Black Widow Splitting or Disintegrating?

[PicassoClown04]

Have a black widow nem, been in my tank for a couple months now but never really found a happy place. Got on the glass this morning and just saw it doing this. It’s healthy, but never settled down. Is it splitting or dying?? I turned the powerhead off so it doesn’t shred the nem.

Thanks for the input!!

 

[James M]

Looks like it’s splitting into 4 pieces

 

[Cell]

Definitely splitting.

 

[PicassoClown04]

Thanks y’all, scared me cause I’ve never seen a nem split into 4 have y’all heard of that??

 

[James M]

Thanks y’all, scared me cause I’ve never seen a nem split into 4 have y’all heard of that??

Not common but I’ve noticed it happens when large nems split

 

[PicassoClown04]

Not common but I’ve noticed it happens when large nems split

The nem was about 5” across before the split, not very big at all. I’m scared for all the tiny pieces running around cause the tank is pretty full of other stuff

 

[James M]

The nem was about 5” across before the split, not very big at all. I’m scared for all the tiny pieces running around cause the tank is pretty full of other stuff

I would get a nem box and Get them now while they are on the glass.

 

[PicassoClown04]

I would get a nem box and Get them now while they are on the glass.

I’m staying up tonight to catch the babies before they move onto the rocks, I don’t wanna cut the nem while it’s doing this cause idk it seems like a bad idea. Looks like it’s been going pretty quick and oughta be done soon right?

 

[PicassoClown04]

Looking like thirds, one of the ones in the cup may continue to split tho

 

[PicassoClown04]

These splits are very very small, like worryingly small. Is there a reason a medium sized nem would quarter itself like this?? It’s been moving around ever since we got it, it’s never been happy even though there’s a RBTA in the same tank that is very happy. This wasn’t a suicide split right?

 

[James M]

The stress from it not being able to find a spot induced the split. Don’t think it was about to die because the other bta is doing good. For now I would just keep an eye on the splits and see if they are happy after healing

 

[KingTideCorals]

Stress induces splits a lot of the time. Looks like a pretty heavy case of stress induced splitting. The splits may be small but could potentially recover. Be careful to monitor because if one dies its small enough to really disintegrate and spread all over the tank. Just a reminder!

 

[PicassoClown04]

Thanks!! I really don’t know why it’s so stressed though. The tank has a lot of rocks and the other nem is very happy, it’s a mystery

 

[Lovefish77]

Strange looking nem really. My black widow which splits a lot (photo in my avatar) but never like that. First the disc will become elongated. Then it turns from elliptical to like a figure 8. Then it splits.
Imhe they dont split just due to stress I have fairly stable parameters and they split like crazy. But I have them in high light (like 350 par), have good flow and feed them pieces of fish like twice a month.

 

[James M]

Thanks!! I really don’t know why it’s so stressed though. The tank has a lot of rocks and the other nem is very happy, it’s a mystery

How are they

 

[Lovefish77]

Looking like thirds, one of the ones in the cup may continue to split tho

Where did you get those clear plastic mesh cups from?

 

[LRT]

Also curious how the splits are doing? I know it doesn't really pertain to your Nem but some of my shrooms split with minor changes. Maybe stress at times. Maybe felt your 20 gallon is a little to cramped and felt like it would do better split up.
That's my theory. A little of both. Your system looks stunning and healthy so I wouldn't suspect your going to lose any of them. Maybe just needed to downgrade itself lol.

 

[Cell]

Where did you get those clear plastic mesh cups from?

lol they look like dixie cups with holes punched out.

 

[PicassoClown04]

Where did you get those clear plastic mesh cups from?

They’re regular disposable plastic cups, melt holes in them using a wood burner. Got mine in a kit at Hobby Lobby for $20

 

[PicassoClown04]

Also curious how the splits are doing? I know it doesn't really pertain to your Nem but some of my shrooms split with minor changes. Maybe stress at times. Maybe felt your 20 gallon is a little to cramped and felt like it would do better split up.
That's my theory. A little of both. Your system looks stunning and healthy so I wouldn't suspect your going to lose any of them. Maybe just needed to downgrade itself lol.

The splits are all healthy, it ended up in thirds. All the splits are eating now and beginning to bubble so I’ll probably be ready to sell them in the next couple of weeks after I feel like they’re fully recovered and doing well. They’re all really small so I’m gonna try to pick the healthiest/biggest one to be my new mother nem but it’s gonna be difficult since they’re all so small.