HELP! Clowns Killing BTA??

[johnnyoc]

Hello
Bit of an issue I've had a BTA inthe tank for about 3 weeks now and its doing well. Over the weekend the two false percs I have - finally hosted so I was pleased as punch. However, just now the large female has been harassing the anemone mouth - swimming into it as if to force it open. The next thing I found the mouth almost wide with a brown stringly film being exuded that I tihnk the clowns were tying to eat. Whichdoesn't resemble the waste that it has excreted before.

I can't find any record of this behaviour and the anemone has withdrawn to a ball in light of this attack - any adivce!???

Until now they were happily rubbing themselves in the tentacles and the amenone was fully inflated!!!! :!:

 

[S!mon]

How large is the anemone ? Ive read that a host anemone needs to be at least 3 times larger than the clown.

 

[johnnyoc]

Yes its about 8-10 times the size of my tiny clowns.
Seems to have recovered now but mouth looks a bit unhappy not quite closed.

 

[johnnyoc]

Still after some help with this one.

BTA back to normal now but hasn't eaten for a while. I think possibly due to clown harassing. I suspect its spitting food out once the clown try to get in and eat some tasty excrement.

ANy ideass if this is what is happening and how I can try to feed better?

 

[Anonymous]

The anemone looking better is good news. Give her some time to eat. IME BTA's only need to eat once a month or so as long as lighting is sufficient. More than likely the episode that occurred was pretty normal. Anemones tend to shrivel from time to time and expel excess xooanthalle.

Give it some time, not much happens quicly in this hobby. Don't rush it or add to the anemone's stress.

BTW BTA's feed on shrimp and squid in the wild and are their natural diet. IME they kept these down better than whole fish or fish parts.

Good luck

 

[johnnyoc]

That sounds great I'm feeding squid which its not had for a few weeks. But this sounds all good. It has a little to go yet as very pale but fingers crossed.

Cheers for the support

 

[johnnyoc]

I've just happily fed the anemone - however once again the female clown harasses the mouth and causes it to giveup the food.
Its not the anemone not wanting to eat, is this recognised or just from dense greedy tank bred clowns

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry for the delay.

Try this:

Feed the anemone smaller fare like mysis shrimp, plankton, and brine shrimp(prefably enriched with selcon). Make sure there is enough to feed the fish seperately. It will be harder for the fish to smell and extract the food. Just make sure the light is strong enough to sustain the xoos inside.

 

[johnnyoc]

I've finally managed to get a scrap of squid in the anemone today - thankfully as its looking a trifle weak and ill. Dosed with selcon so hoping it will help a little.

How would I target the anemone with such small food? The problem at the moment is that its tentacles cant hold on to stuff. when it does manage to get something in the clown harasses it or bats the food out of its mouth with its tail.

Feeding with the lights off is my only option at the moment but I'm thinking that I will have to get shot of the clowns and concentrate on the anemone.

 

[leftovers]

I've finally managed to get a scrap of squid in the anemone today - thankfully as its looking a trifle weak and ill. Dosed with selcon so hoping it will help a little.

How would I target the anemone with such small food? The problem at the moment is that its tentacles cant hold on to stuff. when it does manage to get something in the clown harasses it or bats the food out of its mouth with its tail.

Feeding with the lights off is my only option at the moment but I'm thinking that I will have to get shot of the clowns and concentrate on the anemone.

Target feeding of the anemone isn't really required. The clowns poop will also feed it as will the light and any zooplankton out at night. You would be surprised how much food an anemone actually gets.

Usually bright lights lots of flow across the mouth and tentacles and a bta will be very very happy.

 

[johnnyoc]

Ace, that sounds good. Its started to take a wander at the moment so fingers crossed it finds somewhere nice to settle.

Still concerned about the clowns behaviour though, they do harass the anemone every other day until it 'turns its pockets (stomach inside) out'

Greed little things, if the anemone health declines I am tempted to return the clowns and let the anemone have a few months hassle free.

Thanks for all the help, hopefully he'll gather strength and recolour.

 

[Anonymous]

You can use a turkey baster to target feed small foods.

What lighting are you using?

 

[johnnyoc]

I've ample lighting - 2 x t8s and 2 x t5 power compacts - its only a 125 litre.
for an update the anemone ended up expelling all zoos due to the clown harassment and simply couldnt eat solid foods. I've removed the clowns but too late for the anemone - had tpo remove it as was starting to spit out entrails and pollute.

So, after water changes my parameters are finally back to spot on. I've taken the clowns to the lfs and in a few weeks I'll look to acclimitise an anemone on its own with no clowns to both it. Once its eating regularly and healthy then I'll consider introducing more clowns.