BTA Education

[newatthis]

I just wanted to share my experience with mine. My BTA has been doing great. It has stayed put on one rock for about a month. I work the midnight shift and when I came home I noticed my BTA climbed all the way up my glass! The next morning I got up and found my BTA completely deflated with a green color (no rose color). Me and my wife thought we were continuing our killing spree. We contimplated removing it. I said well, lets try the hospital tank. NOTHING!!! I stuck my net down there to remove it and it moved. NOT DEAD!!! WHOOOPEEE!!! I let it be and now it is back to normal. The moral of the story... I dont know but anemones sure are cool.

[kevinpo]

It is quite normal for the E. quadracolor anemone to contract down to almost nothing at regular intervals. They need to be fed meaty food more often (every 3-4 days or so) than some of the other common species. Raw shrimp or silversides are good choices.

Regards,
Kevin

[BubbaWPB]

I think that everyone getting a BTA should be warned about the deflation effect. They shrink up to little flaccid nubs, especially after eating. If you don't know this, the first time you see it, you think the poor thing is dead. It is amazing how small and shriveled up the things can get.

Talk to Zhenya (Gene) about BTA's... he feeds them silvesides several times a week (if I'm not mistaken)... and he wound up with a whole tank of very impressive rose BTA's. I've chosen to feed mine a little less often than Gene feed his, and my BTA (Lester) has maintained his size and color without taking over my tank. However, I have a mated pair of black oscellaris clown fish that have bonded with Lester that probably add to his nutritional intake.

[leebca]

THAT'S THE KEY.

Gene has hit upon the secret of proper nutrition -- for the BTA. It has to be 'whole food.' Feeding fish flesh doesn't get all the right nutrients into the organism.


Although I specialize in marine fishes, there is much to apply from this post to invertebrates, corals, etc.:

Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition