This critter was in an established tank we got from someone else. When fully extended the trunk is about 3 in high and the tentacles are about 1-2 in long. It does not host the two black clownfish that are also in the tank. It periodically pulls all its tentacles in which someone told us means it is eating, but I don't know what unless it grabbed a piece of the mysis we sometimes feed to the clowns. I haven't seen it do that and the fish are pretty good at gobbling the mysis so even if it is getting some of that from time to time I don't think that is enough to sustain it. I've tried giving it small bits of raw shrimp which it grabs, pulls halfway into its mouth, then rejects. I'm concerned that it's dying because throughout the day it repeatedly shrivels down to half or a third of its full size, then gradually re-expands. A kid at LFS told my husband that we don't have to feed it, which I highly doubt! Any better ideas?
What kind of anemone?? How to feed?
- Thread starter DCT326
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Dkuhlmann
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It's a bubble tip anemone and they don't need to eat. They get all the nutrition they need through the lights. I highly suggest that you do some searching here on RC for BTA's and learn about them. Wonderful creatures. I've got 3 of them.
What you're seeing is normal for BTA's
Yes you can feed them but all it will do is make them grow faster. If you feel that you must feed it, I suggest feeding them a few Mysis shrimp every 3rd day and don't give it anymore than something the size of a pencil eraser. If you give it something too large it will spit it out.
What kind of lighting do you have? It takes pretty strong lighting to support them.
The BTA is a natural host to the Maroon Clowns. You can also research Clownfish natural host anemone.
What you're seeing is normal for BTA's
Yes you can feed them but all it will do is make them grow faster. If you feel that you must feed it, I suggest feeding them a few Mysis shrimp every 3rd day and don't give it anymore than something the size of a pencil eraser. If you give it something too large it will spit it out.
What kind of lighting do you have? It takes pretty strong lighting to support them.
The BTA is a natural host to the Maroon Clowns. You can also research Clownfish natural host anemone.
Hmm, I wouldn't have thought it was a bubble tip. I guess it doesn't look like the pictures I've seen, do they not all actually have the bubbles? However if it is relying on photosynthesis that would explain why it has gradually migrated to the very top of the rocks! The light is a Solar Flare brand with 5 3W LED's over a 17 gal nano. Not sure if that is sufficient but maybe not since it seems to be actively trying to get more light.
I am still not completely convinced the shriveling up is normal. It doesn't just get smaller, it goes limp and wrinkly. If that's ok, great, but it looks pretty awful. Maybe if I can get a pic of it later it will help explain what I mean.
I am still not completely convinced the shriveling up is normal. It doesn't just get smaller, it goes limp and wrinkly. If that's ok, great, but it looks pretty awful. Maybe if I can get a pic of it later it will help explain what I mean.
Dkuhlmann
New member
I'm telling you that the shrinking a shriveling up to nothing is completely normal for BTA's. BTA's also don't always all bubble up, I have one that is, one that is partially and one that is not. Sometimes all three are not bubbled up. There is a lot of information to read on them out there.
Yes it's wanting more light and no that light isn't even close enough lighting for an anemone.
Yes it's wanting more light and no that light isn't even close enough lighting for an anemone.
Thanks for the input. Dkuhlmann I'm not questioning your knowhow, just remarking on how surprised I am that this creature keeps looking like it's on the brink of death then coming back! Anyway, after reading this post:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1007835&highlight=condy+anemone
I understand why you called it a bubble tip even though it doesn't have the classic shape. It has no verrucae, which this post lists as characteristic of the BTA. It does not, however, specify whether condys have verrucae or not, so jd371 I do not know how to tell if your suggestion is correct.
Re the lighting, I guess that is what we get for getting this setup secondhand. You just can't assume that the previous owner knew what they were doing!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1007835&highlight=condy+anemone
I understand why you called it a bubble tip even though it doesn't have the classic shape. It has no verrucae, which this post lists as characteristic of the BTA. It does not, however, specify whether condys have verrucae or not, so jd371 I do not know how to tell if your suggestion is correct.
Re the lighting, I guess that is what we get for getting this setup secondhand. You just can't assume that the previous owner knew what they were doing!
I was thinking condy also.
Clowns won't go in a condy generally.
All the other comments apply, though. Need a lot of light, food optional. Anemones shrink and swell as they see fit. They also shed their mucous layer occasionally. Changing size sometimes coincides with moving around as they try to find a place that they like relative to light, current, foot placement.
Clowns won't go in a condy generally.
All the other comments apply, though. Need a lot of light, food optional. Anemones shrink and swell as they see fit. They also shed their mucous layer occasionally. Changing size sometimes coincides with moving around as they try to find a place that they like relative to light, current, foot placement.
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