Sunburst anemone and RBTA

[greenwind82]

Hello, does anyone know what type of anemone is CSB? I am trying to figure out if I can house it together with my RBTA. Will they tolerate each other if they are in separate tank but share the same water ( I have two tanks plumbed together). Thanks

 

[AcroNem]

They are the exact same species, Entacmaea quadricolor. Different colors can be kept in the same system without issue.

 

[DJF]

I don’t recommend putting your csb with a wild rbta- although they are the same species, they often wage chemical warfare against each other & you don’t want your $1k nem to lose- I can say all this from personal experience- (wish I had known)

 

[Wrasse-cal]

The general feeling on the CSB facebook group is that is that CSBs should not be housed with other BTAs. Some folks buck this and do it, but I think they are the exception, not the rule.

 

[sprungson]

I don’t recommend putting your csb with a wild rbta- although they are the same species, they often wage chemical warfare against each other & you don’t want your $1k nem to lose- I can say all this from personal experience- (wish I had known)

I have a carpet anemone, 3 different colors of rbta, lta, and mini carpet with no issues.

 

[sprungson]

 

[AcroNem]

I've never seen a paper that shows any evidence of intraspecific aggression in E. quadricolor. Just anecdotal experience from hobbyists who lost theirs. I believe there's likely other issues going on with those systems, maybe wild or new anemones spreading an infection, but this kind of "chemical warfare" is usually only seen between different species of anemones.

 

[sprungson]

Yeah man I agree with you. I researched and only saw post without evidence. My own experience I've had no issues. My rbta and carpet were sitting side by side touching for a bit.

I've never seen a paper that shows any evidence of intraspecific aggression in E. quadricolor. Just anecdotal experience from hobbyists who lost theirs. I believe there's likely other issues going on with those systems, maybe wild or new anemones spreading an infection, but this kind of "chemical warfare" is usually only seen between different species of anemones.

 

[OnyxPerc]

I've never seen a paper that shows any evidence of intraspecific aggression in E. quadricolor. Just anecdotal experience from hobbyists who lost theirs. I believe there's likely other issues going on with those systems, maybe wild or new anemones spreading an infection, but this kind of "chemical warfare" is usually only seen between different species of anemones.

+1

Same species anemones should be fine. CSB is E Quadricolor just like RBTA and should be no issue being housed together.

 

[sprungson]

Here's a better picture of my anemones.

 

[DJF]

Lol- I guess I’m anecdotal. Nothing wrong in my system. Feel free to try & yes I’ve heard of it working with no problems but don’t say I didn’t warn you; enjoy my anecdotal advice

 

[AcroNem]

Lol- I guess I’m anecdotal. Nothing wrong in my system. Feel free to try & yes I’ve heard of it working with no problems but don’t say I didn’t warn you; enjoy my anecdotal advice

I'm not trying to insult, but it is by the definition of anecdotal evidence, and I have not found other data to support it. Hobbyists have been keeping mixed colored quadricolor Anemones since we started keeping them in captivity. Being the same species having no discernable morphological differences aside from color, it shouldn't be the exception that people are able to keep them together.

 

[DJF]

I'm not trying to insult, but it is by the definition of anecdotal evidence, and I have not found other data to support it. Hobbyists have been keeping mixed colored quadricolor Anemones since we started keeping them in captivity. Being the same species having no discernable morphological differences aside from color, it shouldn't be the exception that people are able to keep them together.

I’m not insulted but have had the practical experience that agrees with the anecdotal evidence of others and now me. I thought the same thing that all the quadricolors would play nice & they did for a week or so. I personally will not risk it again and am willing to share my negative experience so others can make the same informed (or misinformed lol) decision; the fact that they sometimes do not get along is very real. I can say this happened at least once and gauging by the advice I subsequently read... I’m not alone.

 

[Joshua Warne]

I'm not trying to insult, but it is by the definition of anecdotal evidence, and I have not found other data to support it. Hobbyists have been keeping mixed colored quadricolor Anemones since we started keeping them in captivity. Being the same species having no discernable morphological differences aside from color, it shouldn't be the exception that people are able to keep them together.

If you are recommending someone risk their $1000+ investment on the grounds that you think its okay, but SO MANY others have experienced loss from mixing. That recommendation is misguided.

I recommend OP sell, trade, or give away his RBTA and have the CSB alone.

That being said, if OP wants to risk the mix, then be my guest. There is a chance he could get lucky and mix effectively.

GOOD LUCK! <3

-Josh

 

[OnyxPerc]

If you are recommending someone risk their $1000+ investment on the grounds that you think its okay, but SO MANY others have experienced loss from mixing. That recommendation is misguided.

I recommend OP sell, trade, or give away his RBTA and have the CSB alone.

That being said, if OP wants to risk the mix, then be my guest. There is a chance he could get lucky and mix effectively.

GOOD LUCK! <3

-Josh

By that same logic, SO MANY others have also kept different species/morphs/variations successfully for many years (including CSB). I would say your recommendation is also misguided.

In my opinion, the best advice to someone looking to add a CSB along with another type of BTA is "tread carefully." We simply do not know enough right now about why SOMETIMES CSB's don't get along with other BTAs. Some people suspect it is bacterial, as treating with CIPRO has been shown to work in some cases. Others believe it has to do with mixing wild-caught with aquacultured. Since most CSBs are aquacultured, the belief is that they simply do not have the defenses to survive the bacteria (not necessarily infection) that may be carried in from a wild-caught BTA. Think Native-Americans with Smallpox.

The prevailing theory seems to be that aquacultured anemones should not be mixed with wild ones. At the end of the day though, these are all theories until someone can prove it through controlled experimentation.

 

[AcroNem]

By that logic, then any coral that doesn't do well but was kept with members of its same species was killed by those corals. If someone has a "walt Disney" tenuis that doesn't do well, was it killed by other Acropora tenuis in the system? It's more likely that other coral species in the system caused the decline, not other quadricolor anemones. This type of chemical warfare exists between species, but there isn't actual actual evidence to say this is true with the theory of Colorado sunburst color morphs being killed by other inexpensive bubble tips. I'm saying that there are too many other factors, and that others are more likely. Maybe it is wild imports spreading infection. Maybe they weren't quarantined properly and treated before addition. A parasite. Allelopathy from other corals in the system. It isn't definitive at all.

 

[OnyxPerc]

By that logic, then any coral that doesn't do well but was kept with members of its same species was killed by those corals. If someone has a "walt Disney" tenuis that doesn't do well, was it killed by other Acropora tenuis in the system? It's more likely that other coral species in the system caused the decline, not other quadricolor anemones. This type of chemical warfare exists between species, but there isn't actual actual evidence to say this is true with the theory of Colorado sunburst color morphs being killed by other inexpensive bubble tips. I'm saying that there are too many other factors, and that others are more likely. Maybe it is wild imports spreading infection. Maybe they weren't quarantined properly and treated before addition. A parasite. Allelopathy from other corals in the system. It isn't definitive at all.

Exactly this right here.

 

[PhilSD211]

Theory and logic aside, I'm curious... AcroNem and OnyxPerc, if you currently have RBTAs in your tank and decided you want to add a CSB that you purchased for $1K+, would you just go ahead and add it to your tank?

 

[AcroNem]

Being honest. I would treat it as I do any other nem and run it through a Ciprofloxacin treatment in quarantine, and introduce like others, which it is.

 

[OnyxPerc]

Theory and logic aside, I'm curious... AcroNem and OnyxPerc, if you currently have RBTAs in your tank and decided you want to add a CSB that you purchased for $1K+, would you just go ahead and add it to your tank?

I don't just go ahead and add ANYTHING to my tank. Everything gets QT'ed - coral, fish, inverts. I put a great deal of effort into ensuring that all of my animals are healthy, happy, and pest-free before introducing them to my display. I also ALWAYS have the option to QT something immediately if I see signs of trouble. These are precautions that I would advocate all reefers should take, not just to protect their investment but also for the wellbeing of their animals.