RBTA concern

Shia

Shia

New member
So I have had this RBTA for a little over 2 months. When I first got it I wasn't trying to buy an anemone. Was buying two ocellaris clownfish and the seller told me he just had his RBTA split and didn't want to keep the clone. The mouth was not healed at that point and I was apprehensive on taking it, but didn't really have a choice. Anyway it has done great. Didn't feed it for the first month and just let it heal. Mouth healed up very well and closed very tightly. Started feeding it, and the growth spurt in unreal. Tentacles are very sticky and constantly have a problem trying to get it off the tweezers I use for feeding.

My only concern is the color. I can't remember what color the other clones were when I first purchased it, but mine is definitely a pink and the oral disk is a very light pink. I think the other clones were also pink but I wasn't paying close attention at the time. Does this look bleached to you guys?

Okay upload image failed, so just used a generic site to upload image.

http://i40.tinypic.com/nytgdw.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic
 
Last edited:
Link is working, but i'm no BTA expert. Even if it is bleached, all you can really do is make sure the water is pristine, that it get's light and is fed a couple of times per week. If it isn't moving, i would guess it is happy with the light and flow.
 
It loves live black worms and flakes, eats like a pig, growing very quickly but the color remains non-ideal. Are certain foods more nutritious than others for these nems?
 
Last edited:
It is slightly bleached. If you're feeding it, it it getting the food or are those clowns taking it? They look pretty large compared to that nemmie and if both are hosting that could be too much for this little guy. Depending on your lights and how much food it's getting it should come back just fine.
 
I agree with those above. It's only a bit bleached. Not all rbta are a real dark red. It should continue to color up till you cant see through the tentacles at all. Once that happens that's its healthy color. How olds the tank and what lighting are you using? Also agree clowns bight be a bit big for that little guy and may steal its food.
 
I am running the JBJ LED lights for their 28 gallon cube. Tank is 6 months now, had to take the anemone before I really wanted to, but was a package deal. Both clowns do host it, but they do not get in the way of feeding the anemone. Plus anemone closes over the food too quickly for the fishes to really respond.

Yeah will keep feeding it live black worms + flakes and will see what happens. Only problem with feeding it is how quickly it grows.
 
I wouldn't worry about it growing too quick. First it will regain it's color and then you can back off. Actually this one could stand to double in size given it's hosting 2 clowns.

I suggest you also try giving it some meaty seafood. I use bay scallops. I have 5 RBTAs (large ones) so I thaw three bay scallops in tank water then smash them up into a chunky mash. I use a turkey baster to target feed the nemmie. My Clowns enjoy that too and just recently layed their first clutch of eggs. :)

You could also do shrimp or some people do mussels. Any human-quality raw seafood will work. Just make sure the pieces are very small, like a baby pea size. Once or twice a week will be just fine.
 
...

...

Shia said:
It loves live black worms and flakes, eats like a pig, growing very quickly but the color remains non-ideal. Are certain foods more nutritious than others for these nems?
Click to expand...

Give some krill and silverside pieces a try. I try to diversify my nems intake. I figure its worth a try. Oh yeah and small pieces for sure. Best of luck.
 
Just a word of caution about the silversides. Many have reported issues after feeding them to anemones. Some speculate it's possible that, since they are not for human consumption, the handling is less than ideal and they may be thawing and re-freezing during shipment. Some use them and have no problems others have had a different experience.

I have never used them so I'm just passing this info on. A good rule of thumb is anytime you thaw something and it has a bad smell to it you probably shouldn't use it.
 
.....

.....

sjwitt said:
Just a word of caution about the silversides. Many have reported issues after feeding them to anemones. Some speculate it's possible that, since they are not for human consumption, the handling is less than ideal and they may be thawing and re-freezing during shipment. Some use them and have no problems others have had a different experience.

I have never used them so I'm just passing this info on. A good rule of thumb is anytime you thaw something and it has a bad smell to it you probably shouldn't use it.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice... I am fairly new to the Nems but have been continuously be researching. I truly appreciate the help!
 
Its been a month, so I thought I provide an update. Feeding anemone every third day, size has increased but mostly number of tentacles. Color has not really changed much, still looks to be a neon pink. It might be my eyes or how long I stare at the anemone under LEDs, but the oral disc appears to be a very very light green hue. Can't really capture the green with a camera, so it may just be my eyes lol.
 
Shia... That's great to hear the the nem is doing well. Give it some time and allow it to grow. Hopefully with the proper lighting it will gain its true colors. Mine just recently split after having it for just about a month. The color on both the nems seems to be much more intense after the split.
 
a3y8avej.jpg


Nem just before the split...

y5y8y8ut.jpg


And after the split. Hard to see though because they're hiding while they heal. One is about 1/3 the size of the other. Both beautiful.
 
Riley your BTAs look great, are those the flamethrower BTA? Haha I love the different names for the color variations. I'll probably post a pic of mine next month, it is crazy how fast bta's grow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Ritteri Swollen Mouth
Replies
8
Views
579
Bakeman
B
R
Cyano and nutrients
2 3 4
Replies
77
Views
11K
Elmareefer
E
Paul B
How Fish are Different from most of us
Replies
1
Views
1K
Paul B
Paul B
L
filter roller install help
Replies
3
Views
676
Vinny Kreyling
Vinny Kreyling
E
Need some help with two clowns swimming unusually as I’m doing a fish cycle.
2
Replies
24
Views
3K
kfisc
kfisc
Back
Top