I have a rbta and it split about 2 weeks ago. They both are back to normal except they don't have bubble tips any more. My guess would be that they aren't getting enough food so they are stretching out for light instead. I've never manually fed them before cuz my clowns take care of it, but does anyone suggest that I should start spot feed them some pieces of shrimp? Thanks
Rbta
- Thread starter tdgates10
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After RBTAs split, it takes them awhile to regrow mouths. Until they do that, they are still healing and don't eat...can't eat actually. It's pretty common for them to take up to 4 weeks to totally heal. Until you see that they've reformed mouths, don't attempt to feed them. Once you see the mouths, definitely feed them.
I believe it's actually a misconception that our clowns actually feed their anemones. It's been shown that it actually never happens in nature and while it does appear to happen in our tanks, it doesn't seem to be a purposeful thing on the part of the clowns...and also doesn't appear to be something that happens regularly enough to actually be of nutritional value to our anemones.
With the right amount of lighting, our anemones normally don't need to feed but it never hurts to supplement them with regular feedings. My RBTAs get fed at least 3 times per week.
I believe it's actually a misconception that our clowns actually feed their anemones. It's been shown that it actually never happens in nature and while it does appear to happen in our tanks, it doesn't seem to be a purposeful thing on the part of the clowns...and also doesn't appear to be something that happens regularly enough to actually be of nutritional value to our anemones.
With the right amount of lighting, our anemones normally don't need to feed but it never hurts to supplement them with regular feedings. My RBTAs get fed at least 3 times per week.
NC2WA
Well-known member
Silversides or krill
I feed silversides and krill as NC2WA suggested. I also feed frozen prawns that I cut up. I also feed frozen Formula One. My original RBTA was purchased from Barbie about 2 years ago. It's now split ummm about 5 times, the most recent about a month ago. My seems to heal quickly and both halves are already growing very fast.
Normally, about the only time mine has bubble tips is a few weeks after splitting. Right now, my largest one is half bubbled and half long tentacles. In the mornings it's all bubbled. However, for the most part, mine has longer tentacles. I'm not able to find a correlation between tentacle shape and feeding. Some research I've read contribute it to lighting. However, I'm not convinced on that one either.
Hmm, interesting. Mine is about the same way. Right when the halides go off, they start to go into a bubble shape but then when the halides are on, they are long tentacles. Well, I'm going to wait about another week or two before I start feeding because it has only been 2 weeks. I'll then start feeding and then hopefully be able to remove one of them safely. Probably going to just pull out the rock that it's on. Thanks for all the info!
Kensn
Well-known member
I have never delibertly feed my RBTAs. I started with 1 and now have 6. I believe they pick up what they need from feeding the fish...
