purple BTA in the diver's den from LA?
- Thread starter Jamie1210
- Start date
Call me crazy, but with live aquaria's good reputation, I have a hard time believing they would misidentify the anemones (even mistakenly) and sell them as bubble tips if they really weren't. Everyone makes mistakes on coral ID's, but it would be pretty suspect for a site that reputable to screw up like that. I don't know, maybe I'm giving them too much credit as far as their knowlege base goes, but I think they're one of the better on-line vendors.
triggerfish1976
New member
I think the BTA ID is pretty cut and dry.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
I just just tell you want I had mine under (( GBTA and RBTA -- things have changed, but this will be what they were under for a long period of time ))
In my 58 I had a 600 gph return, 3 SEIOs 620 and 1 SEIO 1100 (( no longer have BTAs in this tank -- split too often, not good with SPS ))
In my 75 I have a big GBTA ( split into 3 the other day ) a 600 gph return. 2 MJ 1200, one SEIO 820 and a hyrdo #4.
In both cases they seemed pretty darn happy and only the clones would move.
phender
Active member
I have always kept BTAs with just a little flow. Just enough to gently wave their tentacles.
If by substrate, you mean sand, then no. (Rock is also considered a substrate). They will want to sink their foot/column into a crevice or hole in or inbetween rocks with only their tentacles sticking out.
phender
Active member
From the pictures, there are two main ways: One is structural, the other is behavioral.
Mags have verrucae on the column. BTAs are the only host anemone that doesn't have visible verrucae.
Here is an example of the verrucae(bumps) on the column of a magnifica. They are not always this distinct, but they are always there. Other species of anemones have their own version of these bumps as well, but in BTAs they are absent.
Picture from Google images:
This picture also shows the behavioral difference. BTAs put their foot in the crevices of rocks, like in EZCompanies' pictures. Mags "perch" on the top of rocks with their foot and column exposed.
BTAs also have those interesting little "bumps" around the edge of their oral disk that I don't think mags have.
TOURKID
New member
those are some great looking pbtas! LOL
I bought one of the obtas when divers den put 2 out a day (for about a week)
the color was never the same as they're pic, and I havent seen a bubble in a longtime...
The color of mine definately changed, but never got brown, just a light peachy orange with green at the bottoms of the tenicles
Its about 3 times bigger now, sure do miss the bubbles tho!
I bought one of the obtas when divers den put 2 out a day (for about a week)
the color was never the same as they're pic, and I havent seen a bubble in a longtime...
The color of mine definately changed, but never got brown, just a light peachy orange with green at the bottoms of the tenicles
Its about 3 times bigger now, sure do miss the bubbles tho!
Canarygirl
New member
my RBTA breaks some of the rules then because it has those verrucae on its column, and also it likes to perch on the top of rocks. Not always, just when it's in a mood.... 
Mirror Pond
Premium Member
My magnifica has the same color base but the tentacles are much different.
Flighty
Premium Member
The tentacles of both the BTA and magnifica will change with flow differences (longer with high and shorter with low generally) and bubble and unbubble just on an unknown whim.
Magnificas do sometimes have that weird beading along the top of the foot. I have heard that that can vary depending on aggression and they use it to attack other anemones and corals somehow.
Magnificas do sometimes have that weird beading along the top of the foot. I have heard that that can vary depending on aggression and they use it to attack other anemones and corals somehow.
tpdpercula
New member
The coloring are the same as when they first arrived. The bigger one of the two is very healthy and loving my tank. The smaller one has been restless and has been moving around the tank trying to find its nich. Both have taken squid both times I have fed them with no problems. I just purchased a friends 150 and was planning on moving my Haddonis into it a breaking down my 300 but I might just throw the new BTAs in it instead have not decided. I would rather find a Oceanic Cube (30g) and set it up for them instead but have had no luck locally.
P.S. Im still waiting for my a better camera and when I get it I'll post some new and hopefully better pics.
P.S. Im still waiting for my a better camera and when I get it I'll post some new and hopefully better pics.
Genin
New member
I just aquired a PBTA at ThatFishPlace in Lancaster, PA. It only cost me $29.99. It is a true purple BTA, the first I have ever seen that was purple in both normal/natural light and under actinics. Even in the shots with flash it is truly purple. The neon green tips are a great touch to!
with flash
no flash
just put in tank
with flash
no flash
just put in tank
