Is Having a BTA a Gamble?

[Shep]

So I really would like to get a BTA but am worried that it would eat my other fish. Is this really likely or is there just a minor chance?

 

[Z06-Hec]

i had 3, 1 split so now i have 4, no issues, but i have also read that BTA will not eat a fish that are alive. I mean if its dead already and laying on the nem i could see it eating it, but staying put and letting the nem actually eat it i dont see.

 

[Shep]

i had 3, 1 split so now i have 4, no issues, but i have also read that BTA will not eat a fish that are alive. I mean if its dead already and laying on the nem i could see it eating it, but staying put and letting the nem actually eat it i dont see.

I am mostly worried about my green mandarin becuase he stays so close to the sand bed and is a pretty slow mover. Do you still think it would be fine?

 

[Z06-Hec]

From what I've seen and read, they dont eat fish like that. I have 2 gobies and a blenny that are always in the sand or low to the bed and no issues.
My watchman is very small and my blenny will stay in place for very long periods of time.
The BTA's do not try anything.
I also have 3 large cleaner shrimp that dare go to the nem and steal food from them. the large one i had looked like it tried to grab the shrimp ( i wish it did, wouldve been entertaining ) and the shrimp knew and left the BTA alone.

 

[Keepswiming]

Your fish will be fine unless they are seashorses or sick. They know not to go touching a bta like we know not to touch a hot stove...

 

[polancoeddie]

My bubble tip doesn't even move. Since I got him he has moved twice. 1st when I got him. And 2nd when I upgraded my light. He has never tried to eat my fishes.

 

[Greenstreet.1]

I have five in my tank they will not bother any of your fishes unless one of them go into the nem or they try to take food from the nem I had that happen with a pylei wrasse he was not fast enough.

 

[Aquaph8]

Unless your fish was already in pretty bad shape your safe with a BTA, only problem I've ever had with them is space, they get big.

 

[Shep]

Cool! Thanks for all the great information!

 

[Macdaddynick1]

never heard of them eating a fish never had a problem with that either

 

[Armon_p]

I have owned many, none have eaten anything accept for mysis and other foods. A carpet anemone is the one you have to worry about.

There is a chance the bta may eat a fish, but I almost never hear about that. I'd say go for it, I keep one with my expensive fish

 

[Oscaror]

Btas have nearly no sting. Most anemones aren't that bad. It's mainly just carpets. there's also hells fire and other crazy anemones but people don't usually ever keeps those.

 

[BENT STIX]

I have several. No issues. Just be careful if the nem starts to die.

 

[MrGemini]

Just don't get a carpet nem (hadoni) they will eat any fish or invertebrate that come near it

 

[Scubafrog]

I have several. No issues. Just be careful if the nem starts to die.

What happens when they die? What should someone look for as evidence that a BTA is dying and at what point do you remove them from your tank?

 

[Z06-Hec]

if you see its mouth open huge and you can see everything inside, looking like a broken up honey comb...
If you see it deflated/retracted and on the sand its not dead, just maybe a little stressed...

 

[rdevoe11]

I caught one of my btas finishing off a chromis one day...think it may have been sick anyways, also very likely my maroon clown corralled him in there lol...other than that no issues, I have two currently, neither have split and theyve never moved from the spot they started in...that being said they are on their own rock island with no corals to minimize disaster possibilities

 

[KorD]

I have 3 BTA and one condy in my tank.. I still have had all my fish since the day I both them.. there is no issues at all with a BTA

 

[Timidfish]

I have 3 different nems 1 is a bta and 2 are rock nems. The rock nem had a crab laying on it for the last 3 days and it did not even remotely try to eat it. The other had a dead crab body directly next to its mouth and it hasn't touched that either. My mandarin goes right up to the rock nems and it doesn't get bothered. The only thing mine closes up on is krill.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Bats sting is not strong,only sick and near death will get eaten.My bangaii cardinals sleep in and under my btas.