A "Newbie" And His Anemones

[macon77]

What does everyone feed their BTAs? How often?

Hello!

I can't speak for "everyone," but I can tell you how I feed mine. I feed each one a piece of raw Gulf-caught shrimp about the size of its mouth once a week. I keep a list of which ones I feed every day, otherwise I wouldn't remember which ones I had already fed during a given week!!!

 

[macon77]

Your clownfish and "its" anemone are nearly twins. Awesome!!!

 

[Gator0930]

Thank you!

So, build your wife an anemone tank! Come on, it will be fun.

Honestly, I used to have a tank that was near foolproof. Get up, turn the lights on, throw some food in, change some water, turn the lights off. No worries. Anything I threw in that tank would thrive. Nowadays...not so much. I always feel like I am about two steps behind the tank. I get the sense that I am always having to PREDICT what it might do, if that makes any sense. It is starting to mature, but is not quite there. I fully suspect, and this just my belief, that live rock makes all the difference in the world. There is "STUFF" on/in that rock that is magic. It almost makes "learning" unnecessary!!!

I agree, but the live rock I have gotten lately has had many undesireables. I have been looking into a tank for her to do anenomes in. They are fun and quite difficult. Their needs vary from day to day.

 

[Gator0930]

What does everyone feed their BTAs? How often?

We feed ours as often as they will eat. We feed shrimp as well. Raw and peeled. They normally eat every day to every other day. The more you feed them the faster they grow.

 

[Carl Eckelman]

Very cool
I just had my first one split

What do you feed yours and how often?

 

[Carl Eckelman]

Looks awesome

What and how often do you feed them

 

[macon77]

I agree, but the live rock I have gotten lately has had many undesireables. I have been looking into a tank for her to do anenomes in. They are fun and quite difficult. Their needs vary from day to day.

WHOA! Nice!

I think it preferable to deal with a few undesirables in a stable tank, than to deal with a RIDICULOUS UNSTABLE PROBLEM THAT I CAN'T EVEN IDENTIFY. (Sense any frustration?) Fortunately, I do think I am nearing the end of that phase. Hopefully, I don't make any stupid mistakes from here, on out.

 

[macon77]

We feed ours as often as they will eat. We feed shrimp as well. Raw and peeled. They normally eat every day to every other day. The more you feed them the faster they grow.

WOW! That is a lot of eating.

At some point, you will wish for them to stop growing. Trust me on this one.

 

[macon77]

Very cool
I just had my first one split

What do you feed yours and how often?

Hi, Carl.

Congratulations on the new critter!

I feed each one a piece of raw Gulf-caught shrimp about the size of its mouth once a week.

 

[dmunyon8]

Your clownfish and "its" anemone are nearly twins. Awesome!!!

Thank you! One of my favorite highlights of my last tank was when the clownfish started hosting!

 

[Gator0930]

WOW! That is a lot of eating.

At some point, you will wish for them to stop growing. Trust me on this one.

I believe that, but we enjoy watching them grow. We had a carpet anemone before we knew better. We switched to BTAs now.

 

[macon77]

Thank you! One of my favorite highlights of my last tank was when the clownfish started hosting!

It is an interesting relationship. My clownfish will go in every Sherman anemone in the tank. They will not touch ANY of the others. Very interesting.

 

[macon77]

I believe that, but we enjoy watching them grow. We had a carpet anemone before we knew better. We switched to BTAs now.

What did you not like about the carpet? And, what type was it?

Thanks, in advance.

 

[Gator0930]

What did you not like about the carpet? And, what type was it?

Thanks, in advance.

I am not sure of the type. It ate every tank inhabitant other the our clown fish. This was our first salt water tank in North Dakota

 

[macon77]

I am not sure of the type. It ate every tank inhabitant other the our clown fish. This was our first salt water tank in North Dakota

Oh, no!!! I guess that would be a problem, wouldn't it?

 

[Gator0930]

Oh, no!!! I guess that would be a problem, wouldn't it?

Yes it would. We took it back to the LFS when we moved. Now we are starting again. About 6 months into a 60 gallon cube and my wife has a BTA in her 14 gallon. We got it when it was about the size of a dime. It is about the size of a quarter now.

 

[macon77]

I posted this picture, previously. But, I have to post it again. What is the expression on this fish's face? It is trying to say,

"I am sorry. Yes, I ate your blue damsel. But, it was only five dollars, right? I didn't think it would upset you so much. Really, I am sorry."

"Will you still bring me shrimp?"

 

[macon77]

Yes it would. We took it back to the LFS when we moved. Now we are starting again. About 6 months into a 60 gallon cube and my wife has a BTA in her 14 gallon. We got it when it was about the size of a dime. It is about the size of a quarter now.

One more very good reason not to develop an interest in carpet anemones. Thank you for firming up my resolution. I owe you one.

 

[Gator0930]

I posted this picture, previously. But, I have to post it again. What is the expression on this fish's face? It is trying to say,

"I am sorry. Yes, I ate your blue damsel. But, it was only five dollars, right? I didn't think it upset you so much. Really, I am sorry."

"Will you still bring me shrimp?"

Hahaha! No i do not think that would upset anyone who has had the little terrors

 

[Gator0930]

One more very good reason not to develop an interest in carpet anemones. Thank you for firming up my resolution. I owe you one.

They are extremely fascinating, but, like most things, they have their time and place. I choose not to have them now. The wife wants one, but it will be in an anemone tank with noting but 2 clown fish.