Anemone theory...artificial colouring...
 

In theory, do u think it's possible to take a tan or green bta, dye it's water red until it turns that colour (i'm assuming that's how they're dyed), and sell it to a store for $100 as a rose bta? How "realistic" do u think it would look?

...and no...i'm not thinking about it :razz:

[edit] Maybe not possible, but how easy it would be...

It's a deplorable practise, but sadly, it does happen sometimes.

Is your rose BTA losing colour Mason?

I've seen it a lot with pink and yellow, but not red (yet). I do notice the shipping water is also the same color as the animal though, so you can tell when it arrives. Now if I took a green BTA and soaked it in red food coloring, and took it a short distance, you may not see any trace in the shipping water.

Nope...mine's doing great!


Just wondering...

How about a pale rbta with an alarming tinge of green in it?

Hmmm.....

I was under the impression that they would inject them with the colouring

I have no idea what it would look like, but the leathers and anemones I've seen were very solid bright pink or yellow. I understand they soak them, as this critters fill their tissue with water and recycle it. This "inhalation" of the water gives them color and I suppose some goes deeper into the tissue. They do eventually go back to the normal color if they don't die first.

I see...

Well I only ask because I recently saw a couple of pale rbtas with a tinge of green to them. Is this normal?

I think there are a lot of people out there trying to cash in on the rose BTA fad by telling aquarists that a brownish-green anemone is a rose anemone. Some of the images posted on RC are pretty unimpressive. Of course some are very nice as well.

That should be OK, I think. BTA's can have a tinge of green or in some rare cases, blue even.

Usually if they're dyed the whole animal is one uniform and unnatural looking colour.

Hey Mason,
Usually when the corals are dyed, it is quite obvious. When you see a hot pink Sinularia, there's no question it's dyed. I think the message has been sent quite clearly to the few suppliers left, that thought this was a good idea.
The last dyed corals I saw, were a year ago at the now defunct Aquafanatics. Neon Yellow Pagoda cup coral and hot Pink Leather corals. :mad:

I doubt those RBTA's were dyed. As with many other animals, color variance and intensity can range widely. The color of anemones can also be affected by the level of zooxanthellae within the tissue. The stress of shipping can cause expelling/bleaching. This can cause seemingly brighter colors. I have found the color will return in a healthy animal within 3-5 weeks. Direct feeding assists the animal in meeting it's dietary requirements in the meantime.

Well that eases my mind. Thanks for the info everyone :biggrin:


Another question then (may be better on a separate thread)...does food type or anything else affect/promote the intensity of the coloration of rbtas?