Rescued Petco BTA

[Gig 'em]

I was at Petco the other day looking for a powerhead (which they don't sell, lame!!!) and I decided to just check out what was in there saltwater tanks. To my horror I saw a completely bleached green BTA. I knew it would die soon under their terrible conditions, so I wanted to try and rescue it. I asked for the manager and was able to buy it discounted for $20. It sucks that Petco even sells BTA, and that they keep them in such terrible conditions. But at least it's possible to talk the corporations into giving discounts to help save an animal!
The anemone seems to be doing well so far, it has eaten a quarter of a scallop and reacts well to the touch. Hopefully it will survive under my care
Here's a pic:

 

[garygb]

I think there is a very good chance that the anemone will be just fine. It looks healthy, other than being bleached. I would be concerned about the heater being so close, it could burn the anemone if it comes into contact with the hot glass.

 

[JT3069]

+1 and feed regularly

 

[deangelr]

I also enjoy "rescuing" aquatics from petco.... I got an awesome yellow tipped mag there for $14.. It was like $24 but the employee pulled it out without gloves, then had to pull it off her hand. I asked for a discount because it was so poorly handled and got it $10 off.

My tank would have a lot less cool stuff in it without petco..

 

[Gig 'em]

I also enjoy "rescuing" aquatics from petco.... I got an awesome yellow tipped mag there for $14.. It was like $24 but the employee pulled it out without gloves, then had to pull it off her hand. I asked for a discount because it was so poorly handled and got it $10 off.

My tank would have a lot less cool stuff in it without petco..

They sell magnificas?!?!?!

 

[Gig 'em]

So this is a crazy idea, but what do you think will happen if I took a syringe and took some inner liquid and zooxanthellae from a rose bubble tip and inserted it into the bleached anemone? Does anyone think this could transfer some different colors into the bleached anemone? I may just be indulging in crazy day dreaming....

 

[garygb]

It's not the zooxanthellae that gives some anemones their nice colors, it's the pigmentation of the anemone. Zooxanthellae are brown algae regardless of what anemone, or coral, they colonize.

 

[deangelr]

They sell magnificas?!?!?!

Petco sells all sorts of mislabled goodies...

 

[Gig 'em]

Petco sells all sorts of mislabled goodies...

Do you have a picture of your mag by chance?

 

[deangelr]

Ill post one tonight when I get home.

 

[R33f3r]

I bought an extremely bleached green gig about 3 years ago from petco. They had it labeled as a mushroom coral :lmao:, bought it for $10.00 and it grew to about 13" before I sold it. Your bta shoud be fine btw, just feed it and acclimate it to your lighting.

 

[deangelr]

Home early today.. Whoo hoo! Anyway, Here is a picture. Had this about 2 months.. Still very small in size..

 

[Gig 'em]

sweet! I'm going to keep going back to petco just to see if I can catch one of these rare finds!

 

[tpenn187]

looks like it has a good chance to recover! Keep in mind that a "rescue" to you is a "sale" to them.

 

[hypnoj]

My tank would have a lot less cool stuff in it without petco..

Yeh Petco?

 

[m758b033]

I rescued a BTA that looked far worse back in March. It is still alive and kicking and starting to get some color back, very slowly of course.

 

[deangelr]

My tank would have a lot less cool stuff in it without petco..

Yeh Petco?

Ive spent/spend all my reef budget on broodstock pairs so my tanks in general are very bland.

I like to pickup cool stuff at petco when I get salt or food. All of their livestock is under $30. They have all sorts of anemones, gobies, other fish, etc.. that I have gotten great deals on and really enjoy watching in my tank.

I also live in an area with no real LFS so my options are limmited to petco or online.. online is just not as fun sometimes.

 

[Db366]

Petco is a great place to buy livestock if you are good at bringing things back from the brink. Also when they do sales there prices are crazy. I picked up some Turbo snails the other day for a buck each.. A LFS had them on sale for 3.. Although I don't think they should be carrying half of the stuff they do livestock wise, there loss is everyone elses gain.