RBTA, GBTA, Clowns in 120g Questions

[Beverly]

We currently have a 2+ year old ocellaris pair hosting in a GBTA in our 37g and a pair of 8 month old tomato clowns hosting in an RBTA in our 67g. Both tanks are BB, have well established LR, and the BTAs have been growing well in the 8 months we've had them.

We've torn down our 4' 120g, upgraded the lights on it, and are getting ready to put both BTAs in the 120g along with the LR and SPS, LPS and soft corals from the 37g and 67g.

Here are my questions:

- the only fish we are keeping from our original 120g is a solarensis fairy wrasse. We intend to keep only one pair of clowns, but don't know which pair to keep. The tomato pair are quite visible in the tank and stay pretty close to the RBTA, but are very territorial and we're afraid they will harrass the wrasse. The ocellaris pair are much more mild mannered, but spend a lot of their time out of sight in the rockwork, presumably tending their eggs. Which pair of clowns would you keep with the fairy wrasse? BTW, we have eggcrate on the 120g to prevent the wrasse from jumping.

- I would like to aquascape the 120g so that the two BTAs are located in one mound of rock on one side of the tank with lower flow, with most of the corals on a second mound of rock on the other side of the tank with higher flow. How close can I put the two BTAs to each other? Can the RBTA and the GBTA be close enough to each other so they might touch as they grow?

Any comments and suggestions are welcome

 

[traveller7]

If you want a better chance of harmony, keep the ocellaris.

 

[Beverly]

Thanks, Scott That's what I was thinking, even though I might not see them that much.

What about issue of placing the GBTA and RBTA close together? How close can they be?

 

[818]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7786913#post7786913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by traveller7
If you want a better chance of harmony, keep the ocellaris.

2nd that!

Maybe once in their new home they'll go pack their bags up and explore

 

[dantodd]

Many BTAs are colonial and while most colonies are all clones of a mother animal many people have had great success combining 2 animals that are not known clones. I would be comfortable placing them right next to each other. You can always pull one if you see any decline but I suspect you'll not have any problem.

Be sure to let your tank mature 6 months or more before dropping the anemones in if you are adding any new (even "cured" live rock.) If you are using live rock that is ONLY coming from your other tanks and 50% or more of the water is coming from those tanks you might be successful without the wait.

 

[Beverly]

Dan,

All the rock will be coming from existing tanks. Some rock has been with us for over 2 years, while other rock has been in our tanks for a year or so. I don't anticipate the rock being a problem.

Will put the BTAs in the same rock pile, but I maybe I should try to give them room to grow without them touching too much. Do you think they would move on their own if they began stinging each other?

 

[dantodd]

They have the ability to move but they may choose to stay and fight instead of move. I'd just keep an eye on them and move one if they start to decline.

 

[Beverly]

Thank you for your advice, Dan

 

[Beverly]

The tank switch took three days to fully complete (August long weekend), and the GBTA and the RBTA are situated fairly close to each other. The large GBTA did, however, split into three shortly after the move, and we have found good homes for two of them.

We saved the ocellaris pair, and after a couple of days in their original GBTA they found the RBTA. They've been going back and forth between the two BTAs with no problem.

For most of the time, the two BTAs do not touch each other. But I have observed a few tentacles from each BTA sort of stroking each other. Neither BTA is showing signs of stress due to being so close together - yet. Of course, as the GBTA grows and gets closer to the RBTA, I will be watching more closely for signs of stress between the two. So far, though, everything looks pretty good

 

[dantodd]

congrats on a big move.

I doubt you'll have any troubles but keeping your eyes peeled is always a good thing!

 

[nickterp]

As long as you keep an eye on them they should be fine. Alot of people will advise not to mix non-clone BTA's in one tank for allelopathy reasons. So they won't be physically touching each other, but will be waging chemical warfare on each other, and they definitely can do so even in a 120g.

Basically they should be fine, but if either of them starts to decline I would pick one to move to another system. Good luck!

Check out these FAQ's where they talk about BTA compatibility: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/btacompfaqs.htm

 

[Beverly]

nickterp,

Thanks for the link which had other links to follow and read

 

[slcw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7786913#post7786913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by traveller7
If you want a better chance of harmony, keep the ocellaris.

agree. I did the same by removing all damsels (clowns are damsels after all ) and only added ocellaris.
they live together with less aggressive than other clowns.

 

[BLANKENSHIP76]

I have three in my tank, and two were right next to one another for a while and then one day one just moved to the other side of tank and is set. I think they didn't like the same space, so beware they may go where they want.