Getting rose bubble tip Anemone to split

lilbitreefer · Oct 29, 2017

So I am correcting my nitrate problem, I want to know how I can get my anenome to split. I have had him for over a year and he has not grown much and my sexy shrimp (3) have moved in. It is kinda interesting I did not think SS would be an inhabit of an anemone. I do not want to split him as he in in a hard to reach spot and do not want to injur it's foot.

Salty1962 · Oct 29, 2017

Frequent feedings and moderate flow is how I've had mine split.

reefsponge · Oct 29, 2017

I have success with encouraging naturals splits by feeding regular small portions and water changes. Natural reaction to stress. I'm guessing this is all dependent on the strain of bta though.

lilbitreefer · Oct 29, 2017

Well I just did a massive water change. Maybe that will help.

zagviper71 · Oct 29, 2017

Feed twice a week... no bigger then their mouths!!

ash9965 · Oct 30, 2017

if he hasn't grown in nearly a year that seems odd - how often and how much are you feeding him. Although feeding the nem is not required if you have good lights, Feeding weekly can promote growth and eventually splits.

lilbitreefer · Oct 30, 2017

The last 6 months or so he’s just been getting light and whatever drifts around, or zeovit bacteria, mysis scraps fish flakes. I have not been target feeding since the shrimp and fish keep stealing it

ash9965 · Oct 30, 2017

I use a turkey baster to target feed it also scares the fish away so they dont steal

lilbitreefer · Oct 30, 2017

ash9965 said:
I use a turkey baster to target feed it also scares the fish away so they dont steal

Yeah...the fish attack the anemone for the food.

Jongalt26 · Oct 31, 2017

Count your blessings. I started with 1 rbta 6 months ago and between 2 tanks now have 8. I also picked up a pink bta a couple months ago which split. I stopped feeding them after the first split.
I'd just give it time and decent water parameters & light.

pingzing47 · Nov 1, 2017

They want very clean water and light. I never feed them directly but periodically there is a split. I say be patient and you may be surprised one day. And one day you may regret they split and split and and split.

Wicky48 · Jan 31, 2018

I have had one split into two and now both have been small for a while. Color is good but the tentacles look shrunk. Are they attacking each other chemically? I have a carbon filter on but no change. Should one be removed? Thanks.

chizerbunoi · Jan 31, 2018

Just give it a week to heal up. Splitting takes a big toll to the BTA. I don’t notice any chemical warfare and have 14 BTA in my tank.

Lovefish77 · Apr 6, 2022

Imhe strain is everything when it comes to nems. Not all are created equal. I have a bunch of black widows that grow quickly and are very hardy. Last year I bought a few more from a guy on the forum, they never grow and are so sensitive if you peel them from a rock they could melt down and rot!!
So strain is everything I think

NFToph · Jul 7, 2022

Lovefish77 said:
Imhe strain is everything when it comes to nems. Not all are created equal. I have a bunch of black widows that grow quickly and are very hardy. Last year I bought a few more from a guy on the forum, they never grow and are so sensitive if you peel them from a rock they could melt down and rot!!
So strain is everything I think

You have any black widows for sale?

Hooz · Jul 8, 2022

I've had several splits, all due to stress.

I started with a Rainbow BTA and an Acid Rain BTA. The Rainbow ended up in the overflow of my AiO tank twice in 3 days. I had to pry it out and, after the second time, it split. That brought me to 2 Rainbows and an Acid Rain.

I added an Ultra Rainbow and a Warp Drive, bringing me up to 5 BTAs total. It stayed that way for months with no issues. No direct feeding and only regular water changes.

Then my AC went out on one of the hottest days we've had so far this year. The house got up to 90, and the anemone tank hit 86, even while floating ice packs to try to keep the temp down. The next day I had THREE Rainbows, TWO Warp Drives, TWO Ultras and an Acid Rain. 8 total BTAs... Now I need a bigger anemone tank.

neonreef3d · Jul 8, 2022

My friend has an rbta that split and ended up in his sump, and kept splitting… he gave me 5 of them, I have a satellite frag tank that was empty at the time, so I threw in some live rock and 8 months later I have over 26 of them in there.. I do not do water changes, but I did target feed them.