teeny tiny rose BTA

I thought I would ask a quick question while it is on my mind. I had a hot pink rose BTA given to me about six or so months ago. I had to move my tank out of the sun room this past summer. About a week after moving the tank and having everything settle in I noticed two of the little guys. It had split. I am assuming from the stress of transfer. Here is the thing.....they were both dinky little things. I'm talking the size of my pinky nail. One has since disappeared into the tank somewhere. (could be dead) The other is at the top of the tank stuck to some macro algae.
What would cause this little guy NOT to grow? I try to feed the anemone a small piece of scallop, shrimp, or mysis whenever I can get it into its tentacles. It's like sliding a piece of thread through a small needle while having a shake attack.

There are phosphates in the water and salinity is 1.24. The phosphates will change when the other tank is ready to go thanks to an ro unit. So I am hoping this would be the problem. You know.......could it be chemical wars causing the stunted growth? There are all softies, rock anemones, and a new antler anemone in there.

I have seen RBTAs that small - it seems the "colonial" variety seems to keep that smaller size, but the people I have known that started out with one that small, it did grow to about 5" or so after about a year. Took a while before it really took off and started to grow though.

Does your lil 'nem walk around a lot??? Pics and details on your setup will help

You do realize that we have to ask for pictures right?

Anemone are very sensitive animals. If the water chemistry isn't right they will not grow and do not usually fare very well.

What kind of lighting?

How high are your phosphates??

In my nem experience they need 4 tings to be happy; good water, good flow, good food, and good light. Get all 4 right and the nem will be happy, but if only 1 is off they are not too unhappy.

Can you post your water parameters????


And like Craig said

They seem to go through growth spurts. Sometimes they'll be small and not doing anything for months, then over 2-3 weeks they grow by a third. Couldn't tell you why, maybe it's water chemistry, but if it looks healthy otherwise, then I wouldn't worry too much.

Okay my friends....here ya go!

First two are of the little guy. It would be that white thing above the feather duster in the money plant.
The other photo shows my tank. There are all kinds of "seeds" for the bigger tank.
Last one is kind of off subject. It is an algae that came on the recent live rock. I love the spiral effect. It is very danty and flows in the current. Does anyone have a name to go with it?

Pat, the BTA was getting good size (nickel)lol but then it split into two. Now it's even smaller than before.

Craig, the lighting is 4 VHO bulbs. Two days-two actinics.
I have four rock anemones in there and an antler anemone. They all seem to be doing well.

estanoche, it doesn't walk around at all since it has been shaded by the algae.

I feel like I'm looking for the cat again.

Can you get a closer picture? Are we 100% sure it's a BTA and not a green majano?

That dang Barb! I still can't find that cat!


Okay... remember, the anemone is officially pissed since I picked it up and brought it to the glass. But you can see just how small it is.

Is this a green majano in middle pic? The bigger palys beside it are the size of a quarter.

Nope - definitely looks like a BTA to me.

It may be the phosphates. It could also be flow, lighting, temperature, the fact that it knows you're staring at it.......

I'd try feeding it a little more often. give it a meaty piece of something two or three times a week for a month or two and see what it does.

I can't believe its living on that macro!! haha

Is it even sticky? Can you blow some small particulate food (cyclopeeze or something) at it and have it stick to it??

I think he needs to get outta the shade of that plant........ maybe cut that piece off and rubberband it down on a horizontal rock facing the light?

Not enough light is the problem they need some good pars.

yeah....I agree with joanne and reefdiver - - it needs light....it's hidden in that algae.......also where it's located it doesn't look like it would get enough flow either......I'd move it lonna.........and it's sooooooo cute!

is it doing any better?