Got a BTA yesterday- Need Care Help

[Elle22]

Hi everyone!

I haven't been active in so long. My tank has been neglected because life and the college process happened. However, that is slowing down and I got my first RBTA yesterday. So far, it seems to be going great. Its happy, plump, and has not moved from where I put it.

It is about 2-2.5 inches in diameter, so it is small. I was wondering what you guys recommended feeding and how much. I did my research before about what to feed it, but overfeeding right now is a concern for me due to how small it is. Clowns already host the overflow box so I don't think they will ever feed the anemone for me lol.

Thanks!

 

[Letsarrange1]

I feed twice a week directly with mysis or reef frenzy

 

[Lance M.]

Once or twice a week, small amounts should be fine. I would wait until after it is acclimated to start. People do more or less. You do not need to feed them if they are healthy, in a healthy environment.

Clowns do not really feed anemones, maybe by accident or depends on their personality. There are probably more instances of clowns stealing food from nems than feeding nems.

Picture? Tank and lighting specs?

 

[Jason mack]

Once or twice a week, small amounts should be fine. I would wait until after it is acclimated to start. People do more or less. You do not need to feed them if they are healthy, in a healthy environment.

Clowns do not really fed anemones, maybe by accident or depends on their personality. There are probably more instances of clowns stealing food from nems than feeding nems.

Picture? Tank and lighting specs?

+1 for this ^

 

[Ebone]

+1 for this ^

+2

 

[MnFish1]

Once or twice a week, small amounts should be fine. I would wait until after it is acclimated to start. People do more or less. You do not need to feed them if they are healthy, in a healthy environment.

Clowns do not really feed anemones, maybe by accident or depends on their personality. There are probably more instances of clowns stealing food from nems than feeding nems.

Picture? Tank and lighting specs?

Not sure this is true - In the wild, there is no giant hand dropping food into an anemone - like happens in an aquarium. Clownfish help the anemone fight off predators, and feed them both with their excrement - as well a left overs from their feeding.

 

[Elle22]

Once or twice a week, small amounts should be fine. I would wait until after it is acclimated to start. People do more or less. You do not need to feed them if they are healthy, in a healthy environment.

Clowns do not really feed anemones, maybe by accident or depends on their personality. There are probably more instances of clowns stealing food from nems than feeding nems.

Picture? Tank and lighting specs?

+1 for this ^

+2

Not sure this is true - In the wild, there is no giant hand dropping food into an anemone - like happens in an aquarium. Clownfish help the anemone fight off predators, and feed them both with their excrement - as well a left overs from their feeding.

I'll post a photo tomorrow! Just coming back now and tank is in "sleep" mode so I can't get an accurate picture right now. So far the anemone seems really happy. It looks really plump, has not moved from where I initially put it, and has tripled in size than what I thought I had (Though I will say it is still around 2-3 inches in diameter). When I was referring to the clowns, I meant that I knew that anemone would get their waste and left overs and that they would not place food directly into the mouth.

When you say acclimation period, how long is that do you believe, as I think mine is doing pretty well right now. My plan was to wait another week, and then feed some mysis 2x a week. Would that work? Where else would the anemone be getting its nutrients?

Thanks for all of the replies!

 

[Jason mack]

“”””Would that work? Where else would the anemone be getting its-nutrients”””

I’m gonna guess from light !!!!

Here’s a photo of one of mine ..I don’t feed at all ... he’s 50-60 cm across when fully opened bigger than a basket ball

 

[Lance M.]

Not sure this is true - In the wild, there is no giant hand dropping food into an anemone - like happens in an aquarium. Clownfish help the anemone fight off predators, and feed them both with their excrement - as well a left overs from their feeding.

True. I was just mentioning direct feeding of the clownfish to the anemone is not considered the norm. As you mention, indirect feeding (leftovers from the clownfish eating, waste, etc.) does happen as well as I understand the clownfish baiting other fish into the anemone for it to possibly eat. Most of the nutrition would be from the sunlight as well as particulates in the water column. I would guess in most cases nems would get bits of food much more often in a reef tank from a person than they do in the wild.

Where else would the anemone be getting its nutrients?

Your light fixture would be the main source, followed by water column, if not considering direct feeding, which is typically agreed upon as optional.

Here is a nice read by @Amoo -
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/feeding-your-nem-stop-and-read-this-first.321885/

 

[Amoo]

tagged in, thanks @Lance M. , got some stuff to do tonight, will be back later or tomorrow

 

[Elle22]

Here's the photo! The whites are on and it's not the best photo but I think it suffices

 

[tj w]

Looks pretty good there, tentacles are a lil stringy but that’s ok. Also, your clown may end up still being hosted by the nem even if they’re on the overflow box now.

 

[NY_Caveman]

When I had 2 Clarkiis with a Heteractis magnifica years ago I fed them frozen clam meat twice a week. When a piece was too big for a Clarkii they would literally shove it in the anemones mouth.

 

[cwk84]

Just give it some krill every now and then. You can give it all kinds of meaty foods basically. Some frozen mysis,brine etc.