manually splitting BTA?

[Jay Fortay]

how is it done. I have seen lots of people say they are scared to do it but is it possible? Mine is getting to be over ten inches across, and I would like to move some of it if possible.

 

[Slakker]

Basic procedure is to remove it from the tank, cut it directly down the middle with a sharp razor blade, and give it time to heal up.

It's a bit more involved than that, but that's the gist. Used to be a member on here named RedSonja that had a little BTA "fragging" operation, if she's still around maybe she can give you better information. You might even be able to find one of her old threads discussing it.

 

[reefusaca]

You just cut in right in the middle. If your tank is good, it'll heal very fast.

 

[WrinkleFreeZone]

They'll do fine with the razor method as long as they don't get an infection. Make sure your water parameters are spot on and you'll be ok.
-B

 

[jubjub]

ok i dont wanna be the bad guy here...but take on routes of stressing it and making it self split ...point a powerhead at it or do some big water changes....if you dont let the nem heal up enough before putting it in the tank the toxic stuff thats in a nem will wipe your fish tank out really fast...i've heard of it happening.... also try over feeding it i heard works to..although it didnt work for me

 

[LandLockedReef]

Im no expert in anemones by any stretch of the imagination but I've had 6 successful manual "splits". I removed the anemone from the tank, placed it on a plastic cutting board and took a fresh razor blade and just sliced down the exact middle (making sure to have equal portions of the mouth on each half). After that I placed the cut halves in a bucket of my tank water and let them "ooze" for 30-45min. Once done oozing I put them in a confined area in my tank so the clowns and other critters don't harass them while they heal up. A week or so after that I check to see if they look well and healed up then trade them or put them back in the tank.

Should also add that I've had them split on their own 3 times now as well by feeding them excessively. Less frequent splits then id like but more on the safe side.

Hope this helped

 

[Lmecher]

One of my roses just split today, woo hoo!
I agree to let them do it on their own, it would be a shame to loose one. : )

 

[kindafun]

Here's our experience on a site I was creating (not quite done but it could be cool). It's easy (on humans), goes very quickly, and has turned out well for us and multiplied the anemones. It takes a little fortitude to do it, one could certainly argue that the anemones don't like it.

Cutting an anemone

 

[Jay Fortay]

thanks for the responses. There are quite a few good videos on YouTube.

 

[baldomero]

that looks terrible i have 3 in my tank and i would never attempt to cut them in half how would u like to have your b**ls cut in half just my opinion

 

[Lmecher]

Funny, guys always go there. (assuming you are a guy baldomero)I would have to disagree, I watched as my mother-in-law's pony was gelded, much worse surgery. I do agree I would feel terrible cutting one of these beauties in half.

 

[kindafun]

Tank propagation is much preferred to ocean harvesting. They are a very simple creature.

 

[LandLockedReef]

Anemones have an incredibly primitive nervous system and feel little to nothing while being split. There isn't much to these creatures. The vast majority of its make up is water. They don't have a brain, they don't have a central nervous system, their muscles arn't even considered to be "real muscles" because of how underdeveloped they are.

How is splitting anemones different from breaking off a "chunk" of your sps colony? Or slicing off a few zoas to frag them? Wild collection of fish, corals, and anemones are responsible for destroying many of our ocean's reefs. Coral propagation (and anemone splitting) reduce the demand fishermen have to collect these specimens in the wild. By reducing the collection we are saving the reefs and in many cases the species itself.

I don't understand the negative connotation associated with anemone splitting.

 

[Jay Fortay]

+1 on that one. To do it for me seems to risky(given my current tanks size),but if you feel that you have a good chance of being successful, then go for it. I am all about conservation through aquaculture.

 

[goldenmacman]

ive seen it done with a simple razor blade, but i wouldnt dare to do it..if your going to just get the mouth in both pieces like you would a coral!

 

[FOSELONE]

why not just let it do its thing on its own...then you keep the clone & sell the other...

 

[kindafun]

That's true. The rate that we've seen them split in our tank has been about once a year.

It's the same thing when people make fragments of their SPS colonies, only worse from the point of view that damage may occur. When you frag an SPS colony some of the individual animals, part of the colony, are killed where breaks are made. So, one could argue that we shouldn't do that, it kills animals. However, taking them from a reef is certainly worse, a higher opportunity for loss, plus the removal from a reef and the collateral damage that occurs there too.

We believe it's best to culture these animals in tanks. SPS, LPS, mushrooms, anemones, etc. The demand is certainly there so if it isn't filled by people who culture, it will be filled from the ocean. A worse choice from my point of view.