RBTA Question

[msujohn]

Can anyone confirm if this is a RBTA? It has split at least 5 times in the past year? Why does it split so often? Is there an easy way to remove some of them without tearing them?

 

[James M]

That is a RBTA. Usually they can split when they are happy and yours look happy.
An easy way to get them off the rock is taking them out in a bucket and hanging them upside down

 

[chizerbunoi]

Yes that’s a RBTA. Splitting occurs when the anemone is stressed. So try to keep your system very stable from salinity, temperature, parameters and avoid heavy feedings.

 

[msujohn]

I guess I'm a little confused. Are they splitting because they are happy (and I'm probably over feeding the tank) or is it something with my parameters causing them to stress? I haven't noticed any major swings in my Alk, Cal, Mag #'s, besides my nitrates have increased (this was done intentionally).

 

[PicassoClown04]

There’s two types of splits. Super healthy anemone making babies and super stressed anemone making a last ditch effort to survive. Yours is the first. If you look how big your mother is, the growth pattern is closer to it making babies than splitting in half right?

In any case, using a combo of powerhead, old gift card, and your fingernails are a good way to remove them. The new flow will aggravate the nems, causing them to move. While they move scrape them off the rocks gently using the card and your nails. Peel it off the rocks don’t rip it. The peeling process will probably take 10-30 minutes per nem depending on the size. Good luck, and beautiful nem!

 

[chizerbunoi]

I am going to disagree with the majority here. BTAs can reproduce sexually and asexually. I have seen documented cases where they just keep growing healthy and get huge 2’ plus. This is over many years. But then a stress event happens and then they split.

I don’t disagree that yours is not healthy looking. But feeding heavy does cause stress. And yours split five times in the last year. If you enjoy it then no biggie. The splits are a very good way of funding future purchases.

I personally stress mine on purpose to split. I went from three to now 50-70 over the course of four years. I feed heavy until they are a good size and then water change with either temperature or salinity off. That causes a manual split the majority of the time. My intent is to have a tank that is wall to wall anemones.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I am going to disagree with the majority here. BTAs can reproduce sexually and asexually. I have seen documented cases where they just keep growing healthy and get huge 2’ plus. This is over many years. But then a stress event happens and then they split.

I don’t disagree that yours is not healthy looking. But feeding heavy does cause stress. And yours split five times in the last year. If you enjoy it then no biggie. The splits are a very good way of funding future purchases.

I personally stress mine on purpose to split. I went from three to now 50-70 over the course of four years. I feed heavy until they are a good size and then water change with either temperature or salinity off. That causes a manual split the majority of the time. My intent is to have a tank that is wall to wall anemones.

If you already have 50-70, how many more do you need for your goal?!? That must be one big tank.

I do notice mine split a decent amount..... I think I have 5 now, maybe 4..... started as 1 probably 16-17 months ago...... so 3-4 splits in that time, not sure if it’s different splits each time or not....

 

[chizerbunoi]

I am planning a large plywood anemone tank for the very near future.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I am planning a large plywood anemone tank for the very near future.

Not sure where you’re located, but I see you use black-boxes. I will trade Mars Aqua 300w lights (3 of them) used less than 9mo, for Nems all day long...... build that tank!

 

[chizerbunoi]

I wish it was summer where i can open the windows to air it out. With all the snow and babies, everyone will get sick.

I’m in Canada so won’t be able to ship to you. Also buying used stuff is a major cringe for me. I’m a new guy person. Haha