Bubble tip anemone

[Murica]

Hello all,
I have a bta that just devoured a new red head fairy wrasse (wrasse was healthy). If I feed the anemone more often, will it be less likely to sting or will it continue to gobble up anything that gets too close to it?

 

[Leslie Tabor]

That is really kind of weird...they definitely can eat fish but it generally doesn't happen with BTA's.

 

[Murica]

That is really kind of weird...they definitely can eat fish but it generally doesn't happen with BTA's.

Yup, I was scratching my head too lol. Worst part about it, that fairy wrasse was unique and had a weird coloration on its back. Oh well...

 

[Tiwo]

A couple weeks ago I saw my cleaner shrimp half way in my bta... I’m assuming the shrimp died and the bta took it upon itself to clean up the mess lol.

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

bubble aren’t as aggressive as other species but they will absolutely take advantage of any food that passes by. feeding more often won’t guarantee it will stop its natural instincts. it’s the circle of life.

 

[davocean]

Neither species of anemone are aggressive, they do not hunt, they are all opportunistic, a fish is touched they will get stung and possibly eaten.

This usually is the case when swim space is limited, or often an already sick fish wanders in.

Some anemone's may have stickier tentacles, and some a stronger sting, but they do not actively seek fish, so feeding will make no difference.

 

[Murica]

A couple weeks ago I saw my cleaner shrimp half way in my bta... I’m assuming the shrimp died and the bta took it upon itself to clean up the mess lol.

How ironic lol

 

[User1]

I've never seen, but I also hold the right to be incorrect (and usually am), a rose bubble tip anemone or any other color morph, eat a healthy fish. I started with a single RBTA in a 29 gallon bio cube. It slowly over the course of a year grew pretty large and never bothered any of the fish in there. Yellow coris, pair of clowns that it let host, watchman goby, cleaner shrimp, and some snails. It split one day. The pair grew large but still no eating of fish. Two became three and it was time to move some to another tank so I set up another 29 gallon bio cube. Repeated. This time no coris wrasse but more clowns that it let host, pajama cardinals, and some talbot damsels. So I have an assortment of fast and slow moving is what I'm trying to say. Still, no eating. And no - I don't direct feed my anemones. I did with the first, silver sides, but stopped after reading those are not healthy. Anyway - more to the long post.

Pair of cubes difficult to manage and the new tank RBTA split, and now it was time to merge these tanks. I set up a 40 breeder and moved everything in there so up to 4 RBTA's, assorted fish, and no aggression or eating opportunistically Over the next 3 years the 4 RBTA ended up to 9 and it was time for an upgrade. Too much space is being taken up by them along with my LPS / Hammer growth and so a 210 galon was started. I moved everything over, now have a lot of room, and, well, up to 11 RBTA Still no fish lost to the bubble tips.

I guess my comment is based on what I've only owned which is rose bubble tips. None of them be it fast or slow healthy fish had them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Nor do I directly feed. All of the fish more or less know where they are, what they are, and everything seems to co-exist. I've seen a few fish brush past them ever so slightly but again, no snatching. Even my skunk cleaner has walked over it - which I always thought was risky, but still alive. Go figure.

Again - this is just my experience having seen and owned 1 to 11 of them over the last 7 years. I would tend to lean towards a unhealthy fish be it age, health, or duress that let it become food.