Question about nems

[roadrashpaul]

Can you guys give me some general info/help on nems. I am contemplating purchasing a bta at the swap and I really don't know a lot about them. I have been doing some reading over the past few days but value your input as most of you have them or have had them.

What do I need to know going in?

Will they really kill other coral while moving around looking for where they like it in the tank?

Is it possible it could kill eat some of my fish? Any fish in particular I should be careful with?

How much should I expect to pay for a bta? Just a normal one nothing exotic.

Any and all advice would be appreciated.

 

[Tennsquire]

They need good lighting and water conditions. They may move around your tank a good bit in the beginning to find somewhere they "like" in terms of light, current, and places to attach. They will also move for no reason after having been in place for many months, which can be frustrating in a tank with corals. They can certainly kill corals, as well as other 'nems. I've not had one kill a fish, but I did see one kill a cleaner shrimp that was startled with I moved a rock and didn't realize it had backed into a mass of tentacles. You also need to be careful about any pumps/powerheads you have in the tank; they generally lose the battle when the get sucked through a powerhead. I've got both a green BTA and a red bubble tip BTA; both have been in my reef for over a year now, and the green one has split a couple of times. I feed both of them occasionally (mysis or chopped up scallops), which may account for the fact that they generally stay put (although this changed when I moved last fall and they wandered until they found a suitable place). The BTA's do like to anchor their foot in the rockwork, so that's a good start to keeping them w/in a certain area. I think you can get common green BTAs for $30 or so; you can pay upwards of $100 for a fancy colored one.

 

[roadrashpaul]

Awesome. Thank you for the info.

Is there a way to keep them in an area of the tank or do they just walk wherever they want? In other words is there a way to lessen the chance of them killing other corals while finding their spot?

My powerheads could be an issue. I guess I could get the foam to go around them and keep their tentacles out.

 

[rworegon]

I finally moved my rose from the reef to the softy cube. It promptly split, then split again, then split again. At one time I had four and then sold one to a local. The reason I moved it was because it was getting tto big ans stinging my sps. So the answer is yes they will kill coral. If they don't like where they are they will wander and kill corals. I've never lost a healthy fish to one. The bubbletip are generally a little more benign than LTA's, or Condi's. The worst is the carpets, very sticky and the most likely to catch and eat a slow moving healthy fish, ie (mandarin, goby, pipefish).
Your best bet ofr getting agood price is to find a local reefer that has one that has split. Retail can get expensive for nice nems.

 

[coralreefing]

I agree with all of the above. You would need to guard your powerheads and also your overflow. The corals they usually damage though are SPS. I haven't had any issues with them bothering LPS or softies.

 

[roadrashpaul]

I agree with all of the above. You would need to guard your powerheads and also your overflow. The corals they usually damage though are SPS. I haven't had any issues with them bothering LPS or softies.

Seeing yours and learning from you is what actually made me kind of want to get one.

I will have to do something with my powerheads for sure but my overlow is a CPR HOB. Do I need to worry about the overflow since it is a hob?

 

[coralreefing]

Yes, BBTs are attracted to water flow and when they go walking they will find an overflow. Best case, they end up in your sump. Worst case could be shredded in a return pump or stuck in the plumbing stopping up the overflow. CPRs come with a removable screen though if you still have it. I use a piece of coarse pond filter on my skimmer overflow. It's cheap enough to cut several pieces and just switch them out weekly.

 

[roadrashpaul]

Yes, BBTs are attracted to water flow and when they go walking they will find an overflow. Best case, they end up in your sump. Worst case could be shredded in a return pump or stuck in the plumbing stopping up the overflow. CPRs come with a removable screen though if you still have it. I use a piece of coarse pond filter on my skimmer overflow. It's cheap enough to cut several pieces and just switch them out weekly.

It didn't have the screen when I got it but I have since put one in it since I had a chromis go through it. I use plastic gutter screen and it is heavy duty and no way a nem could fit through it.

 

[coralreefing]

If the holes in the screen are small enough that will work. If not the pond filter is a better option. The slots in a standard overflow are not small enough.
This is what it looks like.

pics are from LVE here on RTR

 

[roadrashpaul]

Wow.. ok I better look at it and see what size holes it has.

It is this stuff right here

 

[coralreefing]

That may work. It's better than an open slot for sure. If in doubt though, I have some of the stuff I use if you want to try it.

 

[pickupman66]

Its hit or miss on them going somewhere bad. I bought the most beautiful one from kevan 2 years ago at the swap. it was a nice palm sized dark red one. It was a split off one I had a long time ago when we lived in murfreesboro. in less than a week it walked in to a koralia and was minced up. Last spring, when Josh was moving, I picked up one of his red ones. it split 3 ways and I sold one. the remaining two have walked around on my rocks but never much more. Finally they have both settled in placed and havent moved for a few months. One is massive with long stringy tentacles, the other remains smaller and shows some bubble tips. Neither of which have ever attracted my clowns. even after placing the nems in their nesting area.

 

[coralreefing]

Nems can be tricky. You always have to keep everything covered. Mine stayed in the same spot for a year. Last week it took off one day and walked all the way around the tank. The next day it was right back where it started. Just when you think they are done moving and you can leave something unprotected they'll surprise you.

 

[roadrashpaul]

The more I read about them, the more I am talking myself out of one. I am not sure I want to get into that just yet. I like my tank to be worry free and hassle free as possible.

 

[VarinaReefer]

Honestly IME it's hit or miss I've had 2 BTAs one green who took a trip through the PH after I moved the rock it was on to clean the glass, the second one I've had for about 8mnths it's a Rainbow BTA which moved 6"s then about 3mnths in it moved up to the top corner of the tank on the glass right beside my powerhead but didn't move for 2 weeks until I moved it myself back to the rocks and just Monday I switched over to a 60cube from my 90 and it hasn't moved a inch looks great and my clowns are still hosting

 

[rcmike]

Mine has been a model citizen since I got it a few months ago. It stayed right where I put it. I actually removed it from that rock it was on and move it to another spot and it stayed there too.

I have read you can make a rock island that isn't touching the main rock structure or the glass and they will stay on it since they don't like crossing sand.

 

[Dowtish]

Ive had my RBTA for maybe 4 months and it has not moved since I put it in the tank. I did however have an extremely large hole in my rock to place its foot...it seems to like it.

 

[rcmike]

Ive had my RBTA for maybe 4 months and it has not moved since I put it in the tank. I did however have an extremely large hole in my rock to place its foot...it seems to like it.

Yes, mine too. They seem to like their foot protected in a hole.