BTA split in half?!?!

[k9cop1512]

Hello, Strange thing happened. Purchased a green BTA this week from LFS. Appox 5", larger when fully opened. Put it in the tank, was fine first day. Next morning I noticed it was trying to go behind my live rock through a 2" opening, it was more than 1/2 way through by this point. Well, I left it to do its thing and last night I found that somehow it split into 2 pieces?!!? One half is on one side of the rock and the other is on the other side. Both pieces still have the buble tips inflated and both their feet look to be attached to the rock.

Should I be concerned....Will it die? Does this happen often or is it rare?

Tim P.

 

[rcastreje]

It is my understanding (from what I have read here) that it is common for BTAs to split when under stress.

Since this is common, your 2 halves should recover (given a suitable recovery enviroment).

Note: This comming from the guy who does not own an Anemone yet.

-Cheers

 

[Anemone]

BTAs often split, both in captivity and the wild. As rcastreje said, if you have a good environment, it's not a big deal and both halves should recover fully.

Kevin

 

[55semireef]

Very common.

 

[Ebisan]

It's normal. I've read they will split under stress or when big and happy. From my single rbta which was the size of a half dollar, I now have 6 in a little over 2 years. I'm worried if it splits more because I'm out of room.

 

[k9cop1512]

Thanks for the replys...For those of you who have wrote that you had some split, I've read that a water change the day after is a good thing to do...I did about a 40% H2O change about 4 days before putting him in...Is it really essential to do another change right away? Have you done that or got away with not doing it and still had fine results?

Do most BTA's like come out of hiding after they heal....I'm really hoping both pieces come out for show when they're done healing!

Tim P

 

[apayne]

Google:
karens rose anemones
i do not have the link, but that page has tons of info on btas

Good luck
Aaron

 

[apayne]

http://www.karensroseanemones.com/

Here it is

Aaron

 

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10160838#post10160838 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by k9cop1512
Thanks for the replys...For those of you who have wrote that you had some split, I've read that a water change the day after is a good thing to do...I did about a 40% H2O change about 4 days before putting him in...Is it really essential to do another change right away? Have you done that or got away with not doing it and still had fine results?

Do most BTA's like come out of hiding after they heal....I'm really hoping both pieces come out for show when they're done healing!

Tim P

Wait a second, did you have the BTA at the time when you did the 40 percent water change? If that's the case, most likely that is the primary reason why your BTA split. A 40 percent water change is a big water change and that could have caused your BTA to stress out thus causing it to split.

Since you recently just did a major water change, I would just run some carbon and if you already are, replace it with a new batch. Wait about a week for your BTAs to heal themselves and then try and feed them.

 

[k9cop1512]

H2O change THEN 4 days later got the BTA, been about 5 days since I put him in, Split 2 1/2days ago.

 

[55semireef]

Still, I believe the move from the LFS to your tank still caused it to stress out to split. Like I said, run some carbon and wait about a week for them to heal.

How are they looking today?