Bubble Tip Separated

[Patricia Hefner]

Have you ever had an anemone separate? My bubble tip split. One half looks like it is doing well. The other half not so well. Asking advice on anything that may help the little nem. At this point, I am scared to do anything. Just watching from a distance.

 

[tastyfish]

They look to be fine from your pics, probably need some time to reform (or they may split again).

 

[NanoCrazed]

Best to leave it alone... but keep an eye on it.

If it looks way too sad, I would take out that half into QT. And use cipro if handy to give it best shot.

 

[JoshH]

Deleted

 

[Patricia Hefner]

The right one is pretty limp this morning. I did not get a pic before heading to work. The one on the left is just as happy as in the pic with it's bubbles perking back up. I seen you-tube videos of dipping an anemone if you separate it yourself. Of course I could never bring myself to cut any animal. Just watching the event looked painful! Was wondering if giving it a rx dip or anything may help. Then again, it may make it worse. I would have to dip the entire rock because their feet are well grounded in the rock.

 

[AcroNem]

Entacmaea quadricolor AKA bubble tip anemones have a few reproductive methods, but the most common is by pedal laceration, or splitting. It's very common and completely normal. The halves should seal up quickly and you'll have 2 anemones instead of one. Just leave them be and monitor them for anything that looks like infection. Other than that, it's a normal thing for them

 

[Kyl]

My large RBTA ~9" (wide when inflated) ultimately split into three clones when I moved it from my nano tank to new DT. It first split into two, and the larger of the clones split again. The smallest clone from the second split is very vibrant in colour, the other two quite muted in comparison. One of the clones has a mouth about 1/2" from it's "edge" while there is a good 4" on the other side, quite lopsided.

They split I will guess almost four months ago now, all seem to be doing well but only the one is as vibrant as it used to be.

 

[Patricia Hefner]

While no personal experience with BT's I have read a lot about them and splitting seems to be rather common. As mentioned above I would keep an eye on them and if you see something very wrong then pull and treat. How long have you had the nem before it split? System parameters?

@Amoo thoughts?

I had bubbles for about two weeks. It found this rock by moving the first night in the tank and has stayed on it. 2 days ago, she began to pull herself apart. Her bubbles perked up within a few hours of placing her in the tank. I thought it was awesome, considering she had none at the store.

They are enjoying reef lighting. 8 hours a day phase 1 with phase 2 at 6 hours running with phase 1. Moonlight fades in when daylights complete and stay on until daylight fades back on.

salinity 1.025
Ammonia and nitrite at 0
nitrate 10
PH 8.2
dkh 9
78 degrees
phosphate 0
calcium 420

The tank has 2 Hot Mag Pumps, one pump holds a micro filter, the other holds 1/2 cup carbon. I clean the pumps in two week intervals to keep from changing them both at the same time. I have a protein skimmer and wave maker. Water change is 10 gallons every 28 days. Usually top off water once a week. 60 gallon tank. 50 gallons of water, 40 lbs substrate, 60 lbs rock.

My livestock consists of: 2 scarlet reef hermit crabs, 2 turbo snails, 1 scarlet cleaner shrimp, 2 Ocellaris clown fish, lawnmower blenny, and 2 dartfish. When I began adding my reef habitat 4 months ago; I added a condy nem and 5 mushroom corals along with a kenya tree. They are all thriving well.

Do you think my tank has stressed the nem to split? I was hoping that she split because of the larger tank. She was in a tiny container when I purchased her. All alone with one rock.

 

[JoshH]

Deleted

 

[tastyfish]

Patricia, honestly, I think you're worrying to much. If they are multiplying, then they are pretty happy IME. Your tank parameters are fine.

They will sort themselves out, but keep an eye on them going walkabouts (powerheads!) or any sign of distress (flopping down, white stringy stuff)

 

[AcroNem]

Patricia, honestly, I think you're worrying to much. If they are multiplying, then they are pretty happy IME. Your tank parameters are fine.

They will sort themselves out, but keep an eye on them going walkabouts (powerheads!) or any sign of distress (flopping down, white stringy stuff)

Anemones will usually split as a form of self preservation, so It was more likely to be stress related.

But they appear to be doing fine now, it was probably the move or another factor that induced a split. @Patricia Hefner just keep things stable and they should be just fine.

 

[tank o tang]

If you have a local club you can probably find someone to trade for a coral or bring it to your lfs for credit after it heals.

 

[Patricia Hefner]

Patricia, honestly, I think you're worrying to much. If they are multiplying, then they are pretty happy IME. Your tank parameters are fine.

They will sort themselves out, but keep an eye on them going walkabouts (powerheads!) or any sign of distress (flopping down, white stringy stuff)

I have foam filters over my filter pumps. I do worry about the wave maker at the top. Not sure how to keep them from it?

 

[tastyfish]

I have foam filters over my filter pumps. I do worry about the wave maker at the top. Not sure how to keep them from it?

If you can put a plastic mesh guard around it, then that will help keep the nem out.

Mine almost gave me a heart attack by settling on top of one of my cross flows once...

I have it when ‘nems go walkabout

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ive had many splits and you keep 'em or you sell them. but they generally do well after split. A little feeding would help prop them up after split.

 

[Shaddow_wolf169]

My bubble tips split every couple of months they play well touching all my acros and zoas no stinging

 

[Patricia Hefner]

If you can put a plastic mesh guard around it, then that will help keep the nem out.

Mine almost gave me a heart attack by settling on top of one of my cross flows once...

I have it when ‘nems go walkabout

I believe the plastic mesh guard came with the pumps when I purchased them. I just slid a foam cover over the mesh guard to keep anything from being sucked to the guard. Was thinking that is what everyone was talking about when they say cover the filters/pumps? Maybe the foam cover is too much. LOL! It is kind of difficult to follow a description without a pic for me sometimes.

 

[Patricia Hefner]

My bubble tips split every couple of months they play well touching all my acros and zoas no stinging

Those are beautiful! These two pieces that split are very close to each other. They were spread from one side of the rock to the other side. The baby/smaller piece moved closer beside the big piece. I read that two bubble tips do not need to touch... but it being part of the nem that split, does this count?? Should I encourage the litter nem to get on its own rock?

 

[Patricia Hefner]

Ive had many splits and you keep 'em or you sell them. but they generally do well after split. A little feeding would help prop them up after split.

Thank you. They both look really good today. The baby/smaller piece has moved almost right beside the larger piece last night. I have read that two bubble tips should not touch each other... should I encourage the baby to find its own rock? Or is there an exception to the rule since it is part of the same nem??

Also: I have tried to feed both nems each day with no luck. They look good today, but still did not cling to the baby brine shrimp not the thawed grocery store chopped shrimp that I have offered. Thinking maybe they need more time? Not sure what else to offer them.

 

[srad750c]

They split all the time, give it some rest time. They come back very easy. Maybe a week or so. Mine stayed mad almost a month. That’s a natural thing for them. Mine is from a split and it split after I had for few months.

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