BTA question

[aquascaper82]

How often do you feed your BTA? and how much? Mine's about 2-3 inches in size and I've been feeding mysis shrimp.. about 2-3 whole pieces per day... should I feed it more...? less? more often?
I got worried cuz the other day it was all shriveled up in the corner and now it's back to its normal spot but I think it's still getting used to the tank...

 

[NYreefNoob]

i never feed mine as the clowns will help feed them and they get photosynthetic from light, plus this helps it from growing so fast

 

[RARECLOWNSNJ]

Aqua

when they eat they need to shrink down to excrete the waste. I would feed it every two days. GOOOD luck with it any pics?

 

[aquascaper82]

ooh ok. but NYreefnoob, my clowns are not hosting it... =(
yes i will post pics later tonight when i get home =) it's very cute!

 

[Alex]

seems like your feeding schedule works. as stated the more you feed the faster it will grow. Also, remember your personal schedule as well. what I mean is I feed every other day and sometimes I'll even skip an extra day in between. this way when I go on vacation the person I leave in charge doesn't have to feed often and my corals are less likely to have problems.

 

[NYreefNoob]

tape a pic of clowns hosting to the tank have heard success with it and other that it didnt make a differance

 

[RARECLOWNSNJ]

lol noob,

I dont really think it works, i think it scares she shitsticals out of the clowns and they seeks shelter.

 

[aquascaper82]

seems like your feeding schedule works. as stated the more you feed the faster it will grow. Also, remember your personal schedule as well. what I mean is I feed every other day and sometimes I'll even skip an extra day in between. this way when I go on vacation the person I leave in charge doesn't have to feed often and my corals are less likely to have problems.

ah true! i just wanted to keep my BTA happy but that's a good point.

lol noob,

I dont really think it works, i think it scares she shitsticals out of the clowns and they seeks shelter.

hahahahahaha that's so funny! i wonder if it really does work...

 

[Og Drogon]

I used to feed my GBTA once every 2-3 days.....when my tomato clown started hosting, I fed it once every 3 weeks, and that worked for me.

 

[Imbarrie]

Once a week to once a month. I had to slow down cause my BTA is huge and dominates half of my 75 gallon.
It's starting to threaten my corals.
I only fed mine raw seafood soaked in vitamins. And mine hardly ever excretes. I think that depends what you are feeding.

 

[NYreefNoob]

some threads on RC in reguards to people doing that with the picture. same as using a mirror when you have fish harrassing each other

 

[albano]

My RBTA got up to 24" across in 2 years...I tried to feed it at least ... ONCE A MONTH! Had it almost 4 years, was happy and never split, until I moved it to new tank. Once it split and started moving around, I had to sell them.

 

[richardhmc]

If you get them to touch the anemone, they won't be afraid of it and will host it. At least that's what worked for me.

After trying the picture of clowns and feeding only the anemone to try to get them to get into the anemone, I just gave up and manhandled the clowns, holding them with my fingers putting them headfirst into the anemone. After that they hosted and sleep in there.

But you gotta do it to both of them. Cause I did that to one and thought the other would follow. But nope, the other didn't so I had to grab that guy too and show him how to be a clownfish

 

[Imbarrie]

Let them try by themselves for a while.
My clowns took a couple months to warm up to it, now they never leave.

I have heard the picture technique also.
Im dubious but I almost tried it.

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

I feed mine 2 -3 times a month. I started feeding them pellets over a year ago. I used to feed them silversides, mysis, and table shrimp. They seem very happy with the pellets and my orange BTA has gotten even more colorful over the last six months.

 

[aquascaper82]

If you get them to touch the anemone, they won't be afraid of it and will host it. At least that's what worked for me.

After trying the picture of clowns and feeding only the anemone to try to get them to get into the anemone, I just gave up and manhandled the clowns, holding them with my fingers putting them headfirst into the anemone. After that they hosted and sleep in there.

But you gotta do it to both of them. Cause I did that to one and thought the other would follow. But nope, the other didn't so I had to grab that guy too and show him how to be a clownfish

hahahahahahaha omg you guys are too funny.

pellets huh... how do you put pellets in the anemone's mouth...??

 

[ClosetFishGeek]

hahahahahahaha omg you guys are too funny.

pellets huh... how do you put pellets in the anemone's mouth...??

I use a hollow clear plastic tube and put one end of the tube about an inch away from the mouth and then the other end is above the surface of the water which is where I drop the pellets (1/2 dozen at a time) into. They travel down the tube and into the anemone and when they touch the anemone they have the same reaction as feeding them anything else......

 

[aquascaper82]

Omg one of the clowns (I think it's the female) started hosting the anemone!! My only concern is that th anemone shrinks and closes up after the clown molests it. Could it be because the anemone is too small???