Copperband butterfly to control BTA?

[Ann Enomy]

As you can see, I have a few Anemones. I have sold to all local LFS so much that they are telling me no now. One store is even selling them for $15 per and still has too many. I never thought I would say it but these buggers are becoming a pest.

My question is do you think a butterfly would help control the population a bit while the dozen clownfish I have will protect some of the BTA's?

I don't want to eradicate them but I'm tossing anywhere from 3-5 / week as they crawl onto the front/side glass. The ones on rocks are too hard to get out by hand. Perfect scenario would be the butterfly would thin them at a rate equal to there cloning.

Any ideas are welcome. Thanks

 

[lynn.reef.nerd]

They will not touch those anemone. I do not see a slow down in typical bubbletip nem growth/expansion with a copperband.

 

[exnisstech]

^^ This
cbb will not touch bubble tips.
How old is your tank and are the parameters stable? The reason I ask is because several years ago I started with 3 bubble tip nems and ended up with close to 50. Now that the tank is mature (7yrs) and stable I haven't had a split in over 2 years. I think tank maturity and stability has caused mine to become comfortable and grow quite large vs splitting. I also do not feed anything but light except what they get when I feed fish. This has just been my experience with no science to back it up.

 

[funkychunks88]

I read somewhere that Angels end up eating anemones sometimes. Did i missread?

 

[Nano_Man]

I am a anemone lover and have several anemone tanks . So if it was me buy another big tank lol . @funkychunks88 I had to cover my eyes with my hands after reading your post lol

 

[Ann Enomy]

^^ This
cbb will not touch bubble tips.
How old is your tank and are the parameters stable? The reason I ask is because several years ago I started with 3 bubble tip nems and ended up with close to 50. Now that the tank is mature (7yrs) and stable I haven't had a split in over 2 years. I think tank maturity and stability has caused mine to become comfortable and grow quite large vs splitting. I also do not feed anything but light except what they get when I feed fish. This has just been my experience with no science to back it up.

Parameters are very stable. PH 7.8-8.3, No3=0.5, Po4 =0 Ca = 430 Temp 78-79˚ The tank is 15 years old (1 Nem was purchased about 7 years ago). I did have a GFCI outlet go bad and lost the fish and had a temporary NO3 spike. Anemones did clone like crazy after that but I have been selling them for about 5 years now so it has been an issue for a while. I never considered a butterfly because I had a bully sailfin tang that would kill any new fish that came into the tank

 

[funkychunks88]

I am a anemone lover and have several anemone tanks . So if it was me buy another big tank lol . @funkychunks88 I had to cover my eyes with my hands after reading your post lol

Lol I'm guessing it's not true. Awesome news because I really want to add an emperor angel to my tank.

 

[k2-]

So here is the thing - to me its a sure death sentence for Copper band - Clown fish are extremely territorial to their anemone - and copper band will not have a chance - it will have to swim top part of your tank and soon stress out and .... Don't do it. There is only one way to control bubble tip - not having them. Or enjoying your bta tank and let them grow ! setup another tank with no rock from your old tank to propogate new corals ... LOL

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

That's a beautiful tank! Add some more carpet anemones and a dozen clownfish, and you'll be good to go. I wish I had that problem.

 

[Nano_Man]

Lol I'm guessing it's not true. Awesome news because I really want to add an emperor angel to my tank.

II have read of people splitting there anemones with the kitchen knife. Everyone to there own but or no . Good look with your anemone eating or not eating fish lol

 

[k2-]

Nice houdini though ! i wish they were splitting like crazy - i would take one

 

[areefer01]

Copperband? No. Other butterfly? I don't recall but if so I'd wager it would be not reef safe and more than likely too large for your display.

Is there a natural predator for them in the ocean? Probably. Basically you are looking at a dedicated display with the number you have or if in a normal display and left unchecked similar issues one faces. I've have a similar issue with my 210 today. Give them away is about all I can do.

 

[FourPawz]

I need one!

 

[k2-]

Since we have some anemone experts here - i have 2 RBTA stuck so hard to the rock its funny. How to remove them ? I have blown powerhead directly on them, covered them with pvc pipe etc but so far no success. Any thoughts ?

 

[areefer01]

There is a sponge trick. New sponge, like the larger ones used to clean up tile flooring. Get a 2" PVC slip fitting, cut a hole in the center of the sponge. Not a huge one but enough such that the PVC fitting slids in flush with the bottom. There should be 1/2" or so of PVC extended out the top of the sponge. Anyway take this, place over the nem, gently, and then secure it to the rock so it doesn't float away. You should be able to do this with larger rubber bands or string(s).

The idea is that the sponge blocks light. It sees said light through the PVC fitting so will move up into that. Once you see it remove it. There are a few posts here on this forum and web in general to put pictures to my words. But you more or less get the idea.

New, clean sponge. 2" pvc slip fitting. Hole in sponge. Insert fitting. Place over nem gently. Secure. Wait. Remove.

 

[argiBK]

Your tank looks like an anemone universe, lol. Also a good reminder why BTAs are banned from my displays. It’s all actually very beautiful though.

I honestly don’t know any natural predators in the hobby for non-pest anemones. Maybe a nudibranch of some sort? Sorry to say, but the chances any angel capable of taking on the task of eliminating even one BTA from your system is slim-to-none.

 

[dennis romano]

The raccoon butterfly is a renowned anemone eater. One may be the answer. Years ago, I temporarily put a C. rafflessi butterfly in a tank with mushrooms and anemones and overnight demolished everything. So, there may be another option. The clowns may be overprotective and attack the butterflies.

 

[Ann Enomy]

Sounds like I’m stuck with a dedicated BTA paradise. All in all, it is beautiful and low maintenance. Tank is in medical office waiting room and most people who see it can’t believe it is real. Often stating the never seen anything like it. So wow factor is there at least. Still building a stock list for fish so maybe that is where the variety will come in. I guess I don’t have to be overly worried about reef safe fish anymore

 

[areefer01]

Sounds like I’m stuck with a dedicated BTA paradise. All in all, it is beautiful and low maintenance. Tank is in medical office waiting room and most people who see it can’t believe it is real. Often stating the never seen anything like it. So wow factor is there at least. Still building a stock list for fish so maybe that is where the variety will come in. I guess I don’t have to be overly worried about reef safe fish anymore

Just call up ORA and order yourself about 25 clowns. Harem tank.

 

[marinesnow]

I thought this was a joke at first. I second the harem tank idea