Anemone splitting.

[caferacermike]

Since my 2 maroons beat the snot out of their red tipped BTA and where pestering some baby neon green clones that had once been one larger piece that went through a powerhead, I got them a new BTA on Sunday. I got them the biggest SOB I could find. (Was kinda hoping it would eat the maroons, lol) This thing was huge. I'd say it was a ball about the size of a softball uninflated. On Monday it grew out massive and the clowns were happy as could be. On Tuesday it shrank to nothing and I thought they had already killed it. That evening it crawled out of the light and under a big ol rock. This morning all the tips were deflated and hanging like dead skin. Today I noticed I now have 2 big ol anemones with inflated tips.

Questions,

I've heard the anemones will split if aggrevated. Also have heard they will split when stressed.

Is it possible for one to split that quickly and for both pieces to be completely healed and in good health in about 24hours?

Do you think it split because it was stressed? Now that it split do you think it will calm down?

The dumb question, how likely is it that what looked like a huge ol anemone in the lfs was actually 2 anemones and they parted ways in the tank? Do you think that I and the lfs employee would have been fooled by this?

I just want one BTA that they don't smash to death.

[Instar]

Once they split there is a somewhat open scar for a while. In the case of 2 larger ones, the maroons should not be able to beat them to death because they have 2 to spread the pain to.

Most likely the split was because of a double water change. Shipped from the supplier to the LFS (change #1) and then to your tank (change #2). If it was 2 in the store, it would have fallen apart long before they had it in the bag.

Once they find their cave or ledge to extend from in an optimal current flow, they will stay put for a long time. I have a group of ultra rose colored ones, all tank raised in my system and they move around very little even after splitting. Since yours was not settled in yet, it could go either way as far as moving goes. That can start as soon as the split scar heals up pretty good. The mouth may not be migrated to the center before they start to move if they decide to. As long as they are large enough, get fed after healing and have the light necessary, they should not get smashed to death by the maroons

[Texreefer]

Larry i'm looking for an ultra rose colored bta.. where can i find one? all the real NICE rbtas seem to be "out of stock

[GaryP]

What Larry said ^^^^^. My anemones used to always split whenever I moved a tank. I used to do that a lot a few years ago as I was being transferred around fairly often. I started off with 3 anemones in the tank I bought. Before it was over I had close to 20. Of course I sold or traded most of them off. Whenever my LTA split, they would produce 3 clones. So, if 3 split, I would end up with 9.

[Instar]

I run across them now and then on a regular basis. I'll let you know when I do next time. Someday I may have some big ones to sell that are tank raised but that's going to be a while yet.