nems splitting

Wiz · Aug 28, 2015

So I started with one purple tip gbta and one green centered rbta. The gbta split in the first two months. I hoped the rose would soon. 5 months later it finally happened. Anyone have ideas as to what causes this? Also should I give newly split nems any special attention?

thehammer1985 · Aug 28, 2015

From my experience in this they can split randomly. I have researched this a ton and found 2 possible reasons completely contradicting eachother. 1 water conditions are unfavorable and they attempt splitting try to save itself.2 the conditions are completely favorable and split bc there is more than enough resources to provide for 2 nems. It can be completely random and no extra care is requires . They will move to a position they like . Once they get there continue feedings as before

Tahoe61 · Aug 28, 2015

Consistent feedings as well as a decline in water quality (self preservation) are two triggers that I have noticed.

Wiz · Aug 28, 2015

I have always broadcast fed a slurry. Hitting nems and lps directly in the process. Two weeks ago I started feeding each nem a quarter inch square piece of precooked frozen shrimp from the market once a week. Think this might have had anything to do with it?

Tahoe61 · Aug 28, 2015

Sure.

I would not feed a newly cloned anemone for about 3 weeks though. They do not need to be feed if one has a common modern lighting fixture. I used to feed my monthly, for no other reason than it made me feel good.

Wiz · Aug 28, 2015

I like the idea of them getting big. That's why I started feeding them directly. My tube nem didn't like it. But the bta's ate it up. Splitting is cool too. Extra cash or trade. But I don't want them stressed. The bta's are amoung the most beautiful things in my reef. I love them.

thehammer1985 · Aug 28, 2015

Great anemones. Only ones I've attempted . Beautiful colors and pretty hardy. Like you said I love those big bushy ones but I wouldn't get mad at getting some free trade in money. These guys are difanetly unique and kind of do what that want (Split or not split , bubbles or no bubbles)

Tahoe61 · Aug 28, 2015

Oh I love them too, sps and nems in small tanks are not conducive to a stress free nano experience though. A cloning event means the anemone must successfully transfer the correct anatomical items, gut, oral opening. The development and completion of those structures does not take place at the time of cloning. The anemone needs time to heal adequately before feeding and digesting offered foods. In the wild the anemone's zooxanthellae rely on light for photosynthesis. They are not capturing and eating fish and inverts on a regular basis.

Wiz · Aug 28, 2015

I will discontinue the shrimp for a couple weeks on the rbtas. Slurry should be ok right. Very small particles. Largest is a mysis.

Wiz · Sep 2, 2015

So, the top rose started to climb up over my sunny ds. I didn't want them hurt and the nems foot was almost entirely off the rock. So I took that oppertunity to move it to another area of tank. As I grabbed it off I thought it had let go entirely but there was a quarter inch peice still holding on. I accidently tore it. I pulled so easy and it came apart. :-( I thought I had killed the nem. After a day the big part took to its new part of the tank and fully opened

. Few. I noticed the little peice that was still stuck to the rock had tentacles. And to my disbelief they were bubbled. The next day it had moved down about 4" and took up residencde behind my cloves. Do you think this lil peice will live? Its unreal. you can see it in the crevice between the larger rose and cloves.

Tahoe61 · Sep 2, 2015

Whewwwww.

50/50, remember it needs to be able to replicate an oral opening and a gut/digestive track.

Reefrookie220 · Sep 2, 2015

Also, pre cooked shrimp isn't your best bet, raw is. You run a risk with anything like that because of the preparation it goes through. Keep it raw.

Wiz · Sep 2, 2015

Reefrookie220 said:
Also, pre cooked shrimp isn't your best bet, raw is. You run a risk with anything like that because of the preparation it goes through. Keep it raw.

Yeah my LFS nailed me on that one too noted and I will fix that problem Thank you

Reefrookie220 · Sep 2, 2015

The only example that comes to my mind is with canned tomatoes, some are chemically peeled some are steamed.

ermartin · Sep 2, 2015

Wiz said:
I have always broadcast fed a slurry. Hitting nems and lps directly in the process. Two weeks ago I started feeding each nem a quarter inch square piece of precooked frozen shrimp from the market once a week. Think this might have had anything to do with it?

I have had them split soon after feeding frozen shrimp. but I always use RAW not pre-cooked

ermartin · Sep 2, 2015

I also almost NEVER directly feed my NEM's just light and the stuff that the fish don't eat or the fish process in the water. I don't really feed my corals either again just light and whatever stray stuff gets floated in the water colum

Reefrookie220 · Sep 2, 2015

90% of the livestock in our aquarium other than fish obviously, get everything they need photosynthetically. However, IME there are huge benefits to spot feeding. In the ocean they only get what they can filter out of the water and growth is exponential, spot feeding is a way for us to mimic if you will the amount of filter feeding they do in the wild. If that makes sense Lol got on a tangent. And again JMO.