Why is my bta so small?

[Lahn Doe]

I've seen so many pics of them and they are usually a lot bigger than the one I have. Mines are only about 2.5 inches in diameter. I know I am a rookie at this so please help me out.

I bought the anemone about 1.5 month ago. I put it on the highest rock (only have pc lighting) and it wandered underneath my power filter/refugium output. I left it alone for a few days and it didn't move. I lowered the water level to just below it's foot. It floated down to the sand and I picked it up and moved it to a mid rock. It stayed there for a few weeks and was doing good. Then it moved to the side of the rock and split. They haven't moved sinced the split and again seems to be doing good. Both are now the same size as the original. Will they keep getting bigger or will they split?

 

[finding nemo]

Lahn, please tell us more about your tank, size, filtration, age, what kind of anemones are we talking about here?
I am wondering if it is something other then a BTA.
Lighting?
How old is your tank and are you feeding the anemone?
We need to know much more please
Pictures are great if you can post some of the anemone and the tank for us.

 

[Lahn Doe]

I'm pretty sure it's a bta as it looks like the same as others I've seen on this site. It's green and the tentacles has bubbles. I feed it every 2-3 days with frozen shrimp or silverslides.

The tank is a 29. It's been up for 2+ years as a fowlr. I've got a power filter that only has some rock rubble and chaeto with a light over it. The main light over the tank is 130 watt pc. I just got a new skimmer but I don't think it works very well. Like my old one, the skimate isn't dirty looking.

I don't have a digital camera, but I'll try my best to get one later.

 

[finding nemo]

Hi Lahn, thanks for that info.
My web site has information on BTA's. Click the little red house to read up on them.
They will get as large as 12" across when fed and taken care of properly.
In your case you have not had it very long and I probably split from stress.
Once split it takes about a week for them to form there new mouths so no feeding is necesary.
Check the website and hope it can help you further, if not come on back and will help you further here or email me if you like.
But would be good to come back where with questions so that it helps others as well.
karen

 

[Lahn Doe]

One of my bta just split again. I'd rather have one decent sized anemone than to worry about 3 small one roaming. Are there some that will keep splitting and not get too big? Maybe I could feed less or more?

 

[a4twenty]

you can sell / trade the clones to your LFS when they gow a bit.

i think you should slow down on the feedings. i feed my GBTA a few small krill once a week.

oh yeah and definately check out finding nemo's web site, there is loads of info and pics. ( it's a must to have bookmarked for people keeping anemone's )

 

[finding nemo]

Lahn, I am thinking you do NOT have bta's but aptasia, bta's do not split that often when as small as you are saying, see the section on aptasia on my web site. If they are those you need to kill them off asap or they will take over your tank.

 

[Lahn Doe]

I've been to finding nemo's site (very nice) and I'm 100% sure it is not aptasia. The foot is white, tentacles are green, and look just like the other bta's. Can a skunk cleaner shrimp stress it out to cause it to split? Mines will sometimes look for food in the anemone even when there is none.

 

[michaeldaly]

My BTA trippled in size in about 5 months, I feed him either lancefish, mussles,shrimp or squid every second day. he is now around 8in + in diameter.

 

[theop]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7883384#post7883384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lahn Doe
I've been to finding nemo's site (very nice) and I'm 100% sure it is not aptasia. The foot is white, tentacles are green, and look just like the other bta's.

Shouldn't the foot a BTA be red? Mine is as is every other picture I've seen (but I admit I am new to anemones).

 

[finding nemo]

Does it look like this?
If so they are mojano anemones.(not sure of the spelling of them)
Reproduce fast and cute but not big. Around 2 inch across.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v346/karenssaltwater/mojano1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v346/karenssaltwater/mojanoday1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

 

[theop]

Spelling is "majano" in case you want to Google it for pictures.

I would hope no LFS would sell one of these as a BTA!

 

[finding nemo]

Thanks theop, was to lazy to look it up.

 

[finding nemo]

"- A picture is worth 1,000 words decribing that unknown thing in your tank."
Boy that's the truth!