Heteractis magnifica splitting?

[Cprowler]

I've noticed that my Ritteri seems to be splitting over the last couple of days. It has split apart on the left side so it is in the shape of a backwards letter "C", it split right down the middle so half the mouth is on each side. It looks like a mouth is forming on both sides and I'm guessing when they do it will complete the spit.

Or it's not splitting and it's dieing.

 

[maxxII]

Looks like its splitting to me. Tentacles still look healthy.

Nick

 

[Cprowler]

I hope it's ok, unless I'm mistaken they only split if they are stressed.

Has yours ever split or have you seen one split?

 

[elegance coral]

Man, that is a beautiful mag! I don't see anything wrong with it. They don't have to be stressed to split. Looks to me like you're about to be the proud owner of two healthy mags. I hate you! LOL.

 

[OrionN]

It happened to me also. You will have to help him along to finish the split.
What I did was pacing a loop of rubber band where the anemone should split and put pressure on it with tension. This complete the split and both babies did well.
If you do not see progress after a day or two, you should help it along some how.

 

[Flighty]

scissors work great to do a quick cut and get it over with, But I can't say if letting it go on its own or cutting is better. I have only cut ones that showed no signs of splitting on their own.

 

[garygb]

Yes it is splitting and I wouldn't help it along. I have two that split a couple of years ago and I just let them do it naturally. It took 12 or 14 hours for the split to complete.

 

[Cprowler]

well after looking at it this morning with a flashlight it has not changed, It's been like that for going on three days.

I'm hesitant to help it, I'll just keep a eye on it for now.

I have had it for 4 1/2 years three of them in my 120g and originally in my 40g Long. There is more info in my build thread if anyone is interested.

I'm going to keep taking pics and will post them, hopefully it makes up its mind.

 

[tufacody]

How long have you had it?

Just a comment, but from that one pic it doesn't look like the mag has anywhere to go - just a lone rock in the sand. It could just be trying to spread itself out more. I'd add some more rocks around it. Mags usually like to climb to the high point.

 

[garygb]

Cprowler wrote: "I have had it for 4 1/2 years"

Yeah, even though mine split more quickly than yours is, I wouldn't recommend "helping it along." I once had a RBTA that took a week for the last connecting thread of flesh to break.

As an aside, I think BTAs are the most similar of the host anemones to H. magnifica, and I question the accuracy of their taxonomic classification in Heteractis-- which would suggest mags are more closely related to crispa and aurora.

 

[Cprowler]

It's been on that rock for three years, I have it that way to keep it from roaming and killing my SPS.

I'm fairly certain that this is all a result of poor water quality, I had a few issues recently which I believe I have rectified.

I forgot to mention that it has a 400w 10k XM right above it that is 9 months old. Their is also a batch of clown eggs right under the foot on the side that has not finished splitting.

 

[garygb]

When mine split, in each case the anemones pulled to opposite sides of the live rock and remained there. I didn't begin feeding until maybe 2 weeks or so after the split.

 

[Cprowler]

Here is a FTS from a couple month ago before my issues.

 

[garygb]

Beautiful tank. Did you say what your issues.

 

[maxxII]

BTA's are prone to splitting when stressed, I have not read of similar situations w/ H.magnifica's. Mine has not split and I've had it for not quite 3 years, but it's also not as large as yours is.

Did you lose corals during your water quality issues? I went through an algae explosion brought on by excess nutrients in the tank, (two stupid things occurring simultaneously, both my fault.) I had acros brown out, and recede from the base, but my H.magnifica didnt miss a beat. I dont think stress is causing the split here.

Nick

 

[Cprowler]

I lost the green cap pictured above, some tips bleached also on a few others and the brown out you mentioned also.

They are coloring up nice now and I think things are stabilized for now.

I haven't seen you in my thread for a while, if anyone wants to see my issues and see how I'm moving forward check it out. click my little red house.

Thanks for everyone's help, I wanted to confirm that it was splitting. If anyone wants to see my issues and how I'm addressing them check out my thread and participate if you want.

Thanks again, I will post pics of it spitting to finalize the thread, if it ever happens.

 

[Cprowler]

well no new news on the split. It still has not completed the split and the mouths on each side have not healed any. It looks quite healthy as far as I can tell, it's fully inflated to 14" across and about 10" tall.

I just took this.

 

[OrionN]

It is possible that your rock is not big enough. When mine split, it put itself apart by moving away from each other. It seem like your rock is so small that it was not able to do this. I would help it along if it is not able to complete the split by itself.

 

[garygb]

Maybe the recommendation to help it out is a good one. I would probably still give it a few more days myself. But, others have successfully fragged this species and yours looks healthy, so I'm sure it would be fine whatever you decide to do.

 

[tufacody]

Gary: was yours such a beauty from the start? Seems like mine struggle a long time. The one I have now looks great one day and terrible the next, but it is only a month old. I can't seem to get it to stabilize. When its inflated it looks much like yours. How often do you feed it? I'd love to see a video of you feeding it.

Can't hurt to throw another rock beside it and see what happens.