Sebae, LTA, BTA, which one

[AWD]

This is a contraversial topic, but I welcome all logical comments. I want to put one in my tank for now. I love the sebae but not sure how they do. I would like to know of any good books or sights with information on anenomes.

Are the sebaes that hard to take care of? I want to do some homework before I make a purchase.

Tank specs: 125 Gal, 2 250w mh Iwasaki 6500k lights, natural filter system with the exception of a soon to be added skimmer. water is vitamin supplemented. the rest is great by all standards.

Thanks,

Andy

 

[Mac1]

Hi Andy,

I would recommend the BTA over any others for one reason primarily: They're available Captive Raised. I have had one of my E. Quads for 5 years now, and it's given me 7 daughters. My Rose E. Quad I've had almost 2 years now, and it's getting ready to give me it's second I think. Your setup sounds like it's adequate for the animals in question (assuming A/N/N and Ca and Alk value's are all in line). I don't think Sebae's are any harder to keep than any other anemone (had one for 3 years until I screwed up the plumbing and drained half the tank while I was at work... )
The only caution I would give against a Sebae, is that they get HUGE. 18-24 inches across is not uncommon! In a 125 I think you have room, just make sure you can give it the space - It WILL kill anything it touches. Bulb tip's have a slight tendency to move a little, however IME, both kinds of anemone's, once they find a place they like, will stay there (assuming you don't do something to change their environment, like move a powerhead or something)

- Mac

 

[Len]

All these anemones has the potential of getting huge. I know of several reefs.org members who have BTA's about 2 feet acroos. LTAs always get huge. Sebae (H.crispa) may also get huge, but sometimes they do stay small for life (<12").

H.crispa is the most delicate of the 3 species listed. If you get a healthy specimen and have a mature (1+yr), thriving tank, they should do fine. But BTAs and LTAs are much easier. I've found LTAs to be extremely hardy and good first anemones, other then the fact they get huge. But you have a 125g and should have enough room for any of these species. BTAs are also fairly hardy, but a big downside that I've experienced is them moving around every so often. Sebaes and LTAs will generally pick a spot and stay there for life.

 

[AWD]

Thanks for the replies.
Any good books on anenomes?

I saw a Sebae at petco the other day and it was glowing white with beautiful purple tips. How serious is that? I've heard good and BAD about it. For what it is worth, the fish and everything else there looks great. I just hate their custumer service ( I take that back, they don't have any at this location).

Thanks again,

Andy

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Thanks for the replies.
Any good books on anenomes?

I saw a Sebae at petco the other day and it was glowing white with beautiful purple tips. How serious is that? I've heard good and BAD about it. For what it is worth, the fish and everything else there looks great. I just hate their custumer service ( I take that back, they don't have any at this location).

Thanks again,

Andy

Glowing white (bleached) is bad. Any white anemone is bad news. They should have a brown base color that is due to their zooanthela.
Some beautiful anemone may have very strong pigment but their base color should be golden brown.

Minh

 

[Anonymous]

I bought a Sebae during my rookie days (before this board hooked me :wink: ). It was also glowing white but has since browned up nicely and doubled in size. I feel that mine is an exceptionally hardy specimen. It has continued to live despite several mistakes on my part. I love this critter!

However, if I was doing it all over again, I would wait until I found a captive-bred Rose Quadricolor. As Mac mentioned, they're captive bred. They're most likely to reproduce in your tank. And IMO, they're absolutely beautiful.

po

 

[EmilyB]

I bought a Sebae during my rookie days (before this board hooked me :wink: ). It was also glowing white but has since browned up nicely and doubled in size. I feel that mine is an exceptionally hardy specimen. It has continued to live despite several mistakes on my part. I love this critter!

Nice Po :wink:

I'd personally discourage a sebae, as mine at about two years old would love to have 1/3 of the 155g, and I am corralling it.

The LTA is an astounding anemone if one is up to providing good light, ample feeding, and water changes, IMO.

 

[aquarist=broke]

AWD,

Minh Nguyen says not to get a BTA that looks like this:

(three months ago)

However, with the advice of these BBoards, she now looks like this:

(today)

 

[reefland]

That much of a change in 3 months? nice.

 

[danmhippo]

A=B, If you were to get the one in the before pic now, I would also advise you to return it back to LFS. Many of them in poor shape simply don't survive in our tanks. It's obvious yours is an exception to the rule and should not be taken as norm.

Very nice anemone, BTW.

 

[aquarist=broke]

She was the most expensive livestock that I bought. I feel stupid that I bought it in such sad shape.

The good side to that is that I really had a good two years of reefkeeping under my belt and water quality was super! I read all about these anemones that I could. I have been taking pictures monthly and posted them here at this topic:

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=131718&highlight=#131718

If anybody thinks I'm full of it...