Yay! My RBTA is splitting!!!

[AliKat]

Just had to share in my excitement! Although I guess this means I have to make another big water change, doesn't it?

 

[sprinj76]

I'm not sure about the water change (as I hardly know anything about nems) but I wish you luck with it and would love to see pictures!

 

[AliKat]

I sure wish I could take a picture. I can't figure out how to turn the flash off on this stupid camera!

Thanks for the good wishes.

 

[Lance M.]

I don't think in this case your rbta is splitting becuase it's healthy but because it's been stressed thoughout this past week. Did you get your water params back to normal?

 

[AliKat]

I'd agree with you. I'm just glad it's splitting because it's my first RBTA split. It's kind of like being a grandparent, I guess.

My water params were back in check earlier, although nitrates and phosphates are still a problem. I'm getting a phosphate reactor in the next couple of days and am setting up a refugium that will hopefully help with the nitrates. Other than that, lowering feeding, and water changes, I don't know what I can do to get nitrates in check. Any ideas?

Will I need to do a water change tomorrow because of the RBTA split?

 

[Lance M.]

No don't need to change the water. When they split they keep all their internal organs enclosed so nothing (that I am aware of) is released into the water.

What are the Nitrates at? If it's around 10ppm that's ok. If it's higher I would suggest some more water changes. Also, how old is the test kit your using?

 

[Slakker]

The water change isn't so much about removing what could be released by the anemone, but about removing some waste and nitrates and generally all of the stuff we do water changes to get rid of so that the anemone has a cleaner tank to heal up in. Many anemone keepers suggest that this increases the chances of both halves healing successfully and without infection.

I'd do one.

 

[AliKat]

I think I'll do one just to make sure, but I won't do the huge water changes I've been doing. I'm worried about the stress on the corals. Twice this week I've done 50% water changes.

Lance, the test kit I'm using is brand new. Well, not brand new, but about a month old.

 

[Reefvette]

Splitting

Splitting

I know how you feel.

Mine just split it was 12 - 14 inches.

Bad news splitting is not good and i feel terrible that mine did split.

I went to clean out my skimmer early in the morning and i must have stressed it and when i got home there was two..

Its a good think but its better thing if you can them to live two years like mine and only split once. 12 -14 inchs when the MH lights is much better then two from a split and leads to a much happier Nem.

Also be fair in your pricing if you sell the split and make sure it goes to a good home.

In soon enough time RBTAs will not need to be taken from the ocean if everyone can keep their health because they are tank raised.

 

[AliKat]

The funny thing is that the new guy is actually where I was trying to encourage the mother nem to move. Hopefully, the mother will move out where I can get some food to her.

Also, it looks like they might be splitting again. Should be interesting to see.

 

[dc]

LOL, just put electrical tape over the flash if you don't want to use it. My anemone and it's split are so close together I didn't even notice it split.

 

[Lance M.]

Um that's not a good thing if they are going to split again. Check your water again to see if there is an irritant.

A guy that works at my lfs told me about his rbta. One day he came home and it had split in two. So he was happy. Then about two days later it split again, so there where four. Then a couple days later they split again, there where like 7. And they continued until they no longer existed. I don't think you want that .

 

[AliKat]

Actually, it appears I was wrong. Newbie mistake. I wasn't thinking that they were probably healing from where they split at the mouth. That's what gave them the funny shape.

 

[AliKat]

BTW, just did yet another water change. Bought 30 gallons of boxed ocean water and changed out some water. I can't believe I've done that many changes in a week!

Also getting a phosphate reactor tomorrow, so hopefully that will help. Any guess how long it will take before I see some results?

 

[Slakker]

Re: Splitting

Re: Splitting

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11006137#post11006137 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefvette
Bad news splitting is not good and i feel terrible that mine did split.

Splitting isn't ALWAYS bad. It doesn't mean you're taking bad care of your anemone or that it's unhealthy, it's just usually triggered by something that annoys it.