Nems Split - Different Systems - 2 Nights Apart

Scurvy · May 21, 2017

I had a pretty big (For my Tank anyway) GBTA that I was about to pull from my tank. He was nearing 12" when fully open and starting to sting coral. I woke up this past Friday and it had split. I thought I had a mind reading anemone, LOL. My clowns will be happy since they get to keep half their home.

Woke up this morning and found my 6" ish RBTA in another system has also split overnight.

So question for all the Nemsperts: Is there something in the air this time of year? Is it a seasonal thing? I have mild moon light for a couple of hours each night but nothing that follows phases or anything like that. Both tanks doing very well at the moment.

mkutsch · Jun 13, 2017

I know it's a bit late, sorry! Eheheh...
Anyway! I am pretty sure we still do not know what exactly causes BTAs to split. That said, I would probably venture to guess it's 'pristine' water conditions and adequate lighting. Probably has to do with creating the ideal conditions for a protein that causes the split.

MurphyJ · Jun 13, 2017

Scurvy said:
I had a pretty big (For my Tank anyway) GBTA that I was about to pull from my tank. He was nearing 12" when fully open and starting to sting coral. I woke up this past Friday and it had split. I thought I had a mind reading anemone, LOL. My clowns will be happy since they get to keep half their home.

Woke up this morning and found my 6" ish RBTA in another system has also split overnight.

So question for all the Nemsperts: Is there something in the air this time of year? Is it a seasonal thing? I have mild moon light for a couple of hours each night but nothing that follows phases or anything like that. Both tanks doing very well at the moment.

Nems split for a variety of reasons. Changes in water, changes in temp, changes in light, changes in feedings, more room . . . . well, changes.

They respond to good and bad changes. If you look back at what you did in the days before the split that may give you an idea.

People that want their Nems to split will often feed heavy and follow up with a large water change.

Some Nems have a max size where they reach a 6-8" oral disk span and split. In my personal experience, the only times I have seen a Nem with an oral disk less than 4" split was in response to bad conditions.

Scurvy · Jun 13, 2017

MurphyJ said:
Nems split for a variety of reasons. Changes in water, changes in temp, changes in light, changes in feedings, more room . . . . well, changes.

They respond to good and bad changes. If you look back at what you did in the days before the split that may give you an idea.

People that want their Nems to split will often feed heavy and follow up with a large water change.

Some Nems have a max size where they reach a 6-8" oral disk span and split. In my personal experience, the only times I have seen a Nem with an oral disk less than 4" split was in response to bad conditions.

Ha, i had forgotten this post...thanks for the reply. What's interesting to me is the timing of the two splits. Its was a Friday and Sunday where i hadnt touched either tank since the previous weekend. The only real change was the weather being nice enough for open windows and thus a slightly higher average PH.

The little ones are below. Maybe the PH change was enough?

MurphyJ · Jun 13, 2017

Them are some amazing Nems! Very nice! Could have been the PH or a temp change.

Katrina71 · Jul 7, 2017

Any updated pics?

Scurvy · Jul 12, 2017

Katrina71 said:
Any updated pics?

Sorry, never got a notification and just happened to pop in here. Heres a couple i just snapped. Ignore the brown, ive been fighting w/ my skimmer and thats the result.