Grandreef 2
New member
I've heard people saying on RC that there RBA grows to over 2 feet long. But on the online dealers that they only grow to a foot, that 12" is their maximum size?
RBA growth
- Thread starter Grandreef 2
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I've seen BTAs that are 18" across.
Grandreef 2
New member
I can have one under 4 65 watt CF lights in a tank like this?
I have two leather now growing on top of the rock so I'm thinking I'm going to have to move then eventually.
I have two leather now growing on top of the rock so I'm thinking I'm going to have to move then eventually.
WaffleWalffle22
Zoa Extreemist
No you cannot... it isn't the wisest decision. I've seen a 2ft RBTA and that's the largest I've seen. The largest GBTA that I've seen is a 14" GBTA that is home to my B&W Ocellaris in my 34g. I've seen a 5ft x 5ft Red Carpet and a 5ft x 5ft Blue Carpet before and I was amazed... I just didn't think it was a great choice for a 2,000 gallon tank with lots of fish... BUt the clowns seemed to love it! 
Curlykid wrote: "anemones don't have a max size. They'll keep growing for thousands of years if they don't die."
If that were there case then I expect there would be examples in nature of anemones being more than 3 feet. However, S. mertensi and H. magnfica are the largest of the host species and seem to max out at around 1 meter/yard. They may very well live thousands of years, but likely growth becomes very slow indeed as they approach 3 feet. Similarly, some species of trees live thousands of years, but their growth is fastest when young and progressively slows down as the tree ages.
If that were there case then I expect there would be examples in nature of anemones being more than 3 feet. However, S. mertensi and H. magnfica are the largest of the host species and seem to max out at around 1 meter/yard. They may very well live thousands of years, but likely growth becomes very slow indeed as they approach 3 feet. Similarly, some species of trees live thousands of years, but their growth is fastest when young and progressively slows down as the tree ages.
Meant to say "if that were the case."
Also, Grandreef, I would say you could keep a BTA in the tank above with 4 65-watt pc. With PC, I would suggest you use daylight bulbs, no actinic and that you change the bulbs by the 9th month. You will want to maintain good water quality: low nitrates, proper ph 8.1-8.3, sg 1.025-1.026, temp. 77-82, etc.
Also, Grandreef, I would say you could keep a BTA in the tank above with 4 65-watt pc. With PC, I would suggest you use daylight bulbs, no actinic and that you change the bulbs by the 9th month. You will want to maintain good water quality: low nitrates, proper ph 8.1-8.3, sg 1.025-1.026, temp. 77-82, etc.
Grandreef 2
New member
I there any anemone that can stay a bit smaller then that?
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
No you cannot... it isn't the wisest decision. I've seen a 2ft RBTA and that's the largest I've seen. The largest GBTA that I've seen is a 14" GBTA that is home to my B&W Ocellaris in my 34g. I've seen a 5ft x 5ft Red Carpet and a 5ft x 5ft Blue Carpet before and I was amazed... I just didn't think it was a great choice for a 2,000 gallon tank with lots of fish... BUt the clowns seemed to love it!
Huh? Where have you seen a 5' by 5' "carpet"? I have seen 0 reports of them getting that big.
With 4 65-watt pcs, I would suggest you stick with a BTA. Mine seem to split once they approach 8-10 inches. You can also keep them from growing quickly by reducing target feeding. Non-host species, like Epicystis crucifer also make nice tank additions and tend to stay put.
WaffleWalffle22
Zoa Extreemist
The 5' x 5' blue carpet I saw was in the Waikiki Aquarium in Honolulu. It's in their giant display tank. I have pictures if you wanna see! BTW, I saw somebody say anemones will keep growing for thousands of years - not true. They live for about 125 years to my knowledge.
Toddrtrex
Premium Member
Would love to see a picture of a blue "carpet" that is bigger then my kitchen table.
WaffleWalffle22
Zoa Extreemist
It turns out I didn't take a picture of the big one... I took a picture of the 3' green one and the 3' blue one. They had a giant clam that was bigger than me, though!
iamwhatiam52
New member
They had a giant clam that was bigger than me, though!
How big are you?
125 years? Some speculate that anemones do not die unless there is some external factor that kills them. In other words, they do not appear to age. Many animals have built in clocks, at a cellular level, that leads to the eventual demise of the organism, humans for instance. Anemones don't seem to have that built in aging mechanism, at least that's what some experts claim.
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