stressed rbta

[Mr.Kook]

i have a rbta that my msc stressed all to hell. so i took the clowns out. the rbta is starting to eat its self. I got it to eat 2 mysis shrimp tonight. My question is since its only eating 2 mysis shrimp. And the rbta is prob 4 inch or more across how offten should i try and get it to eat. We are hoping to bring it back and its not to late.

 

[zachts]

Can you post a picture, that doesn't sound good.

As long as it is eating there's still a chance. if it will only eat a couple mysis at a time probably feed it daily. If you can though, turn off all your pumps and try placing a small piece of raw shrip or fish near the mouth of the anemone. fend off any crabs or shrimp or fish that try to steal it until the anemone has eaten it, and repeat every other day until the anemone recovers. It may take a month or more, depending on how bad of shape the anemone is in. I've nursed a couple back to health this way but it takes a lot of patience.

 

[Mr.Kook]

Thanks it was a long day today and i will try and take a pic tomorrow. We did feed it a piece of talapia and my wife said it ate it fast. Not slow like it normaly does but when i just got home it lookes like it spit it out. But we dont know how long after it ate it that it spit it back out.

 

[zachts]

try a smaller piece and if it spits it back out then give some raw shrimp a try. some anemones are picky eaters.

 

[steelhead77]

There is no need to feed it. As long as you have good light, and an established tank, it will get everything it needs from the water column. These are very rudimentary creatures that, in the wild, have no-one coming by and dropping mysis, or anything else down their gullets. These creatures actually require very little care and even thrive in "dirty" water. Broadcast feed your tank once a week and that is all it needs.

Sit back and watch and don't worry about it. Sometimes they may shrink, other times they will inflate, it's all part of their lifecycle. The less interference from you, (hands in the tank, etc.) the more the livestock in your tank will thrive.

 

[zachts]

There is no need to feed it. As long as you have good light, and an established tank, it will get everything it needs from the water column. These are very rudimentary creatures that, in the wild, have no-one coming by and dropping mysis, or anything else down their gullets. These creatures actually require very little care and even thrive in "dirty" water. Broadcast feed your tank once a week and that is all it needs.

Sit back and watch and don't worry about it. Sometimes they may shrink, other times they will inflate, it's all part of their lifecycle. The less interference from you, (hands in the tank, etc.) the more the livestock in your tank will thrive.

I don't entirely aggree here. In the wild the water column is teaming with mysis and other tiny tidbids of tastness for the anemone to eat at is leasure. They are essential catching and eating food 24/7 in the wild.

Our tanks are relatively devoid of anything palateble by comparison. While it's true that with good lighting a healthy anemone can survive indefinately it will not likely grow, or at a much reduced rate. to get good growth the anemone must have a source of food in addition to its symbiotic algea, other wise why would they have developed such an effective meanse of capuring and consuming prey?

Anemones seem to thrive in "dirty" water because it tends to have higher nutrient levels which are good for the anemones symbiotic algea, and also the thank will likely have more alge which supports more tiny little creatures for the anemone to eat.

Just my humble opinon based on years of personal observation.

a sick or severly stressed anemone most definately needs an additional food source to recover.

 

[moshi1ry]

I don't entirely aggree here. In the wild the water column is teaming with mysis and other tiny tidbids of tastness for the anemone to eat at is leasure. They are essential catching and eating food 24/7 in the wild.

Our tanks are relatively devoid of anything palateble by comparison. While it's true that with good lighting a healthy anemone can survive indefinately it will not likely grow, or at a much reduced rate. to get good growth the anemone must have a source of food in addition to its symbiotic algea, other wise why would they have developed such an effective meanse of capuring and consuming prey?

Anemones seem to thrive in "dirty" water because it tends to have higher nutrient levels which are good for the anemones symbiotic algea, and also the thank will likely have more alge which supports more tiny little creatures for the anemone to eat.

Just my humble opinon based on years of personal observation.

a sick or severly stressed anemone most definately needs an additional food source to recover.

Interesting and i agree with you. Would you say that most people over feed there anemones then? Some people feed twice a week while others once or twice a month. Just wondering what the sweet spot is.

 

[zachts]

if maximum growth and eventual division is the goal then more frequrent feedings should be considered. you have to weigh it though with you tank filtratin capacity and maintenece schedule. More food will mean beter anemone growth but the filtration must be able to keep up as well. I generally feed very small peices of food, 1/2" cube of raw shrimp to a 14" sebae once or twice a week for example, a small BTA might only be able to fully consuem 1/4 that amount at a time or less. You just need to gauge how much by the anemone's respose, ie they don't spit any out undigested.

The "sweet" spot will depend on the individual animal, what you are feeding, how much, and the level of maintenance you are content to provide. Every other day is not out of the question, and is what I do to induce division and spawning of flower anemones for example.

 

[steelhead77]

I don't entirely aggree here. In the wild the water column is teaming with mysis and other tiny tidbids of tastness for the anemone to eat at is leasure. They are essential catching and eating food 24/7 in the wild.

Our tanks are relatively devoid of anything palateble by comparison. While it's true that with good lighting a healthy anemone can survive indefinately it will not likely grow, or at a much reduced rate. to get good growth the anemone must have a source of food in addition to its symbiotic algea, other wise why would they have developed such an effective meanse of capuring and consuming prey?

Anemones seem to thrive in "dirty" water because it tends to have higher nutrient levels which are good for the anemones symbiotic algea, and also the thank will likely have more alge which supports more tiny little creatures for the anemone to eat.

Just my humble opinon based on years of personal observation.

a sick or severly stressed anemone most definately needs an additional food source to recover.

Well, I've got almost 20 in my tank now that are thriving and growing just fine. I didn't say that they only need light. I said that rather than target feeding, you should broadcast feed your tank (just like in the wild) and they will get everything they need. My humble opinion is that more harm is inflicted on these creatures by feeding them too much than not enough - sick, stressed or whatever.