Are bubble tip anemones even worth it?

[mfinn]

I have rainbow bta in my 240.

Wait,,, no it's 3,,,, maybe 5. IDK. They have a large part in the center of the tank.
I do have to relocate one occasionally.

 

[Raptor72]

I couldn't keep from owning some, even though I have a DT with corals, so I set up a dedicated nem tank to take care of the urge.

 

[kichimark]

I love BTA's like the sunburst and have several. It can be a little pain in the rear when they move but that is their nature and I like to think if we are doing a good job then they flourish and it just comes with the territory. To see their colors and waving tentacles with the relationships they have with clowns makes it worth it for me.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I couldn't keep from owning some, even though I have a DT with corals, so I set up a dedicated nem tank to take care of the urge.

Even with my concerns about having anemones, my wife and I have thought about starting one of those tanks.

 

[mfinn]

I couldn't keep from owning some, even though I have a DT with corals, so I set up a dedicated nem tank to take care of the urge.

I wish I had space for something like this.
I remember back in the 90's when the red/rose btas started showing up in the Seattle area, it was fight to get one. And the cost for them was a arm and a leg.

 

[landlubber]

if i'm honest, I feel like they're a must-have coral for a new reefer's first tank and a never again after that. Beautiful, flowy, colorful corals that respond well to UV and are an absolute pain to remove after they multiply and crawl to the back of your display.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

if i'm honest, I feel like they're a must-have coral for a new reefer's first tank and a never again after that. Beautiful, flowy, colorful corals that respond well to UV and are an absolute pain to remove after they multiply and crawl to the back of your display.

They are actually considered inverts, not a coral! Common misconception in the hobby (I thought they were corals before I got into the hobby, haha)

 

[Salman123]

I also agree. I think they’re a must. I put one in my tank and now I have 3! And they’ve only stung one coral… so far . But, they are really pretty and IMO have a personality

 

[Salman123]

I couldn't keep from owning some, even though I have a DT with corals, so I set up a dedicated nem tank to take care of the urge.

How big is your tank. Always wanted to set up a harem style tank. Made the biggest mistake and started with a pair. Then I added 8 and now I have 3. I now acknowledge the only way I could do that is if I rehomed them and then bought like 20.

 

[landlubber]

They are actually considered inverts, not a coral! Common misconception in the hobby (I thought they were corals before I got into the hobby, haha)

i'd heard that before and it makes perfect sense as they''re directly comparable to aiptasia, just much larger. If i'm completely honest, I also think they could straddle the classification as "pest anemones" once the first uninvited split takes place lol.

 

[BriDroid]

I like them, but I've never had one. Similar to how I've never had green star polyps or pulsing xenia. They all look great, but I don't want to deal with the inevitable takeover.

 

[Raptor72]

How big is your tank. Always wanted to set up a harem style tank. Made the biggest mistake and started with a pair. Then I added 8 and now I have 3. I now acknowledge the only way I could do that is if I rehomed them and then bought like 20.

It’s a RS 170 so about 43 gals. altogether, I believe. It was my first attempt at a bare bottom tank and I can say it went well. The encrusting algae on the bottom gives nooks for Sexy Shrimp and micro brittle stars to hide.

 

[dvgyfresh]

How is this possible? Nems are the best part of the hobby. I will never have a reef without one

 

[ReefED!]

I got rid of mine before it spread

Might be cool in a softie tank with just nems and some skunks

 

[Uncle99]

Kept a RBTA’s for 3 decades over 3 systems.
Only split once.
Don’t feed them directly and they don’t propagate.
Never directly fed a BTA ever as it’s not required.
I think they use those extra meals to make copies.
This one’s 5 years old.

 

[Biokabe]

I like them, but I've never had one. Similar to how I've never had green star polyps or pulsing xenia. They all look great, but I don't want to deal with the inevitable takeover.

I've had all three, and I'd much sooner introduce GSP or xenia before BTA.

GSP honestly isn't that bad. My IM20 is covered with it, but it looks nice and I can (and have) peeled it back without incident whenever I've felt like it. The mat always has an edge, it grows over crevices instead of into them, so you just need to peel up an edge and pull it back with gentle pressure. Snip it up and attach it to frags for a little credit at the LFS, or just toss the excess.

Xenia is a bit nastier... the stalks are mushier and have more gunk to expel when you cut into them, and they're not quite as mat-bound as GSP. Still, though, not too bad.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I've had all three, and I'd much sooner introduce GSP or xenia before BTA.

GSP honestly isn't that bad. My IM20 is covered with it, but it looks nice and I can (and have) peeled it back without incident whenever I've felt like it. The mat always has an edge, it grows over crevices instead of into them, so you just need to peel up an edge and pull it back with gentle pressure. Snip it up and attach it to frags for a little credit at the LFS, or just toss the excess.

Xenia is a bit nastier... the stalks are mushier and have more gunk to expel when you cut into them, and they're not quite as mat-bound as GSP. Still, though, not too bad.

I never really had any issues with GSP. I know it gets a lot of hate, but I liked the look of it and was easy to manage (at least for me)

 

[landlubber]

the inevitable takeover.

This basically sums up how its been for me.
I have a beautiful, fllowy display that blows visitors minds and to me its the result of a hostile seizing of the rock where all my other cool corals used to sit that i'm ready to sell off and restart lol.
Stationary corals are underrated.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

To start, I used to own a BTA (Colorado Sunburst). On one hand, it was the highlight of my tank. I always loved going to my tank and seeing it on top of our aquascape, flourishing. On the other hand, this was the most stressful creature we had in our tank. From it moving all the time, being worried about it nuking my tank while I was out of town, to potentially bulldozing my corals. I loved having one, but in the end I always wondered whether it was worth it. Do some of you have the same thoughts I do? Are they worth it to you? Is it something you will never own again?

I will never have another one! I couldn't WAIT to get my rainbow BTA. They are beautiful. BUT, I had no idea how freaking PROLIFIC they are. I had one, I have gotten rid of well over 50, and still have well over 50! To me at least, they are a pest anemone that I will never own again.

 

[LeftyReefer]

At first, I used to sell the baby BTA splits to my local LFS. I'd take 10 or a dozen in at a time. Initially they had no problem paying me $35 or $40 a piece for them and were excited to be getting them.... it was great. And then after a while my LFS was like how about $20 each ?.. and then after a bit longer, they were like how about $10 each? They seemed to have plenty every time I'd go in. When they started offering only $10, I just quit bothering. it wasn't worth the trouble of trying to remove them for only $10 each. just took too long so now they are just left alone and are free to multiply and spread at will.