Putting the "B" back in a RBTA

Circlecityreef · Mar 22, 2014

I know there are many threads and resources on this topic, but wanted to share my experience trying to get a nem to bulb up. I picked this one up about 3 months ago. It was pellet fed only and about half the size it is now. I slowly transitioned it to meaty foods and am getting ever closer to the bulb action. Here's to hoping for the best. I appreciate any secret success tips anyone may have. We will keep feeding and see what happens!

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jedimasterben · Mar 22, 2014

Change your flow pattern.

preston469 · Mar 22, 2014

Mine just started to bubble a few weeks ago

jason142 · Mar 22, 2014

My RBTA goes through stages, it will bubble for months at a time and then all of the sudden it will go all stringy for months. I have never found out what causes it to do this as I really don't change anything in the tank. I just chalk it up to it is what it is.

Circlecityreef · Mar 22, 2014

jedimasterben said:
Change your flow pattern.

I've tried direct, indirect. No substantial changes in appearance.

I agree, jason412, nems all have personalities and some are the way they are. Kinda cool, as soon as this one started getting meaty foods regularly, it's started greening at the tentacle base.

Circlecityreef · Mar 22, 2014

preston469 said:
Mine just started to bubble a few weeks ago

What's your feeding pattern?

preston469 · Mar 22, 2014

I'll directly feed some mysis once every two weeks, but feed my tank every other day with lrs frenzy

jason142 · Mar 22, 2014

I started feeding my PLTA and RBTA scallops one time. Not sure if it had anything to do with it but shortly after I lost my PLTA and thought I was gonna lose my RBTA. I stopped feeding the scallops and it took awhile to come back to full health but he is once again massive and happily hosting my mocca and occ clown. Needless to say I will never feed an anemone scallops again.

preston469 · Mar 22, 2014

I know lrs has scallops in it but my nem usually doesn't catch any of it that I notice, but will def keep an eye on that!

jason142 · Mar 22, 2014

I know that it wasn't because size of the scallop was to large and causing them to stress either, I would cut it up into smaller pieces and feed only a couple once or twice a week.

Circlecityreef · Mar 22, 2014

I feed it a silverside every 10 days or so.

UCReefer · Mar 25, 2014

Mine is bubbled most of the time but some nights it gets elongated. i feel it has to do with the amount you feed them. Though i dont think it is necessarily a bad thing if the anemone isnt bubble tipped. iv seen anemones that have split multiple times and grow large and never really had bubble tips.

Ripnlips82 · Mar 25, 2014

I feed mine clams and a mix of mysis or krill.

65gallonmix · Mar 25, 2014

We feed shrimp about once a week,as for lighting four T5's nothing special.

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preston469 · Mar 25, 2014

Tahoe61 · Mar 25, 2014

I do not think there is any rhyme or reason as to why some anemones have bubble tips. Three anemones, one with bubbles, one without and one with some bubble tip. All the same tank under the same conditions.

Circlecityreef · Mar 25, 2014

Sounds like an unsolved mystery! Thanks to everyone for their input.

lost02 · Mar 25, 2014

That is a really awesome pic.

lost02 · Mar 25, 2014

Just got mine and really hoping to have good luck with it. I'm letting it get settled in the tank but want to get a clown for it. What is a good size for the rbta to be? And can a clown be too young to host? Never ran across that info while researching. Sorry camera phone pics.