RBTA Splitting question

[Bobby A.]

So about a month ago I picked up a RBTA and a pair of clowns that were hosting it (who 45mins after they went in the tank decided they wanted to host my return line instead and have not gone back to the RBTA) Anyway, I placed it in a spot about half way up with good flow under LEDs. It never moved I took this as a win because how often do they ever stay exactly where you want them. It has been happy. some days it has bubbles some days not. I feed it krill a couple times a week. Then today I noticed it split... has anyone experienced them splitting within a month of being in a tank? I have read that they split pretty frequently when they are happy but have also read (somewhere) that they can split when not happy. Is this true? tank paramaters are pretty perfect. SPSs and LPS corals in the tank grow and do awesome. It has looked happy so im assuming it split because of that. Next question is how do I get the extra one off the rock because I dont have room for two? and how long should I let it "heal" before I try to remove it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[bjledbetter]

Splitting after being moved is fairly common due to stress. If your water parameters are good the splits should be fine. As for splitting happening regular there are a few thoughts on that. One is that there are two types of bta. One that stays small 3-5" and splits on a regular basis and one that will grow 10-12" and then split into 2 or 3 or may never split at all. I would recommend letting it heal for a couple weeks before trying to remove it to avoid any more stress. Ice applied to the foot will make it let go. or try directing a power head toward it to make it release from the rock

 

[Bobby A.]

Would it have still been stressed enough to split after a month of being in the tank? It never moved to a new spot so I figured it was happy. I also know that BTAs have some of the less potent stings the new spilt is touching a branching Hydnophora (which I know has a strong sting) the hydnophora so far doesnt look bothered but will it sting the RBTA?

 

[bjledbetter]

If the bta is getting stung it will move on its own. I'd be more afraid of it stinging the hydno. Even thought they have a weaker sting they can still pack a punch to other corals that get in their way. If they arn't bothering each other i'd leave them alone and if they do move the hydno because if you make the bta mad it may start to wander around your tank causing even more problems. Generally splitting occurs due to stress on the nem but if its been in there that long it may have just decided to split for who knows why. Did you do a big water change or change anything drastically in the tank right before the split?

 

[Bobby A.]

No. no big water changes. I have a regular routine that I do consistantly. The tank is a Biocube 29 with AI nano LEDs. I drip Kalk every night for top off. I do weekly 5 gallon waterchanges. I feed the tank every two days. Main water movement is a MP10 at 80% on Lagoon mode. I have a Tunze 9004 skimmer in a sump with a small refugium. The tank is almost a year old. The Hydno doesnt look ****ed and the "split" RBTA was still in the same position this morning and looks like it is almost a full circle again. But I will move the Hydno when I get home this evening.