What a scary suprise this morning.....

[cainchristy]

Got up to find my beautiful RBTA doing this:

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I am a bit freaked out, I guess. Don't know what brought this on, either....I ran a quick test of the tank, and all parameters were top notch. Here was the tank before the split:

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Just wanted to share my freaking out with you guys....I'm scared to death!!:eek1:

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I wouldn't worry about it. That's just what they do. E. quadricolor tends to split often.

 

[cainchristy]

Thanks Travis. It just flipped me out. I've read that anemones will tend to split if something is wrong in the tank. I freaked out a bit thinking something was amiss.

 

[MaryBebo]

Looks like the clowns may have split up too...LOL

 

[cainchristy]

I thought that was a cute shot, to each his own anemone. I don't think either one can make up their mind on which half of which anemone they want in.

 

[6Speed]

My LTA split when I moved it from one tank to another. I guess the stress of the move?

 

[Mariner]

There was a TOTM awhile back that was nothing but RBTA's. It was beautiful. I think the guy said that he just started with one or two RBTA's and they kept on dividing, taking out corals, moving and spreading until they conquered his entire tank. :eek1:
I know that you've seen how Xenia can spread, and apparently RBTA's can do something similar once they get going -- the difference being that Xenia doesn't sting it's neighbors to death.
BTW, your tank is GEORGEOUS!
Mariner

 

[cainchristy]

Thanks Mariner. Yes, I have seen how Xenia spreads. Remember those 2 heads I bought from you at the Nashville frag swap?? I've taken out 20 heads, and now I need to do it again. However, all NON Reefers LOVE it. They think it's the coolest thing in the tank. How do you keep yours under control?

I did happen to read that guys article. I plan on keeping ONLY 1 RBTA in there. I like the diversity of different things in the tank.

 

[andyjd]

I'd love to take one of those of your hands!

 

[cainchristy]

Sorry, Andyjd, I have already offered it to one of my friends. I'm sure it will split again, though. I'll try to remember you on future clones, or if my friend decides not to take it.

 

[andyjd]

Ok no worries.

 

[Mariner]

Christy,
In my limited experience, Xenia only spread or move upward. When they get to the top of a rock, and there's nothing higher in reach, they stop. Sooo... I've put mine on the top of rocks to begin with. It seems to contain them pretty well, and I only have to thin them out once or twice a year.
FWIW,
Mariner

 

[cainchristy]

Ahh, that is my problem then. I placed mine closer to the bottom, and it splits and walks, splits and walks, etccccccc.... I do think it's pretty, just wish it would stay in one spot! I've let some get to the top, so I may remove all the lower pieces. Thanks Mariner!!

 

[Tomoko Schum]

I don't know how easy it is to remove xenia... Any sliver of tissue left behind grows new heads! Some people cover the remaining tissue up with a blob of Aqua Mend. I suppose Kalkwasser paste may work. I need to thin my pink pom pom xenia, too.

Tomoko

 

[cainchristy]

I know what you are talking about, too, Tomoko......the last time I removed it, it was smothering the acropora. I used a razor blade, and picked at the "foot" till I could get my fingernail under it. It was fairly easy to work the foot off that way, but in some spots, I had a hard time "starting" a loose spot, and left tiny, tiny dots....I can see little, tiny Xenia popping up out of those spots. I hope it is going to take them a long time to grow.......HOPING.

 

[scothew]

What Mariner said has worked for me. I put the few stalks I had on a rock that stuck out into the center of my tank like a tree branch sort of. They worked thier way to the peak of the branch and onto the other sides. Now I have about 30 bright pink stalks that make a great looking center attraction in my tank and so far i've never had to thin them out.


Christy, do you have any problems with your yellowtail damsel being agressive towards your clowns?

 

[Tomoko Schum]

When I cut off the heads of my pink pom pom xenia, a few dropped behind rocks and I could not retrieve them. From there they spread

Tomoko

 

[Mariner]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7737531#post7737531 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tomoko Schum
When I cut off the heads of my pink pom pom xenia
Tomoko

OK gang, which character in "Alice in Wonderland" does Tomoko most resemble?
:lol:

 

[cainchristy]

The Queen!! LOL! Off with their heads, off with their heads! Sorry, it's late and that struck me as very funny~ I apologize....it's late!!

scothew, As for the damsel, every once in a while he will wander over to the anemone and do his little "rooster dance", but the larger clown comes down and smacks him into place....I love it! If I ever catch that annoying little damsel, I'm heading straight to John Newbies and begging him to take it! That annoying little fish bites my arm EVERY time I stick it in the tank, which ends with me jumping and splashing water all over the floor!

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Cute, Mariner, cute.
I gotta be careful with what I say with this group. We got people with wild imagination here.

Tomoko