RBTA splitting questions

bobbyrobot · May 10, 2013

So about a month ago I picked up a RBTA and a pair of clowns that were hosting it (who 45mins after they went in the tank decided they wanted to host my return line instead and have not gone back to the RBTA) Anyway, I placed it in a spot about half way up with good flow under LEDs. It never moved I took this as a win because how often do they ever stay exactly where you want them. It has been happy. some days it has bubbles some days not. I feed it krill a couple times a week. Then today I noticed it split... has anyone experienced them splitting within a month of being in a tank? I have read that they split pretty frequently when they are happy but have also read (somewhere) that they can split when not happy. Is this true? tank paramaters are pretty perfect. SPSs and LPS corals in the tank grow and do awesome. It has looked happy so im assuming it split because of that. Next question is how do I get the extra one off the rock because I dont have room for two? and how long should I let it "heal" before I try to remove it?

Thanks in advance!

bobbyrobot · May 11, 2013

no one?

Connie · May 11, 2013

I can't tell you whether it is happy or not without a picture. Can you take one? It will take a few weeks for the new mouths to form. Do not try to feed them until they have one. Then start with Mysis shrimp,(small and soft). I usually let mine heal at least a month before moving them.

bobbyrobot · May 13, 2013

Ok here is an image. It split last Thursday so Im assuming it is ok/ happy because neither "half" has went walking at all they split and stayed right where they were.... looks good to me anyway. you can see in the pic they are still very close together but have completely split and the "new" ones edges look to be healed for the most part. I guess my next question is- I was thinking about picking up a Gold stripe Maroon clown that is about 1.5 inches long... the smaller "split off" piece of the anemone is about that big while the main half is a little large may 2.5 inches... Should I wait on adding that clown.... is it too big for the nems? would really love to see some action in them.

amppdx · May 13, 2013

Sorry I dont have any nem advise for you, but want to comment on what a beautiful BTA you have! Did you get it from a LFS or online vendor? I dont have a BTA, but have always wanted one and wondered what to do about splitting and keeping a population under control.

afamousjohnson · May 13, 2013

Maroons are mean

might cause problems with your clowns.?. You figure they split either to survive or because they are flourishing so 1 good 1 bad guess only personally view can tell. Either way you now have an expensive new prize. Have heard peeps hitting them with a powerhead to get them to start moving and utilizing that oppertunity to get them off the rock. Be careful to not damage the foot while removing. I've also heard they start healing rather quickly as with the how to split an anemone tutorial videos they have.

Trex · May 13, 2013

If you get a maroon, what do you plan on doing with the existing pair of clowns?

For a single maroon, I would want the anemone to be at least 3 times as large --- they can (( and have )) loved anemones to death.

bobbyrobot · May 13, 2013

Thanks! I picked it up from a LFS... actually one that rarely gets anything too nice. I bought it with a pair of Pink Skunk clowns that were hosting it at the LFS but they are pretty small. They went to it right away when they went in the tank but then left it about an hour later and have been near my return line ever since.... well one has. I believe my Golden Dwarf Moray ate one of them because it disappeared.... The remaining pink skunk will go to a friend of mine. The tank has a Golden Dwarf Eel and a Mystery Wrasse who will take food out of the eels mouth so a semi aggressive clown wouldn't hurt the tank. My whole reasoning behind buying the nem was to have a clownfish.

I read about them loving nems to death. That was why I was worried. I will just wait. They are pretty without the clowns just the behavior would be nice

Connie · May 14, 2013

The look beautiful and healthy to me Bobby.

MelissaKathryn · May 14, 2013

bobbyrobot said:
Thanks! I picked it up from a LFS... actually one that rarely gets anything too nice. I bought it with a pair of Pink Skunk clowns that were hosting it at the LFS but they are pretty small. They went to it right away when they went in the tank but then left it about an hour later and have been near my return line ever since.... well one has. I believe my Golden Dwarf Moray ate one of them because it disappeared.... The remaining pink skunk will go to a friend of mine. The tank has a Golden Dwarf Eel and a Mystery Wrasse who will take food out of the eels mouth so a semi aggressive clown wouldn't hurt the tank. My whole reasoning behind buying the nem was to have a clownfish.

I read about them loving nems to death. That was why I was worried. I will just wait. They are pretty without the clowns just the behavior would be nice

+1 please wait until as long as possible to let BOTH get big and healthy on their own. I think ours perished because the BTA was loved to death by just our ocellaris. But also, yours look absolutely beautiful! congrats!

Connie · May 16, 2013

I think I have just been lucky, but.....the way I get mine off a rock to sell them is to put a rock of some sort just beside its foot. Chances are it will move to the new rock within a few days and you can sell it rock and all without hurting it in any way. I know its a long shot, but it's always worked for me.

Also, is that hydnophora next to the nems in the photo? They are dangerously close to each other and the hydophora will win if they decide to go to war.