Ummm, how big do GBTA's get?

[justthewife]

I have a GBTA that I have had about 3 months. When I got it, it was the size of a quarter. It is now almost as big as my fist and just accidentally ate my six line wrasse (this is its first accident). My husband is now worried it's going to just keep growing and get too big and eat all the fish. It is always stretched way out and likes to eat squid and brine shrimp. I have a 90 gallon tank. Do I stop feeding it to keep it from growing?

 

[bues0022]

I've known of a BTA that got to 18" across before it split, however it seems that most do not tend to get that large before splitting. Maybe 8"-10" or so, at least that's what I have seen to be more typical in my experiences.

It will absolutely grow slower if you feed it less, or not at all. Remember, it is photosynthetic, so it does not need extra food to survive.

Also, BTA's have a pretty weak sting, and the only fish I have seen eaten by a BTA were otherwise unhealthy for another reason. A healthy 6-line should have been able to get away if its tail had brushed against it.

 

[justthewife]

well...for some odd reason, the wrasse would do more than brush against it. It actually looked like it was trying to host with it like a clownfish would. My clownfish don't host with it (they were tank bred and I never pushed the matter with them), they host with the overflow/water return grate instead. My wrasse was on the smaller side. Maybe there was something wrong with the wrasse. I kept saying the wrasses days were numbered because it kept going inside the anemone and it wasn't even threatened by anything as we have a peaceful tank and everyone gets along. The anemone never used to even eat meaty foods at all and now he has decided he loves it. This anemone is one of my favorite things in the tank.

 

[justthewife]

Never mind. My wrasse just came swimming out from UNDERNEATH the anemone. So the anemone is innocent!!!! I guess he is a healthy wrasse after all.