Bubble Tip Anemone Placement

nemoray · #1 12/27/2007, 06:38 PM

Today I was given a BTA about the size of a quarter. I have been told two different ways to place it in the tank. 1) place it on the sand. 2) Place it on the rockwork. What would you recommend?

I know I need to keep it away from my corals. My tank is a 90 gallon. One corner is set up in such a way that it forms a "walled" area.

Any advice or comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Obsessed_Reefer · #2 12/27/2007, 06:44 PM

From what I know, BTA's prefer the rock work, so that they can plant their foot in caves and crevices. But yea, you need to keep it away from other coral.

KWRealtor · #3 12/27/2007, 09:06 PM

If he is anything like the one I just got rid of, it will not matter where you place him. I have never seen a anemone travel around the tank as much as this bubble tip. Mine was about 4" dia. I am not sure if the size is a factor but, do not be supprised if your disappears under the rocks.

Good Luck,
Sam

ficklefins · #4 12/27/2007, 10:33 PM

I haven't seen a BTA the size of a quarter before so If you could take a Pic I would love to see it. I agree with the comments above. It doesn't matter where you place it because it will travel. The key for you tank will be to make sure that your powerheads or intakes are not near any rocks, or are covered to protect the anemone as it finds its home.

asia102485 · #5 12/27/2007, 10:34 PM

From my experience, they prefer to be placed on a rock so that they could plant their foot in a hole on the rock. but yea it might also move around until it finds a place they like.
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What type of lighting do you have?

nemoray · #6 12/27/2007, 10:57 PM

6 t5ho 54 watt

nemoray · #7 12/27/2007, 11:00 PM

When everyone says they move around, is that like a snail, floating, hopping, etc.? Just wondering as to the mode of locamotion. Right now he is about 18 to twenty inches from his nearest neighbor.

garygb · #8 12/27/2007, 11:09 PM

A BTA can move sort of like a snail, sliding along on its pedal disc. Or, they can detach from anything and just float along the bottom in the current. Generally BTA's are quite stationary once they find a spot in the live rock that suits them. They will not remain on the sand, their preferred substrate is the rockwork. As mentioned above, you will want to cover any power heads as it might get sucked in while it is finding its spot. Your lighting is fine it sounds like, how are your water parameters? I'm assuming this is your first BTA. They aren't particularly difficult animals to keep, but they aren't the easiest thing in the world either. You will want to provide certain water parameters.

This forum is a good resource as well as Joyce Wilkerson's book Clownfishes and WetWebMedia.com also has tons of information on this species.

Deyoe1118 · #9 12/28/2007, 12:12 AM

they will go where they want to go...hard to keep them in the spot you think is best...good luck

Amazon4 · #10 12/28/2007, 06:02 PM

If you have the room, you may like to try what I did.

The nem we got was the same size as yours. I took a clear glass (tumbler), threw some rock rubble in it, added water, nem, and used a rubber band to cover it with plastic mesh.

I placed this in the tank to keep him from wandering in to the overflow or an unprotected powerhead.

I fed him every day or so some baby brine. When he got a little bigger, I moved up to mysis and bits of krill. (The nem is so small he needs to start with small food.)

Once he was big enough, I moved him to the tank he was destined for that had the overflows and Koralia nem-proofed.

I took him out of the glass, foot attached to a piece of rubble, and placed in on the sand next to the rock work where I was hoping he'd go. He moved within a couple of hours and has been in a good spot ever since (knock on wood!).

I think we got the nem in April, and was about the size of a quarter like yours. It's now close to 4" across and hosted by our true percs.

Good luck!

Sokretys · #11 12/28/2007, 10:34 PM

what are the specific water parameters for a bta? i got a quarter sized one for 15 and am hoping my black sadlebacks will host it. i put it in the tank yesterday in my sand bed which is 20 lbs of sand 20 lbs of crushed coral. which over time all rised to the surface. i moved some of my lps around for him and plopped him down. he is in the same spot now...ate a good sized piece of silverside today...bubbles are out so i know the lighting is good. anything i missed?

garygb · #12 12/28/2007, 10:51 PM

These water parameters should work well for a BTA: specific gravity 1.025-1.026, temp. 76-80F, ph 8.2-8.5, water changes of 20% every other week, nitrates preferably undetectable, but can tolerate some nitrates; lighting can be from pc's, vho's, t-5 or mh, or some sunlight.

Cheebs · #13 12/29/2007, 12:52 AM

Perhaps I was lucky, but I put a BTA in my month old tank, and it immediately found a cave and settled in. It's been there for more than a month now at least, although when I bought mine it was already about 6 inches accross, so maybe smaller specimens are more sensitive.

nybyrne · #14 12/29/2007, 04:23 PM

Mine moved to (of course) to the rear of the tank. My clown loves him but he always goes to the back.

SPARTAN VI · #15 12/29/2007, 05:00 PM

I dropped mine onto the sand bed and it covered a lot of ground until it finally shoved its foot into a huge hole in the rock:

J.R.L. · #16 12/29/2007, 11:37 PM

i got my GBTA when it was quarter sized as well...place him about mid way up your tank will moderate flow in rockwork...preferably a hole for it to put its foot into..it will wander around for awhile then settle down

traveller7 · #17 12/30/2007, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nemoray
Today I was given a BTA about the size of a quarter.

The only way a BTA is the size of a quarter is if it was starved to absorption or divided by unnatural means.

Most "BTAs" that size are actually Majano Anemones.

Post a picture to get a clear ID and good luck.