My anemone changed shape?

[Star reefer3]

So I bought it 13 days ago to be exact and when I first purchased it it had long tentacles (first picture is before the tentacles changed shape)

and then in the last few days it has been more bubbly and sticky and less long and it shrunk when I tried to feed it. Here's a pic of it show what do you guys think is wrong with it or is this just natural

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

It is a bubble tip anemone. Depending on lighting, flow, etc. They can stretch out their tentacles or be bubbly . All normal

 

[Star reefer3]

Ok so what will give it longer tentacles higher flow and lower light or lower flow and higher light and thank you for telling me I was very concerned for it

 

[Softhammer]

Low flow will stretch out the tentacles, they’ll be stubby and bubbly in high surging flow, which is more natural. Don’t hit them directly.

 

[DSC reef]

There's honestly no telling what causes bubble tips or not. IMO, having bubble tips does not mean its healthier than an anemone with straight tentacles. We've had multiple bubble tip anemones right next to eachother and some would bubble and some would not. I would not put them in direct flow.

 

[Star reefer3]

Ok thank you cause I have always preferred the look of the long tentacles

 

[Softhammer]

Test the theory yourself since DSC seems to be making it his life’s work to refute absolutely everything I say. I have personally dove on most major reef tracts and a long stringy anemone is not the norm at all.

 

[TheEngineer]

Test the theory yourself since DSC seems to be making it his life’s work to refute absolutely everything I say. I have personally dove on most major reef tracts and a long stringy anemone is not the norm at all.

Now, now. Let's not get personal.

This subject seems to be one of constant debate, IME. I have not seen one "method" to produces bubbles that consistently works. I'm sure lots of us would love to see one

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Now, now. Let's not get personal.

This subject seems to be one of constant debate, IME. I have not seen one "method" to produces bubbles that consistently works. I'm sure lots of us would love to see one

Agreed! Let's keep it friendly up in here.

On the topic of BTA bubbles, the jury is definitely still out on what causes them. There have been TONS of theories tested, and the result (so far) has been that no one thing consistently causes bubbles. So, while we'd all love to know what makes it happen, nothing has been even close to conclusively shown to do it (that I know of...please feel free to present any evidence I may be unaware of...I love to learn!).

 

[Star reefer3]

Test the theory yourself since DSC seems to be making it his life’s work to refute absolutely everything I say. I have personally dove on most major reef tracts and a long stringy anemone is not the norm at all.

Yea I'll definetly test your theorie i'm gonna go buy another bubble tip and see what happens when I put them in hi flow vs low flow and hi and low light I'll post progress about it on my tank build thread and I will probably also make a thread specifically about the results. Also I will start working on this test once I rescape my tank

 

[GatorGuys]

I found that light DURATION made more of a difference in my bubble-tip... I played with flow, light intensity, light color (14K vs 20K) and the only thing that made it consistently bubble was when I had a longer duration in my light schedule.

I suspect the anemone will adjust itself to be as comfortable as possible... kinda like me when I sit on the couch.

 

[Gonebad395]

I own a lot of nems and some are high flow some are low flow some in high flow are bubbled some aren’t some in low flow are bubbles some aren’t. We can try to mimic the ocean all we want and as hard as we try tank life is different then ocean life

 

[Star reefer3]

Very true and I just cleaned my powerhead and it's running really well and now the nem is super happy

 

[Greybeard]

Just an observation: A friend has a fair sized rainbow bubble tip. It always had 'bubbles' in it's arms... until he got rid of the pair of maroon clowns that were living in the 'nem... since that day, it's had straight tentacles.

I know, that doesn't jive with everyone else's experience... anecdotal, at best, but it's a true observation.

 

[Star reefer3]

Just an observation: A friend has a fair sized rainbow bubble tip. It always had 'bubbles' in it's arms... until he got rid of the pair of maroon clowns that were living in the 'nem... since that day, it's had straight tentacles.

I know, that doesn't jive with everyone else's experience... anecdotal, at best, but it's a true observation.

Interesting

 

[rkpetersen]

I found that light DURATION made more of a difference in my bubble-tip... I played with flow, light intensity, light color (14K vs 20K) and the only thing that made it consistently bubble was when I had a longer duration in my light schedule.

This is interesting. I run a longer light duration than almost anyone I know, 15 hours, and my BTAs have always bubbled right up within days of purchase, and stayed that way.
Not proof, but... interesting.

 

[davocean]

There's honestly no telling what causes bubble tips or not. IMO, having bubble tips does not mean its healthier than an anemone with straight tentacles. We've had multiple bubble tip anemones right next to eachother and some would bubble and some would not. I would not put them in direct flow.

This is actually correct, no one really knows why some bubble and some don't, and it does not seem to matter how flow or light affects them.

I have had BTA specific tanks that had clones from same origin that went high and low light and flow, some bubbled, some did not, and this was in same tank from same original colonies.

The funny thing on this post is most people are seeking bubbled tips, and you are seeking long.

I'd suggest trading w/ someone, but chances are they might not stay that way once traded! lol

I have been keeping sea anemone's for over 30 years, and paying attention mainly in nem forums last 13, and when it comes to BTA's, there's just no rime or reason to what they do.

 

[Star reefer3]

This is actually correct, no one really knows why some bubble and some don't, and it does not seem to matter how flow or light affects them.

I have had BTA specific tanks that had clones from same origin that went high and low light and flow, some bubbled, some did not, and this was in same tank from same original colonies.

The funny thing on this post is most people are seeking bubbled tips, and you are seeking long.

I'd suggest trading w/ someone, but chances are they might not stay that way once traded! lol

I have been keeping sea anemone's for over 30 years, and paying attention mainly in nem forums last 13, and when it comes to BTA's, there's just no rime or reason to what they do.

Interesting thanks for the input

 

[davocean]

Interesting thanks for the input

It actually looks fine in that pic, I would leave it be and let it do it's thing.
Most BTA keepers would probably be stoked it's starting to bubble.

If you want long tentacles, LTA or crispa will have long flowing tentacles.

 

[Star reefer3]

It actually looks fine in that pic, I would leave it be and let it do it's thing.
Most BTA keepers would probably be stoked it's starting to bubble.

If you want long tentacles, LTA or crispa will have long flowing tentacles.

Ok yea I mean I personally just like the long tentacles but I like the amazing rainbow color and white flex most of all