How do you know if a BTA is the splitting type?

[cherubfish pair]

How do you know if a BTA is the splitting type?

Aren't there splitting types and nonsplitting types? And how do you tell which is which?

 

[AquaReeferMan]

As far as I know they all split.

 

[gimmito]

If you get one that has split already in a tank most likely it will split in yours. My rbta split in a matter of months after I got mine from a fellow hobbyist.

 

[phender]

"In general", the BTAs that come in small sizes tend to split. The ones that are bigger (> 6") tend not to.
All of them can, but shallow water BTAs tend to split and live in large colonies rather than grow large and live alone.

There is no physical way to tell them apart, but if your LFS brings in several BTAs that are the same color, chances are they are splitters. It they have one large one with unique color, chances are it is not.