Splitting a RBTA possible?

[GentleMinh]

was wondering if anyone knows if taking out a rtba and using a butcher knife to cut it in half. will it work? i mean will it survive and heal? my rbta is 9 inches when open and is too big for my tank. anyone?

 

[skeletor121]

According to the FAQ, it is possible, but should only be done by those who have thoroughly researched the process.
They also state there are other ways to induce it into splitting. I think it would be wiser to try the other, non-life threatening procedures. I personally think cutting the anemone would kill it, but that is just my $.02 since I do not have first hand experience with that.

 

[dc]

Just buy a bigger tank. I know people do it, but I'm not sure I would. I've read here that a 50% water change will generally induce a split.

 

[NirvanaFan]

My green BTA is getting to be 8 inches when he's inflated. I've researched on how to cut them a lot recently. Here are a few links that are pretty good.
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic30156-13-1.aspx
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic24714-13-1.aspx

The second link is just a page with a bunch of links on it. It has to do with anemones in general (acclimating, feeding, etc) but there is a lot of info there about propagating them.
Once I get my other frag tank set up, I'm going to be fragging mine.

 

[GentleMinh]

well i really dont want to kill it and don't have the guts to try it. i bought one for my gf but it did not make it .. i think it was too small. i dont want to fork out more money so i thought about splitting mine. thanks for the great info guys.

 

[puter]

Manually propagating E. quadricolor anemones by cutting them in half is a very effective way to propagate these anemones. However, you'll find that most of us who do this have purpose specific systems setup just for propagating these anemones. Only healthy, well conditioned anemones that have been in captivity for many months/years are propagated. Only clones of one anemone are housed together, with no other livestock except, perhaps, a cleaning crew. The systems are designed to facilitate easy removal of anemones from the tank without risking damage to their pedal disc.

In short, there's a big difference between yanking an anemone out of your tank and cutting it in half, and what's being done by most folks who are serious about propagating these anemones and who strive to provide the systems and conditions that will maximize the chance of success.

So, to answer your question, "Will it work?". Yes, if you have a healthy, well conditioned anemone, it very likely will. Would I recommend you pull an anemone from your display tank, cut it in half and then dump it back in? In a word: no.

Mark

 

[GentleMinh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12534886#post12534886 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puter
Manually propagating E. quadricolor anemones by cutting them in half is a very effective way to propagate these anemones. However, you'll find that most of us who do this have purpose specific systems setup just for propagating these anemones. Only healthy, well conditioned anemones that have been in captivity for many months/years are propagated. Only clones of one anemone are housed together, with no other livestock except, perhaps, a cleaning crew. The systems are designed to facilitate easy removal of anemones from the tank without risking damage to their pedal disc.

In short, there's a big difference between yanking an anemone out of your tank and cutting it in half, and what's being done by most folks who are serious about propagating these anemones and who strive to provide the systems and conditions that will maximize the chance of success.

So, to answer your question, "Will it work?". Yes, if you have a healthy, well conditioned anemone, it very likely will. Would I recommend you pull an anemone from your display tank, cut it in half and then dump it back in? In a word: no.

Mark

Thanks Mark for your input. i think i will just let it split on its on. i dont want to lose any of my other corals or to even lose the anemone.

 

[Slakker]

Has anyone seen RedSonja around lately? I know she does (or used to) a LOT of BTA "fragging," had quite an impressive setup and had plenty of successful cuts, and was happy to talk about her methods and whatnot.

Maybe look her up and see if she has any advice for you.

 

[GentleMinh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12551798#post12551798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Slakker
Has anyone seen RedSonja around lately? I know she does (or used to) a LOT of BTA "fragging," had quite an impressive setup and had plenty of successful cuts, and was happy to talk about her methods and whatnot.

Maybe look her up and see if she has any advice for you.

thanks Tyler

 

[andygb54303]

well said mark

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12534886#post12534886 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by puter
Manually propagating E. quadricolor anemones by cutting them in half is a very effective way to propagate these anemones. However, you'll find that most of us who do this have purpose specific systems setup just for propagating these anemones. Only healthy, well conditioned anemones that have been in captivity for many months/years are propagated. Only clones of one anemone are housed together, with no other livestock except, perhaps, a cleaning crew. The systems are designed to facilitate easy removal of anemones from the tank without risking damage to their pedal disc.

In short, there's a big difference between yanking an anemone out of your tank and cutting it in half, and what's being done by most folks who are serious about propagating these anemones and who strive to provide the systems and conditions that will maximize the chance of success.

So, to answer your question, "Will it work?". Yes, if you have a healthy, well conditioned anemone, it very likely will. Would I recommend you pull an anemone from your display tank, cut it in half and then dump it back in? In a word: no.

Mark

 

[2OceanLovers]

I had a GBTA that was a split. When I went to move him, he was attached to 2 different rocks and it ripped straight through the mouth. In about 2 weeks of some tlc, I had two healthy anemonies.

 

[d-maz]

I talked to a guy this weekend that takes a razor blade and slices his right down the middle. He says they just heal up.