Question about BTA propagation

[Smnparish]

Hi everyone! In my frag tank I have just set up a designated basket for rare BTA propagation. I recently (2 weeks ago) added 4 rare bubble tip anemones and am already getting asked if I am selling some on my local club forum! I was planning on using the cutting method, and I have a 5 inch rainbow I would like to cut in half, but I can't help feeling like it is too soon. The BTA bubbles up every day and always eats. It hasn't even moved since the 2nd day of being in my tank. I was wondering how I can tell if my BTA is healthy enough to be cut, if that is possible. Thanks in advance!

 

[Smnparish]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum, wasn't sure if it should be here or in propagation forum

 

[Loki]

With a new addition it is best to wait 6 months before cutting. I have cut them as little as two months and both half's survived. The best thing to do would be to let the locals wait and get anxious .

 

[Smnparish]

Haha, I guess it may not hurt to build up the hype. For six months, is it just to make sure it is consistently eating? Or that it just continues to do well?

 

[Loki]

Yeah just to make sure it is really healthy. I got mine from very reliable places with really good pictures before shipping and they lost a lot of color during shipping. They were still considered healthy because they were sticky and would open up and eat but I knew they just didn't look like they should. I am sure you can go ahead and start cutting but I personally wouldn't risk loosing a beautiful nem.

 

[Smnparish]

Do you mind me asking where you bought from? Yeah I don't want to risk it either, but I feel like even in 6 months I would have my doubts lol

I don't imagine mine could have arrived any more colorful, and they were eating on the second night.

 

[Loki]

Not at all. Joeknowsreefs.com and the divers den on live aquaria. Both were really colorful with very clear pictures before shipping and I even talked to Joe about the color after I got it and he said that the colors in the pic wasn't adjusted at all.

 

[seamonkey84]

I found this site very helpful when I decided to get some rbta and wanted to keep them small and sell the clones.
Bubble Tip Anemone PropagationReefkeeping made simple

And
karensroseanemones.net - INTRODUCTION

 

[Smnparish]

Thanks for all the help! I got mine from LA reefs on ebay, they have great feedback but I guess are not too involved in all the forums. They arrived in excellent shape, I guess this could sound like me trying to convince myself it is ok to cut away lol, but in your other post you're basically saying that good color, sticky and eating means they are healthy? If so these nems are the empitome of health.

 

[Smnparish]

I found this site very helpful when I decided to get some rbta and wanted to keep them small and sell the clones.
Bubble Tip Anemone PropagationReefkeeping made simple

And
karensroseanemones.net - INTRODUCTION

Thanks, i've read every site on this topic though lol. This is one of them that concerns me by saying wait 5 months, but like most everything in this hobby, there is conflicting info.

 

[Loki]

Lol. I would wait just a few more weeks just to be safe. Also I would only cut one per week and don't cut either half again for at least three weeks. . Slice and dice my friend lol

 

[Smnparish]

Thanks, I was thinking one at a time as well because I heard of the bad chemical warfare these things can wage even with different strains of bta. A few more weeks I could handle, I am sure in that time only more people will want it lol. Thank you again for all of the help, I know this kind of question can be tough based on the fact that to answer it requires opinion/experience and not just facts...but I think learning from others' experiences is just as good if not sometimes better than just reading facts.

 

[Loki]

No problem Also just FYI I always used a 4-5" razor blade like the one that comes with a box cutter. Just make sure to wipe the oil off of the blade before the surgery lol