Will BTAs travel across sand?

[Phantom Phish]

I've long wanted to get a BTA, but I've been worried that it will go on a walkabout and sting my corals. So I thought about making a rock "island" in the center part of my tank, with about 3" of sand all around it, in the hopes that a BTA and any clones would stay put on that island. Do you think this would work, or would the BTA just march across the sand?

 

[patriots81]

it might work, but the BTA can march across the sand if it wants to, though they prefer the rocks. the foot likes to hide in crevices so make sure you have plenty of those and it might work.

 

[rob1991]

i thought they didnt go across the sand? but i heard they like "float" them selves sometimes to another location....but i have never had that happen to me, my three anemones which are BTA's stay on the rock island i made.

 

[patriots81]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15494810#post15494810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob1991
i thought they didnt go across the sand? but i heard they like "float" them selves sometimes to another location

that could be true. if thats the case though, it could still leave the rock island

 

[traveller7]

If they are unhappy, they will let go of rock and drift or attempt to move across sand. Unfortunately, they get to decide how "happy" they are vs. accepting what we "feel" is right for them.

My BTAs rarely move off the rock piles, but on occasion, it happens. If you want to reduce the odds of them moving, you'll want a point light source, reasonable flow, and the ability to make adjustments based on their responses. Over time, you'll be able to dial in the conditions to keep them on the rock pile for many years.

Good luck.

 

[Phantom Phish]

OK, I think I'm going to give it a try. Thanks for the input.

 

[sweet d]

i had a rbta in my 90 g and it only moved over the rock but when it had to it would ball up and roll or loat where it wanted to go. so good luck

 

[myreefcentral]

Mine let go of the rock and floated around my tank for a few hours until I realized it and stuck it on the rocks in a low flow area...it did that twice...

 

[Coral Hind]

I have no rocks at all in my 75g anemone farm, only sand on the bottom and short sections of 3" diameter PVC pipe stuck into the sand for the anemones to attach to. The BTA's I have do walk on sand as they move from one pipe to the next.

 

[patriots81]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15503588#post15503588 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Coral Hind
I have no rocks at all in my 75g anemone farm, only sand on the bottom and short sections of 3" diameter PVC pipe stuck into the sand for the anemones to attach to. The BTA's I have do walk on sand as they move from one pipe to the next.

how many anemones do you have in your 75g anemone farm?

 

[Plan>B]

Nice thread Phantom Phish, thanks for starting it.

I don't have a tank big enough to one yet, but I would very much like to have one... would it be possible to have more then one (and more then one type) in a tank.... say around the 400 gallon size?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15495295#post15495295 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by traveller7
If they are unhappy, they will let go of rock and drift or attempt to move across sand. Unfortunately, they get to decide how "happy" they are vs. accepting what we "feel" is right for them.

My BTAs rarely move off the rock piles, but on occasion, it happens. If you want to reduce the odds of them moving, you'll want a point light source, reasonable flow, and the ability to make adjustments based on their responses. Over time, you'll be able to dial in the conditions to keep them on the rock pile for many years.

Glad to hear this... as I would like to have some corals but worry about them stinging them.

Would be nice to have some tank shots of your Anemones islands.

One of my questions would be: When is it not safe to have SPS (or other) with Anemones?