Anemone (RBTA) q's.

[integlikewhoa]

My Rbta never really bubbles up at the ends. Does this mean anything? Does it mean it needs more light or has to much? Some days hes open bigger and some days he stays closed. Some the tenticals are really short and a dark color like a black and some days they are stretched out and bright red. My question is as follows. How much can you tell by what he looks like. Is there certain signs of not enough food, to much food, not enough light, to much, or just not happy. What can I look for? Thanks JIM

[integlikewhoa]

Heres a pic of the lil guy. Hes opened about half of what i seen him before. And his tenticals are extended about half as normal.
How offten should i feed him? And what should i feed him. He seems to suck in any flake food or meaty food.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/80020anemone.jpg

[IslandCrow]

Keep in mind I've managed to kill one anemone and the one I have now is probably doing about average, but in my great search to find out what I've been doing wrong (and right), here are a few things I've learned. No one really seems to know why some BTAs will keep their bubble tips and some won't. Someone will buy one at the store with nice big bubble tips, bring it home and they go away. . .and vice versa. From everything I've been told, though, it's not a reflection of the anemone's health, so I wouldn't worry about that. I'm still trying to figure out the whole light thing myself, but I'd guess that you're not doing bad for lighting. You may want to specify how high up in the tank your anemone is, though, so people more experienced than I can help you out there.
As far as what to feed them, silversides seem to be the all time favorite. My LFS never seems to have any in, so I've been feeding mine shrimp and mysis a couple times a week, and that seems to work fairly well. I've also heard of people feeding them krill or even not at all (assuming sufficient lighting). Anyway, best of luck.

[integlikewhoa]

Thanks for the reply. This guy has crawled all the way up to the top of one of my rocks. He probley around 6-7" under the water. He is also right in from of 2 of my closed loop outputs. Which is very high flow. He hasnt moved in months like he did in the begining. I put him further down. So im assuming hes happy with where hes at or he would move. But he is in a high flow area now.

[finding nemo]

Your anemone needs food, silversides, raw shrimp or any meaty foods, he is starving and will continue to consume himself to survive.
Feed him daily until he regains his tenticles and starts to fill out again.

[smcnally]

A BTA with non-bulbous tenticles does not mean it is starving. I'd like you to say this RBTA looks starving...It's been in my tank for a year and eats very well.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b68/stevesreef/01-29-06/DSC01747.jpg
From what I've read (and saw on a DiscoveryHD show ;) ) BTA's start out with non-bulbous tenticles. Scientists actually believe that they form the bubbles after having a hosting relationship with a fish (or other host). Mine is hosted and doesn't bubble up though.

[finding nemo]

Sm, we are talking two different anemones.
His is starving as per the tenticles short and stubby.

I said nothing about it was'nt bubbled up because it is starving.

Yours has nothing to so with his and I think we are talking about the OP's here arent we? Or would you like my opinion on yours?

[integlikewhoa]

Thanks Nemo ill give feeding him more a try.

How offten do you guys spot feed them?

[SVXH6]

i feed my anemones every other day..and your does look like it needs food.. often when the tentacles are short and stubby it is a very good sign that it is hungry, or consuming itself..

SM:.. very nice rose!!

[finding nemo]

Integ. Offer her food daily ,a small piece of silverside or shrimp, raw uncooked, if she takes it great.
If not go to every other day.

Here is a picture of a baby rose I was given from a local fish store 2 weeks ago, (they dont feed them)
she looked like yours with nubby tenticles and losing color until she got food daily, it's only been 2 weeks and is looking much better now. Picture taken this morning in my 125 .
She has a ways to go but is feeling better, regaining her red and eating well.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v346/karenssaltwater/babyrosecloseup.jpg" border="0" alt="Image hosting by Photobucket"></a>

[smcnally]

Sorry, Nemo...I misread your post. I thought you were saying that if they weren't bulbous that it was starving.

Thanks for the compliment, SVXH6

[finding nemo]

It's ok Sm, I new what you were saying, lol.
By the way, your anemones are beautiful, great coloring.
What lighing do you have on the tank?

[smcnally]

Thanks. I'm running my lights a little different than most. I have a 125 gal tank and I'm running a 250W MH 10,000k XM in the middle with a 175W MH 10,000k XM on each end, and a 110W VHO Actinic03 at the front and back.