Need bubble tip anemone advice!

[Rek84]

I just got a new bubble tip anemone yesterday along with some cleaners. I had a bubble tip years ago, and he pretty much stayed where I put him, never had any probs with him.
However, the one I received yesterday gave me fits last night...I never saw an anemone "run" before, but this one would NOT stay where I put him. It was fascinating seeing him take off from where I placed him, and wander all over the tank. I kept trying to replace him in better positions, but nothing would suit him, he would either crawl, or "float" to the bottom of the tank. I gave up about 1 am last night, and just left him. This morning of course, he is in a bad position, where he is difficult to see and is receiving virtually no light. Should I just leave him alone? I guess he will seek out the light on his own when he "settles?" And what about current? Do they prefer low to no current, or medium to high? I'm concerned he is going to position himself in the very back of my tank where I cannot see or feed him when the time comes. Any advice would be appreciated...if anyone knows of any "guides" to the care/feeding of bubble tips, I am now looking for any info I can. Never had one this "active" before. Sort of has me worried.

 

[skylsdale]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote

...this one would NOT stay where I put him.

They tend to do that. It will move to the location that best suits its needs, not yours. Bubbles prefer to have little clefts in the rockwork to put their foot under and protected...and they will eventually stretch out toward the light or further into the water. Provide plenty of liitle niches and clefts for it to attach to. I'm not sure what your lighting is, but keep in mind this is not the only thing that will sustain an anemone. They need to be feed every few days or so--raw deveined shrimp from the deli and other bits of fish, etc. will work well.

I would stop trying to move it so much--you're causing more stress on it. The worst thing you can do is try to move it once it has finally attached...this may tear or rupture the anemone. Just let it be for a few days and see what happens. Cover the inlets to any powerheads you may have in the tank--#1 reason for anemone death in aquariums. Here's some info that may help you out:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bubbletipanemones.htm

http://home.pix.za/jv/jv79/reef/chosinganemone.html

 

[EmilyB]

I placed my orginal bubbletip in a hole in a rock. It cloned, and the new one settled in another hole in the same rock.

I have tried for a year now to get them to move off that rock...I was going to trade one. Forget that

They are now in lots of current (I'm still trying). They need a decent amount to clean off the mucous. However, I might in your situation, tend to reduce the flow a bit until the anemone attaches. If it is bleached, it will avoid light for a while, it seems.

 

[Anemone]

I agree almost 100% with what Skysdale said - except I think the number one killer of anemones in hobbyist tanks is hobbyists moving their anemones to "better" spots (you know, the spots the hobbyists are sure are better for the anemone, and why does it keep moving away?).

Cover your powerhead intakes with sponge prefilters, and let the anemone settle where it will. Feed the anemone occasionally with meaty food (or feed the tank with something like Ocean Nutrition's Formula 1, and make sure the anemone gets its fair share), and feed more often than occasionally if your lighting is sub par (have to know what your lighting is to know if it's sub par).

Good luck,
Kevin

[ March 18, 2002: Message edited by: Anemone ]</p>

 

[D-Nak]

Hello,

I had a BTA that multiplied a few times, and I think the best way to move these guys is to let it settle into a rock that it likes, and give it a few days after its "foot" is firmly attached. You can then move the entire rock and you'll have a greater chance of the BTA staying attached to the rock, and in a place that you like.

D-Nak

 

[Anonymous]

DO NOT move anemones. This will cause more harm than good. The anemone knows what it likes and will move to where those conditions can be met. Occasionally anemones hide for a while to get used to it's new conditions. After a day or two they usually show their face.

 

[whusband]

i've had success by picking a rock with a hole in it big enough for the anenome to fit in before i buy the anenome. i position the rock how i want and then place the anenome in the hole. they seem to usually stay there b/c they feel safe.