RBTA - Identification.

[matthewscars]

Im looking into getting a RBTA and ive seen two very different pictures of them.

One being:

and

Are these both RBTA? If so, why is one bubbled and the other not?

 

[garygb]

Yes, they are both RBTAs. In aquariums, often the bulbs disappear altogether or disappear most of the time. It has nothing to do with the health of the anemone. Sunlight supposedly keeps them bubbled.

 

[Lmecher]

I have heard that when it's hungry the tantacles will be long and when it is satisfied they will bubble, I have also heard it's flow, heavy flow will make them loose their bubble tips. I have several that split from the same origonal rbta. I have them in different tanks. Under MH they are ling and sweeping, under T5 they are bubbled. I don't think anyone has figured out exactly why they bubble or not, it's a big mystery that may never be sloved. : )

 

[garygb]

Agreed Lmecher, the closest thing to an actual scientific study on the subject that I've read is the article by Charles Delbeek at the Honolulu aquarium. His conclusion is that the bubbles are related to light.