Anemone split

[chessmanmark]

I got a rather large RBTA last month when a local reefer offered to trade it as it was taking over his 40 gallon tank. I made the trade and had to move a lot of corals when this thing expanded. Within 2-3 weeks it split into three anemones. About half made up one piece the there was a decent size one a little bigger than a 1/4 and a smaller one down under the rock work that I can just barely see. The bigger of the two managed to push up past the bigger one and I was able to feed it. It looks happy. It's the one below the rock that hasn't come out in order to be fed or receive direct light that I'm worried about. I'm wondering if it will move to get some direct light or if it will disappear. Anyone have an experience with splitting similar to this that they can share?

Here's the magnificent anemone before the split.

 

[CaliReefer12]

Funny, mine did exactly the same thing. wierd. I bought about a 15" rbta from a local reefer a while back and after about three weeks it split into three. Although you will be tempted to move them out, just leave them be. They know what they need and they will move out to the light if they need it. Two our of the three of mine stayed back behind the rocks with very little to no light for almost a week before they started to slow come out. Give them time, they will come out on their own. If the rbta just recently split its good to do a small water change to help the healing process and you will typically want to wait about 2 weeks before you feed them again. They will probably grasp food right away but you should give them time to allow their mouth to completely develop. Good luck with your rose, it sure has nice color!

 

[chessmanmark]

Thanks for the feedback. I am thinking about how to share these with other hobbyists if I can get one of the smaller ones to attach to a removable rock.

 

[jhentr]

Mines didn't split as crazy as you two, but CaliReefer12 is right. Just let it be. My spin off RBTA hid itself for two weeks before coming out. I figure it'll be pretty bleach by then, but when it finally stretch out to the light, it was still pretty red. I feed it once in a while or so and it's done fine. Although I don't like the spot it's picked out (back corner)

 

[CaliReefer12]

I thought the same thing. I just put some relatively small rocks near where it would need to go to eventually come out to the light and the smaller of the three which was about 5"-6" attached to a smaller rock and I was able to sell it to a local reefer.

 

[chessmanmark]

I'm going to add some smaller pieces of rock in that area tomorrow. The smallest of the three popped out today and I was able to feed it some shrimp. Just as you said.