Anemone

Right, I know this to be true of many marine invertebrates. I guess I always thought of sexual reproduction as being the more common mode for stress-related reproduction. At any rate, the BTAs in question are many years old--in fact the largest one actually resides at Steinhart Aquarium in SF now because it outgrew a 160g. They are good enough to take donations from hobbyists.

My question was really more about the shape of the tentacles. I read somewhere the bubbles may actually be a stress-related manifestation. I am trying to gather some info so I can tell my buddy if there might be a problem with his BTA.

 

nanoreefer,
My BTA only has the bubbles when the tank is dark and in the morning and evening when I have reduced lighting. Under full lighting it loses the bubbles and stretches out its tentacles, maybe to absorb more light. Doesn't seem to be related to whether or not there is a clown hosting it. Mine had the bubbles before my tomato started hosting it.

The anemone in the picture looks like my BTA during the day.

 

Interesting! I am starting to think that Bubble Tip is a bit of a misnomer.

 

My maroon seems to have chewed off the tips of the tentacles. The tentacles look like normal nubs now. Maybe that is why BTAs seem to lose the bubbletips when they are hosted by a clown.

 

My clarkii never stole his anemone's (seabe) food until recently (I've had the two for about 3 months). Although he'd pick at it the anemone would still manage to get it in the end.

Today I noticed for the first time he tried to feed the anemone with pieces of seaweed that he normally eats with the blue hippo tang. He tore off a big piece from the clip and took it to the anemone and it floated away. Repeated this many many many times until it broke apart and got eaten by the other fish.

Although it was just seaweed it was something, so maybe now he'll start taking care of his caregiver! Maybe yours will start sometime too!