RBTA TOO BIG

[gavinz]

Hello all just wondering as to how I could help get my RBTA to split as it’s absolutely massive in my tank! It’s easily twice the size of my hand now. Any advice would be great! Also I know I’ve asked before but is this a rose or black widow??

 

[footgal]

Time to get out the scalpel and chop it! Right through the middle has worked best for me

 

[gavinz]

Time to get out the scalpel and chop it! Right through the middle has worked best for me

I thought they have to split on their own! I’m way to scared to start cutting lol

 

[Glenner’sreef]

I’m sure your lfs would trade it for a smaller one.

 

[gavinz]

I’m sure your lfs would trade it for a smaller one.

I’m sure they would too but I got this guy for $60 which is super cheap and I know they’d still give me less than that lol but I love this one it’s just too big for that spot so trying to get it to split to move the other half to the other side lol or put it in my new tank

 

[bradleym]

So this is the slow/safe way I do splits. Skip a couple water changes and then do a GIANT water change, at least 50% of the water in the tank. Usually either the high phosphates/nitrates will trigger it, or the sudden drop will. Works pretty well but not 100%.

 

[bradleym]

Also I know I’ve asked before but is this a rose or black widow??

Also, the black widow BTA will have evenly red-spotted tentacles, and a dark oral disc with a white "web". Here is a picture that shows an exceptional example of both:

 

[REEFER-RICK]

I thought they have to split on their own! I’m way to scared to start cutting lol

They do split on their own mostly when unhappy with flow.water or lighting as you have yours in a pot why move or split seems quite happy, you could move the pot out to the center of the tank and see what happens

 

[gavinz]

So this is the slow/safe way I do splits. Skip a couple water changes and then do a GIANT water change, at least 50% of the water in the tank. Usually either the high phosphates/nitrates will trigger it, or the sudden drop will. Works pretty well but not 100%.

I’ll definitely try that!

 

[gavinz]

Also, the black widow BTA will have evenly red-spotted tentacles, and a dark oral disc with a white "web". Here is a picture that shows an exceptional example of both:

View attachment 2634998

Dang was really hoping I got a huge black widow for $60 haha

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello all just wondering as to how I could help get my RBTA to split as it’s absolutely massive in my tank! It’s easily twice the size of my hand now. Any advice would be great! Also I know I’ve asked before but is this a rose or black widow??

View attachment 2634816 View attachment 2634817 View attachment 2634818 View attachment 2634819

Feed it daily. It will eventually want/need to split

 

[footgal]

Feed it daily. It will eventually want/need to split

This worked for me, I’d get splits about once a month consistently

 

[REEFER-RICK]

This worked for me, I’d get splits about once a month consistently

What do you feed them to make them split so fast?

 

[NowGlazeIT]

What do you feed them to make them split so fast?

Fed mine scallops and they split like weeds.

 

[footgal]

What do you feed them to make them split so fast?

Fish food or LPS coral pellets. Anything edible will work lol just make sure it’s not too big (they can choke) but I don’t think you’re gonna have that problem

 

[Sink_or_Swim]

I thought they have to split on their own! I’m way to scared to start cutting lol

I've heard feeding them helps them split. But I don't have personal experience with BTA's. A friend's has split like 10 times and he feeds them a piece of shrimp once a week.

 

[Ian_B]

I accidentally split mine when I was transferring it to a new tank. I thought the foot was only on one rock but it was also on another rock slightly. When I picked up the rock, it tore a strip off the side. The main anemone looked terrible for a day or two but then healed up and was fine. The little bit of anemone goo on the other rock slowly grew into a new baby anemone over a couple weeks and now I’ve got 2! I thought for sure I killed it, but they did just fine.

 

[exnisstech]

Mine never split when I want them too lol. I have nice red one that I've had for a few years that refused to split. My normal looking rose colored ones split a lot. At one point I went from 6 to 40. Single pair of cinnamon clowns were in heaven.

 

[Arthur_Dent]

I have the opposite problem. Mine won't stop splitting.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I agree on the feeding. Mine do if we’ll fed.