshoot if any nem will stay in location we want...Good luck!

 

[DonaldLL]

well you guys called it just like it was scripted. I made a little overhang with some liverock. There's some cracks and crevasses and a couple of indentations where I think the nem may wind up making house. In the last few hours he has opened up and is moving about, my guess is, trying to find the right spot hopefully in the area I've prepared. At first he withdrew into a hole but now seems to be coming out into the light.

It is really fascinating... thank you for the support

 

[garygb]

Good luck with your new inhabitant. Post some pics if it's convenient.