Do you regret your anemone?

[F.H]

So for the past couple months I've been on and off about adding an RBTA in my display. Those of you that I've met, know that I've probably annoyed you at one time or another about what your experiences were with your nems. :redface:

I would like one, I think it adds a much needed "red" colour in my display, along with movement, and I have a pair of clowns which might end up hosting it. But every time I do research on having one in a mixed reef, I always come to the conclusion that eventually they will become a problem, and I will regret it as they might end up in a powerhead, stinging other corals in my tank, or have one in a good spot, only to end up with it splitting and the second nem causing trouble.

My goal for my tank is to have a mixed reef, with some euphylia, zoas, brains, sps, etc. Although lately I've been leaning towards sps a bit more, haha.

In my aquascape, I have glued all my rocks together, so if the nem were to crawl into a space where I don't like, tearing my tank apart to get it out would probably not be an option... especially if it splits and one of the babies runs off somewhere unwanted... another reason why staying away from them might be the best case for me...

Speaking to Thomas the other day, he showed me that his strategy is to confine them to an "island", and since the nems can't crawl on sand, he seems to have it working. I can maybe put up a picture of my aquascape tomorrow, as I do have the potential to make an island in the center of my tank and try this method... The only downside to this is if the nem decides to float somewhere else, in which case it will most likely end up in a powerhead.

Usually when I do some research, I come to the conclusion that I should stay away, but I was going through some tank journals yesterday, and I noticed that despite what is suggested about nems in a mixed reef, a lot of the experienced reefers seem to have them... which made me think once again that maybe I should try it... haha.

The other option that I was thinking is maybe just get a flowerpot, which would in turn be similar to a nem, giving me movement, and the pink or red colour in my tank, with the possibility of clowns hosting it, although I think that might just end up irritating the flowerpot haha.

So those of you who have had experience with one, I'd like to hear some stories, do you regret your anemone purchase?

[Aquattro]

Not to get into great detail, but I found a plastic fork is a great tool for removing them from your power heads :)
Maybe they don't walk on sand, but they sure float over top of it. Tried twice, ended badly both times.

[rishu_pepper]

Have had a sebae for almost half a year and a RBTA for about a month, both are great showpieces and though they required much planning ahead (and they don't like your plans!), definitely worth the time and trouble. Both are dinner plate sized and have hosted clowns (fallow atm), and will do so after fish are back in. Amazing creatures.

RBTA did manage to wreck some nice xenias which my wife wasn't happy about. :twised:

[Coasting]

I regret mine because its too effing big. Just a rbta but takes up half the friggin tank in a happy day and of coarse cant put anything near it. And rather then splitting and staying a reasonable size this things just huge. Clowns dont host in it either.
It doesnt move. Never has. Had it for 3 years now its split once last year. Always stayed bubbled. Was 3-4" when i bought it.

[ReEf BoSs]

My rbta moon walked across sand this morning. He also took two trips into the same powerhead over a week span, he will win one day.
Exception to the rule....He is a fu*kin ninja.

[mark]

Like mine but then I don't have any SPS or powerheads to worry about if they were to wander (not that they do though).

[The Guy]

No problems so far, it's been about 6 months

[corpusse]

Never had an anemone I regretted. BTA's can't really cause too much harm. I've had some get huge, I've had some move to the back and shrivel up and return the size of a toonie. They do what they want, go where they want. If they settle they're happy. If they want to be stupid that's up to them. I'm not going to pry them off the rock to move to a better spot, they can do it themselves.

I recently got a red rock flower but it's in a spot I can't see it, however my green one did the same thing for a while and eventually did move to the front. Also have some mini carpets which in my experience move the least as I've had some in the same spots for years and years. Finally just setup a new tank with a haddoni although this tank will be built around the anemone. Even this one didn't go where I wanted but now that it's settled in I think it looks great in the spot it chose.

[whatcaneyedo]

I have had my sebae for 10 years without any real issues. However I don't have any powerheads and it was the first invert in the tank so everything was placed around it. It does move a little from time to time but I have been lucky so far. Still, if it was killed I likely wouldn't replace it.

[Taipan]

"Knock on wood" .....I've never had a BTA or Carpet walk or float into a powerhead. I have had them wander into the overflow; fortunately with no blockage.

I always mention to potential Carpet owners that he/she should mentally prepare themselves that one day the Carpet will potentially "eat" or sting their most prized fish (unless it's an 'all-anemone' Display). It doesn't necessarily have to be the most expensive fish. It will be the fish that you and/or your significant other, child likes the most. "Things" happen - a feeding frenzy, aggression, territory disputes, being startled. That fish will fins its way into that carpet.

That being said; I still love anemones and enjoy keeping them. That's the story I'm sticking with.

[Madreefer]

I've had my LTA for 15 years. No problems at all, been lucky. It's been through several tank upgrades and been stuck to the same rock all that time so switch overs have been easy.
Do I regret putting it in my tank? I voted Yes!!!! Only because I can't take it out as my wife would be ****ed as she likes watching the clowns live in it. :biggrin: it is a good conversation piece for guests who come over and look at my tank. But I would like the space for other corals.
Don't feed them and they won't grow or split.

[F.H]

Hahah, it seems like as with literally any other aspect in this hobby, there are varying opinions on the subject, although I expected that.

I didn't know they can actually moonwalk/hoverboard across sand... and I'm actually surprised by the number of people who voted yes, I didn't expect it to be quite that high... maybe my initial conclusion to stay away from them was correct.

But they're so cool though, lol.

That's interesting that madreefer said not to feed them and they won't grow/split, I was under the impression that they need to be fed in order to be kept happy?

If I do decide to get one, it'll be an rbta for sure. I'm still on the fence about them, although I'm leaning towards not getting one. Seems like they might be more trouble than they're worth.

I appreciate all the input so far =).

[martinmcnally]

The problem I have with them is killing coral. Mine tends to move to a spot hosting some nice SPS or Zoas, kill them completely then move on to another spot :/

http://applications.ccusa.com/Martin/IMG_0321.jpg

[F.H]

^ holy crap that's a huge anemone!

If it wasn't for their tendencies to kill/sting coral, I wouldn't hesitate in the least... it just seems like I'm adding another variable that might go wrong and adding to the risk of losing my frags.

I was looking at Mike's (mikepclo) tank of the month thread a couple days ago, and was surprised to see a bta in there, with all his amazing colonies. looking at some of the tank journals and new build threads, I also noticed a few people opted to get one as well... and then I remembered I've seen them in a lot of reefer's tanks who have amazing mixed reefs. Made me wonder if maybe they're not as much of a hassle as I originally concluded...

Since most of my corals are still frags, I think it's a "now or never" type of situation for me about getting one, haha.

[Wretch]

I can't say I regret my anemones but I am not getting much enjoyment out of them either. They are on the backside of my main rock work so i can't even see them unless I try to. My clownfish ignore them as well. They are currently stinging a red monti to death but they came on the same rock so its not a big deal or loss to me.

[rsisvixen]

I've had mine for almost a month now.

I was always planning to have one so I got it first before getting the corals.
It has its own mountain island to itself as well. It stayed in the same spot for three weeks after putting it in, then moved last week, not too far but a bit up and around to the side-maybe 3 inches in total.

Although knowing murphy's law I'm sure if I ever put in a coral I love, it will suddenly decide thats the spot it would like-lol

[F.H]

Although knowing murphy's law I'm sure if I ever put in a coral I love, it will suddenly decide thats the spot it would like-lol

This precisely the reason why I'm hesitating and leaning towards not getting one. I know for a fact my favorite or my most expensive coral will be taunting the nem. :lol:

[seabreeze]

I notice you are wanting specifically a RBTA.

My advice... unless you have a big enough tank to do what Thomas does... DO NOT DO IT

BTAs like rockwork and prefer to be higher up towards the lighting. And this unfortunately is also where your SPS love to hang out.

I once had a RBTA which became 2... 2 became 4... 4 became 8 ...and they kept on splitting. I had over 20 in my tank at one time! And they are suckers to get off the liverock as they bury their feet into the tiniest, deepest crevices.

Was a great little income source as the LFS was happy to take they from me... but they will move to where THEY want to go, and they will kill your SPS if you plan on having those also.

Besides that... only certain clowns will host in a BTA. Some will only host in long tentacle anemones... others in carpets... and so on.

Another issue... the BTAs will cover A LOT OF SPACE when they decide to expand their tenctacles rather than keep them as bubbles... they will even appear to look like LTA's. Their reach can be very far... so you will not want other corals near them.

As for the 'red color'... I do have that in my tank from SPS and several of my LPS.

I have a mixed reef and I would never want to take the chance with a BTA :nono: my thoughts :mrgreen:

[F.H]

Hmm. Well I was considering RBTA because it seemed to be the one most recommended by others.

I have an island that I can isolate in the center of my tank, similar to what Thomas does, but my concern wasn't with one bta since I have the space for it, but rather, what I would do if it decided to split, in which case I don't think I'm prepared to handle that.

For now, I think I'm going to leave it alone, and not take the risk on one, which is what I had originally concluded a while back. I was just surprised to see how many people kept bta's in the mixed reef, so it made me wonder if maybe they're not as bad as I thought... I guess it's all about whether or not you're willing to take that risk, sometimes it'll work out, other times it won't. Knowing my luck, I would be better off without that gamble.

Unless I really can't get over it, and decide to take that gamble one day... haha.

I appreciate everyone's input so far, thanks.

[rsisvixen]

From some articles I've read an RBTA shouldn't split more than once every 2-3 years if it ever does split.
Most splitting occurs when an anemone is stressed, as its a survival tool.
Basically cloning itself in the hopes that 1 of its clones survive.
So if there is excessive splitting usually one of the parameters in the tank is not to the anemones liking.

Anemones are either male or female and reproduce as corals/clams do, splitting is not a form of reproduction.