rbta feeding

[mayjong]

is it needed?
just got one. used to have a carpet in the 150 which i never really fed. i'm assuming rbta is the same (likes food, but doesn't NEED it???)
thanks!
also-
it is touching some zoas and sps digi, but doesn't appear to be stinging. is this normal? (i assumed it would sting corals)
thanks!

 

[sea of cortez]

I feed mine krill or peices if shrimp and silversides once or twice a week.

My biggest one wonders around now and then. It parked next to some provona once, which caused some ression. when it moved it grew back. Then it parked next to a colony of zoa and would expand over half of them when the lights came on, that half died off. That RBTA just split again and moved. Now the Zoa is growing back. So yea I would say they sting other corals.

 

[Tmoriarty]

They do not require supplemental feeding if you have sufficient light (BTA's don't take to much), but they will grow much faster with supplemental feeding.

If you feed, pieces of table shrimp chopped up, mysis, krill, or any other fresh sea food works well. I personally avoid silversides as I have heard to many horror stories of bad silversides causing infections and killing anemone. While this has never happened to me because I do not feed silversides, I trust the sources as they come from some of the most experienced anemone keepers on reefcentral.

As for stinging corals, yes BTA's have stinging cells just like any other anemone, although they are much weaker in comparison to carpet anemone stinging cells. They may not initially harm corals with a light touch but will eventually cause damage with prolonged contact. I have never lost a fish to a BTA, although I have lost a couple to Haddoni's (even healthy fish). A BTA has a fairly weak sting so even slight brushes by fish usually don't amount to much damage if any.

Best of luck, and as always.... PICTURES!!!

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I would give mine some mysis once a week.Most of the food they recived was blown in by the current during feeding the fish.

 

[mayjong]

nem pics

nem pics

here are a couple i took last night-

looking good!
hoping my clowns will take an interest...
any idea what kind they are?
thanks!

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Your clowns look like ocellaris clowns.

 

[sleeri]

Feeding is important in my opinion. I've always seemed to have healthier nems with consistent feeding. Nice thing is if your nem hosts a clown, the clown will feed the nem mysis or whatever else you're feeding your fish. At least mine does.

 

[Demo916]

ive always been told to not feed my nem but from time to time ill feed it a cube of fresh salmon or a raw shrimp

 

[kretzkiller]

My rbtas grow much faster with consistent feeding. Cut feedings back or cease all together and you'll see a decline in size, at least I did.

 

[Anemone]

If you have sufficient lighting and you feed your fish, your BTA(s) will be fine. I used to target feed at least once a week with krill, but I gave that up a decade ago, and my clones are fine.

That being said, you will get greater growth if you target feed. And yes, over time, your BTA will kill corals that it touches. Some will hold out for longer periods than others (I had a huge E. Anchora that lasted 18 months before finally giving up). I once had a mixed reef. Now I have this:

Kevin

 

[ShelbyJK500]

Feeding not necessary if you feed fish in your tank and have good light (already mentioned). If you overfeed (daily or several times a week), I've seen that cause splits. I've had good luck feeding once a week or two weeks, but only because I wanted the faster growth. I also have nems I've never fed and they do great as well.

On corals, I've had RBTA's keep zoa colonies closed just because they are being touched, but have never had anything die off because of the contact. Just my personal experience.