Bought a bleached LTA.

[Kayanarka]

Ugh. We wanted to leave him be, it looked like he found a happy place. But... he was going towards our bubble anemone, so my wife had to move him, then built a wall with our rock to block him from getting over to the bubble tip. Is it possible he is trying to kill my BTA?

 

[P-Dub]

Ugh. We wanted to leave him be, it looked like he found a happy place. But... he was going towards our bubble anemone, so my wife had to move him, then built a wall with our rock to block him from getting over to the bubble tip. Is it possible he is trying to kill my BTA?

No he is not trying to kill your BTA. You really do need to leave him be. Nems will move regardless of what you do. It is the gamble we all take with Nems in our systems. Stop feeding your nem. If you have sufficient light that is all they really need and when it is compromised, feeding can actually be detrimental. As far as regaining zooxanthellae color, you can boost the process by feeding a donor tentacle from a healthy nem. Copy and paste this into the search box.

Zooxanthellae Transplant for Bleached Anemones

 

[dvgyfresh]

Doubt the nem is moving to kill the BTA, however they could be participating in chemical warfare between the two nems because of species difference, do you run carbon?

 

[Kayanarka]

Doubt the nem is moving to kill the BTA, however they could be participating in chemical warfare between the two nems because of species difference, do you run carbon?

No he is not trying to kill your BTA. You really do need to leave him be. Nems will move regardless of what you do. It is the gamble we all take with Nems in our systems. Stop feeding your nem. If you have sufficient light that is all they really need and when it is compromised, feeding can actually be detrimental. As far as regaining zooxanthellae color, you can boost the process by feeding a donor tentacle from a healthy nem. Copy and paste this into the search box.

Zooxanthellae Transplant for Bleached Anemones

It is so frustrating, there is so much conflicting information. They are not killing each other, but could be doing chemical warfare?

My LFS told me yesterday that BTA and LTA can not be kept in the same tank. If you search these forums, 50% say they can, and 50% say they can not.

I do not have carbon in my sump. If I did get some, where would I put it, at the top of my plastic cups?

It has been over a week now and he has not attached to anything other then the one time I put him in a glass, and my wife saw him grab a rock, once.

I just wish there was solid information that everyone could agree on, everyday I get three or four different conflicting pieces of information. Yesterday my LFS says they can not be in the same tank, so I put him in my Quarantine tank, and this morning I check the forums and I am being told to stop touching him, feed him a tentacle, they are not fighting, they are fighting with chemicals run carbon.


Post in thread 'Keeping same or different species of anemones in the same tank' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/k...f-anemones-in-the-same-tank.49503/post-540826

 

[CanuckReefer]

It is so frustrating, there is so much conflicting information. They are not killing each other, but could be doing chemical warfare?

My LFS told me yesterday that BTA and LTA can not be kept in the same tank. If you search these forums, 50% say they can, and 50% say they can not.

I do not have carbon in my sump. If I did get some, where would I put it, at the top of my plastic cups?

It has been over a week now and he has not attached to anything other then the one time I put him in a glass, and my wife saw him grab a rock, once.

I just wish there was solid information that everyone could agree on, everyday I get three or four different conflicting pieces of information. Yesterday my LFS says they can not be in the same tank, so I put him in my Quarantine tank, and this morning I check the forums and I am being told to stop touching him, feed him a tentacle, they are not fighting, they are fighting with chemicals run carbon.


Post in thread 'Keeping same or different species of anemones in the same tank' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/k...f-anemones-in-the-same-tank.49503/post-540826

@OrionN May have some invaluable advice for you here... he's been doing Nems for a long time, and is a trusted opinion around these parts...

 

[Kayanarka]

So after my LFS told me they can not be in the same tank, I pulled the LTA to the QT. He did not like that at all, but my BTA perked up and seemed really happy.

After reading here that there is no problem keeping them together, I went out and bought Carbon and some bags. I put the carbon into the bags and added them to the bottom of my filter cups. I also added some ammo chips JIC as I have been getting some amonia readings (false reading? The Shrimp and Mandarin Goby are in fine shape).

Once this was all done I changes 10 gallona of water, and put the LTA back in the main tank. He was immediately very happy, and positioned himself about 6 inches from the BTA. Yesterday I did a 15 gallon water change. Today the BTA Is all shriveled up, just tiny tentacles barely sticking out. The LTA looks pleased as punch, The shrimp and Mandarin look great. The BTA did have a decent size meal two days ago, two 1/4 inch slices of silver fish, so maybe he is just doing what he does after a decent meal?

I will continue to just leave them both alone and update any changes here. Appreciate any further advice, thank you.

 

[CanuckReefer]

So after my LFS told me they can not be in the same tank, I pulled the LTA to the QT. He did not like that at all, but my BTA perked up and seemed really happy.

After reading here that there is no problem keeping them together, I went out and bought Carbon and some bags. I put the carbon into the bags and added them to the bottom of my filter cups. I also added some ammo chips JIC as I have been getting some amonia readings (false reading? The Shrimp and Mandarin Goby are in fine shape).

Once this was all done I changes 10 gallona of water, and put the LTA back in the main tank. He was immediately very happy, and positioned himself about 6 inches from the BTA. Yesterday I did a 15 gallon water change. Today the BTA Is all shriveled up, just tiny tentacles barely sticking out. The LTA looks pleased as punch, The shrimp and Mandarin look great. The BTA did have a decent size meal two days ago, two 1/4 inch slices of silver fish, so maybe he is just doing what he does after a decent meal?

I will continue to just leave them both alone and update any changes here. Appreciate any further advice, thank you.

Yes, if feeding, keep it to very small portions, once every week or two. I alternate between one small bay scallop, one mussel, or a quarter of a cocktail sized shrimp. As @Rmckoy mentions earlier they expend energy on feeding. If it has shriveled a bit after a small feeding this is normal.
I should have asked earlier, what size is this tank? They WILL wander often especially on introduction, perhaps even up to a year of heavy movement. Then tend to settle in a bit more staying put for months at a time when happy in my experience. Tank size is important imo. Mine was 6 inch fully inflated upon purchase about 3 years ago. It is now roughly 14 inch diameter. If it starts to adjust it will grow very fast, so keep that in mind. Suggest at least 75- 90 gallon or larger. A big LTA can wreak havoc on your other species in terms of coral, or other Nems. I have been fairly lucky over the years.

Mine fwiw. 3 years or so. That leather in second image was a wee bit ticked and sometimes gets that way when Nem too close. Thankfully no real warfare, since I don't run carbon...

 

[P-Dub]

It is so frustrating, there is so much conflicting information.

I just wish there was solid information that everyone could agree on, everyday I get three or four different conflicting pieces of information. Yesterday my LFS says they can not be in the same tank, so I put him in my Quarantine tank, and this morning I check the forums and I am being told to stop touching him, feed him a tentacle, they are not fighting, they are fighting with chemicals run carbon.

Corals do the darndest things. Each and every coral acts differently under differing circumstances and environments. Your tank is its own little niche ecosystem so trying to predict what exactly will happen is not realistic. There are certain things that corals, including Nems, can be counted on to need and that is about it. It is not necessarily conflicting information if LTA's can be in the same tank as BTA's, they can under certain conditions, without any problems, but not in others. Meet their general needs and adjust based on your system and its environment. BTW, you are not "feeding" him a tentacle, per see, as much as you are trying to jump-start the zooxanthellae acclimation for coloration as you stated it is pale. Did you read the thread on this process?

Feeding is unnecessary. Sure it's fun to watch and for some people and under certain circumstances, it may be beneficial, and for others, it may be detrimental. Providing the correct environment, parameters, lighting, etc. are what will determine your success with this coral. I had one very small BTA that has become three large BTA's in my system and I have never fed any of them, at any time, for any reason, and they are thriving, to the detriment of a number of other corals. There is no one-size-fits-all with their care. That is part of the joy and challenge of keeping and maintaining a reef aquarium. Don't get frustrated, find some patience instead. Nothing good happens fast in a reef tank and if you expect positive fast results from any interjection on your part you will more likely continue to be frustrated and disappointed with your tank. If your tank is doing well for the most part, the more you leave things be the better your system will do.

 

[Kayanarka]

If your tank is doing well for the most part, the more you leave things be the better your system will do.

I find this is the hardest part for me, just leaving them alone. I worry too much and want to make a change. I am ignoring him now and hoping he figures it out. I'm keeping a close watch in case he decides to start melting.

Yes, if feeding, keep it to very small portions, once every week or two. I alternate between one small bay scallop, one mussel, or a quarter of a cocktail sized shrimp. As @Rmckoy mentions earlier they expend energy on feeding. If it has shriveled a bit after a small feeding this is normal.
I should have asked earlier, what size is this tank?

It is a 90 display with a 30 sump ( It is a Red Sea 425 XL)

I did read the thread about the tentacle for the Transplant. I am way too nervous to cut a tentacle off of my BTA.


I think the LTA may have an injured foot. I thought there was just sand on the notion of his foot, but it is starting to look like damage. What do they look like when the "melt"

This is new, look how he is pinching, like he is trying to cut off his own foot. He was bubbling his base for the past 30 minutes or so, now it looks almost like he is trying to apply a tourniquet to himself.

It looks like maybe he is trying to grab the back glass, but look at that small white spot on his foot. I am still not sure if it is sand, dirt, or damage.

Edit: it was just sand on his foot. I was able to blow it off with a turkey baster. Not sure what the black string is, but it would not blow off, and I don't want to pull it off.

 

[CanuckReefer]

G

I find this is the hardest part for me, just leaving them alone. I worry too much and want to make a change. I am ignoring him now and hoping he figures it out. I'm keeping a close watch in case he decides to start melting.






It is a 90 display with a 30 sump ( It is a Red Sea 425 XL)

I did read the thread about the tentacle for the Transplant. I am way too nervous to cut a tentacle off of my BTA.


I think the LTA may have an injured foot. I thought there was just sand on the notion of his foot, but it is starting to look like damage. What do they look like when the "melt"

This is new, look how he is pinching, like he is trying to cut off his own foot. He was bubbling his base for the past 30 minutes or so, now it looks almost like he is trying to apply a tourniquet to himself.

It looks like maybe he is trying to grab the back glass, but look at that small white spot on his foot. I am still not sure if it is sand, dirt, or damage.

Edit: it was just sand on his foot. I was able to blow it off with a turkey baster. Not sure what the black string is, but it would not blow off, and I don't want to pull it off.

Good, good, mine is a 90 as well, enough room with a light to moderate stock tank imo. First I saw the pic I thought it looked like a split. But then LTA's don't split...good to know on the sand. Keep letting it settle, it's trying to adjust. Best to you, and hopefully it starts to thrive.

 

[Kayanarka]

Well this will be the final update to this thread. The LTA spit his guts out, so I removed him and he is gone.

The BTA seems very pleased with this result, he has come out of hiding and looks very happy. I think I will skip trying to mix the two anemones and just wait for the BTA to split in order to have two anems. Thank you to everyone that gave advice in this thread.

 

[reefz]

I bought one exactly like that one. That nem isnt bleached rather thats just what it's supposed to look like. Pretty sure thats just a white long tip anemone. See them pass through my lfs every once in awhile.