I'm thinking about fragging my dark red BTA as it's getting a little too big for my tank. I've seen it done with sissors and a razor blade. For those of you that have done it, what was your method? Success Rate? I really want to frag this thing as it's too big for my tank, but it's a very dark red morph that I have not seen before. What sould I be most worried about? I plan to frag it and keep it in a critter container until it heals. How long should I let it recover before letting my percs back into it? They're gonna be mad at me!!
BTA Fragging
- Thread starter MvM
- Start date
scottallert
New member
try to do the more natural way feed it everyday for 2 weeks then do a large water change, this often stresses it out enough to split.
taylor t
New member
I've done it several times. Cut exactly in half through the mouth. For me, 100% success rate. I pulled mine out, put it on a brut garbage can top, and cut right down the middle with a new razor blade. I started in the mouth, cut to the outside, and came back to the mouth, and finished it going the opposite direction. I give it some time to slime, rinse it off in a bucket of tank water, and dumped mine back in. They were hosted right away by tomato clowns. Whether or not I've done it right, I'm sure some think not. I've noticed if you don't give it enough time inbetween cuts(more than a month), it takes alot longer to heal the second time. Mine have always been thriving, and even so, right after it's cut, it looks like you killed it, but mine have recovered pretty quickly every time.
Make sure you let it slime off for a while. Doing a couple water changes after it's cut and in the bucket wouldn't hurt. People have crashed their tanks by adding freshly cut anemones back to their displays. I would not advise doing this if you have clowns hosting it. They could be rough on it.
Haddonisreef
New member
Just cut my sunburst and all is fine do as posted above and you will have no problem!
Too small? I'm guessing the 250W halide is not enough light for it either!!!
No offense, but it seems like most of you questioning the method are either uninformed, or inexperienced. This is a very common way to frag a nem, there was a session at Macna last year (i think) about it. I guess breaking off a piece of sps and using a dremel to cut a chalice are harsh as well. I don't want to return it to the store, as it's a very unique color morph that I have never seem before.
Here's a link to the simple procedure. More than anything, I wass seeking a little reassurance and confidence to build up the gusto to do the job:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7BdqxW4ka0
klepto
New member
:lol: sounds like you are set on doing it- im not surprised you would find those opinions counter to yours as 'inexperienced' if you have clearly made up your mind to do it anyways. I hear what you are saying about keeping the coloration of your anemone- please post some photos of your progress for us. :thumbsup:
I was trying to suggest an alternative- I didnt mean to undermine your plans. If its done properly, you probably won't have an issue.
As you probably know, BTA's split quite commonly. Those of us who have had them split naturally may struggle to justify the hassle of scraping them off the rock and splitting them manually.
Haddonisreef
New member
A friend and i have cut 4 anemones in the last 3 weeks and all have healed by the next day. 2 Rbta and 2 Sunburst that are amazing!!!!! I'm redoing my cube to dedicate to the sunburst anemone!!!!!!! I was a bit timid to cut my first 1 but i said what the hell and did it! Any one who has had btas should be good at taking them off a rock, took me about 8 min and 15 min from start to finish cutting!
davocean
Active member
I've seen video done this way, and it does look simple, but even some so called experts have had it go wrong.
I personally would do the overfeed approach if I were really attached to it, as that does have the best success rate.
It just takes a little bit longer(and not really that long).
But I understand not all have the patience.
Good luck either way.
I personally would do the overfeed approach if I were really attached to it, as that does have the best success rate.
It just takes a little bit longer(and not really that long).
But I understand not all have the patience.
Good luck either way.
Mine is attached to a small rock, so I can take the rock out and get under the foot with my fingernail. Once you get a small portion of the foot loose, it's easy to peel off If not, an ice cube to the foot is supposed to work, although I've never tried it myself...<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14219032#post14219032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by klepto
thats cool- nice tank Charlie!
can you give any tips on how to safely take them off of rockwork? or post photos of your anemones during/after cutting?
much appreciated.
who knows- I wouldn't be surprised to find myself eager to start dicing my bta up here in a few weeks...
Phoenix19
New member
At the LFS I worked at I have to say one of the easiest ways to get a nem off of something is to put your hand in a bag and use your fingernails to carefully pull it back. The bag keeps your fingernails from tearing the nem. To date I haven't torn a foot yet, and I have bagged up condys, bubbles, long tentacles, sebeas and a few carpets. This method seems to work well for me and should for you (provided you have nails...lol).
I have also heard a piece of ice to the foot will cause it to let go. Credit Cards also work in much the same way as using your hand, but I feel you have a greater change of tearing the foot.
I always fluttered my hand at it to make it draw up as much as I could, so I could see the foot. Seems like when most of it has let go the rest of it gives up and follows suite.
I have also heard a piece of ice to the foot will cause it to let go. Credit Cards also work in much the same way as using your hand, but I feel you have a greater change of tearing the foot.
I always fluttered my hand at it to make it draw up as much as I could, so I could see the foot. Seems like when most of it has let go the rest of it gives up and follows suite.
jubjub
New member
dudeeeee seriously i would be insanely careful if you cut um, although what i read is that you slice them with a real sharp knife right through the middle of the mouth.....
now the warning part frag it outside in a bucket because when you cut them they release toxins to the water, which they will crash a tank. i've seen it happen. did that let the nems sit in the bucket for 2-3hrs next morning all of his fish were dead....
i found my old nem split when i changed bulbs from the 15k-10k bulbs if you have a spare set of bulbs laying around you might change them out for a while to get it to split on its own
now the warning part frag it outside in a bucket because when you cut them they release toxins to the water, which they will crash a tank. i've seen it happen. did that let the nems sit in the bucket for 2-3hrs next morning all of his fish were dead....
i found my old nem split when i changed bulbs from the 15k-10k bulbs if you have a spare set of bulbs laying around you might change them out for a while to get it to split on its own
zaraemna
Member
It seems to me like everyone who has actually cut one says it is easy and you won't have any problems. I think it is a good idea to keep it in a container for a few weeks to keep the clowns out of it while it heals. I don't think one anemone cut in half will release enough toxins to crash your tank either. If you are cutting 25 at a time then it might be a problem. It's a good idea to cut it and put in some tank water before putting it back in the tank. I would just put it in a large bowl of tank water in the sink after cutting it. Then, every so often dump some more tank water in the bowl so it over flows to dilute anything in the water released form the anemones. It will keep the water closer to the tank temp and dilute any toxins. Just be careful that the anemone doesn't float over the top of the bowl into the garbage disposal or you'll have to find your long tweezers to get him out
The advice of using a new razor blade from the mouth out seems to work well. Good luck. The hardest part will be getting it off the rock. The ice didn't work for me. I even made a whole tray of RO/DI popsicles and it didn't come off with the ice. Show us some pics and just cut it
To build your confidence. Quartered a small one to try it all 4 are alive today Didn't crash the tank.:eek1:
Edit: I don't recomend cutting yours into fourths. I did this as a test and the quarters are growing slowly.
The advice of using a new razor blade from the mouth out seems to work well. Good luck. The hardest part will be getting it off the rock. The ice didn't work for me. I even made a whole tray of RO/DI popsicles and it didn't come off with the ice. Show us some pics and just cut it
To build your confidence. Quartered a small one to try it all 4 are alive today Didn't crash the tank.:eek1:
Edit: I don't recomend cutting yours into fourths. I did this as a test and the quarters are growing slowly.
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