Anemone too big

[timjoemak]

Hey guys, I've been having a big problem, and that is my anemone getting a bit too big. Now, I've heard tons of stories about splitting anemones, some cutting them, and some feeding them a bit more to force them to split, however so, I would like some clear clarification on what should be done and what not. So can everyone help me out with this? I would like my anemone to split A.S.A.P before it gets too big and before it stings my other corals. Thanks so much, excited to see great replies Cheers

 

[clowns101]

What species is it?

 

[timjoemak]

BTA Thanks

 

[clowns101]

If its a Bubble it can be cut in half.Its your call!

 

[timjoemak]

MY goodness.... >< cut in half? Alright is there something else less painful like I read in some forums saying you feed it more and change water? I can definitely feel pain for the anemone if i cut it..

 

[pandarider007]

you could try doing like a 40 or 50 % water change and then moving it to a different spot in the tank.
should stress it enough to split.:spin3:

 

[timjoemak]

how about feeding it a lot? I can't afford to move it into another location >< It's covered with corals etc... I heard from somewhere it's like feeding it more than usual and then a 40% water change?

 

[mmm67]

My green BTA splits all the time know but at first to get him started , I did a 40% water change and then after that, it splits all the time, I feed it krill

 

[timjoemak]

So does it mean that I should just change the water once by 50% and the anemone should split?

 

[MrMarth]

Anyone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I wouldn't say that your anemone will absolutely split under any "one" condition. There is a lot of guess and check with this. A 40-50% water change "could" cause your nem to split but then again it might not.

Best of luck though!

 

[pandarider007]

how about feeding it a lot? I can't afford to move it into another location >< It's covered with corals etc... I heard from somewhere it's like feeding it more than usual and then a 40% water change?

by moving it i meant to a different location in the tank. but try a water change and then upping the feeding amount.
good luck:fun2:

 

[elegance coral]

There are two different "forms" (for the lack of a better word) of BTA. There is the usual small colonial anemone that splits. Then there are larger solitary BTA's that are not known to split. If you have the larger form of BTA, you may feed it, stress it out, jump up and down, and it may never split.

 

[timjoemak]

Oh wow, I didn't know that. Cool thing to know of, but I think I will feed it a couple more times before I change the water, hoping that it will split, it's incredibly big now. >< Thanks though

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

I know how you feel,my rbta is getting a bit big.I have tried the feeding alot and a 50% water change and nothing happened.Like elegance stated there a differant types of btas.I emailed the guy I bought it from and he said that would get around 20'' across before splitting.Mine is about 16'' now.I can't get myself to pull it out and cut it in half.

 

[timjoemak]

Yeah, I just CAN'T.. It's like cutting someone into half and just waiting for it to heal. >< sigh, I just hope that after a couple of days of feeding i might change 50% water and hope for the best ><

 

[bues0022]

I know it ma seem a bit cruel to cut in half, but think of it this way. There seems to be two reasons why a BTA will split, 1) extra energy, 2) stress. If the anemone has tons of extra energy it feels like it can split itself safely and keep on thriving in its current environment. This is why people will feed their nems tons - get them to grow and split (hopefully) from so much extra energy. What about #2? That's a survival technique and is harder on the nem. It senses something (light, flow, water chemistry) is off and splits itself hoping that one lives. By doing a huge water change you are altering the water chemistry to a degree where it stresses the BTA into splitting. So, actually by cutting it in half, though sounding brutal, can be less stressful than a self-induced split from the stressor splitting mechanism. However, if deep into your tank, it may be very tough to remove for a good, clean, proper cut. Also be aware, you said that you have a tank full of corals. If/when it splits the clone will likely wander a bit stinging everything in its path along the way.

Take all of this with a grain of salt, and remember what elegance coral said - yours might be the larger variety and not want to split.

 

[timjoemak]

Ohh yeah true, sigh splitting in half.. >< Is going to be tough for me.. But just thinking about what bues0022 said, I guess it could be an option.. >< But alright lets say after cutting it in half, how long is it going to take to heal? And won't there be a lot of slime and slimy stuff coming out of it? And during that process isn't the slime and stuff going to cloud my tank? ><

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

It should heal in about 2 weeks.I think most people cut then place back in tank in a plastic container to keep the anemone from being blown around the tank.Good luck if you cut.

 

[WDLV]

Double post.

 

[WDLV]

There are two different "forms" (for the lack of a better word) of BTA. There is the usual small colonial anemone that splits. Then there are larger solitary BTA's that are not known to split. If you have the larger form of BTA, you may feed it, stress it out, jump up and down, and it may never split.

I am hesitant to say this is wrong but I do know of an example of a bta that was in my friend's 55 gallon tank and was getting bigger and bigger and would not split. When she reloacated it to a 180 gallon tank it finally split. She gave me one of the halves and it split for me many times. She recently broke down her 180 and I inherited the other half. Her tank wasn't excessively clean but she did tend to have very stable conditions. I tend to do a lot of large WCs. I think stability/instability is key to whether they split or not.

So, there might be a truely solitary form that never splits but given my experience I have to question it. I have a feeling it has more to do with conditions.

I agree with what was said earlier about a large water change and a relocation within the tank, but given what you said about it being fully stocked with corals and not wanting it to sting them, I would suggest a large water change and throw a powerhead on it or take one off to switch up the flow and/or move the light over a little or even changing the photoperiod. That may or may not get it to split for you. You could also try putting a string or rubberband around it's mid point. I think changing multible environmental factors at once will be the key to it splitting on its own.

Good luck!