Anenome split?? Not sure

[Coralgurl]

Last pic is the original nem. First pics are the mass, photobucket crashed during upload so can't show where the tentacles are coming out, but they are on the bottom.

[fishoholic]

Not sure if this is the case but I have had my nem trick me before. My nem has been divided between two rocks (totally looking like it had split) only to move up to one rock when the lights came on showing that it was just spread far apart between the rocks and not actually split.

[Coralgurl]

There's 2 completely separate bases or feet for each and they are not at all attached. I've been wanting it to split so I'm happy!

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

There's 2 completely separate bases or feet for each and they are not at all attached. I've been wanting it to split so I'm happy!

That's great, mine tricked me by making it look like there was 2 separate feet, for a solid week. Had me fooled to the point that I offered my "split" to a friend. Thankfully she didn't want it, since 2 days later I discovered it never really split in the first place.

[Madreefer]

So what causes anemones to split? Does anyone have the real answer other than just a guess?

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by Madreefer

So what causes anemones to split? Does anyone have the real answer other than just a guess?

This site has lots of anemone info http://www.chucksaddiction.com/anemone.html

This is what it says about splitting:

Propagating Anemone - While anecdotal, it may still be a valid observation that if you want your anemone to split or reproduce, frequent water changes along with target feeding the anemone every 3 to 4 days seems to induce the anemone to split (clone). This makes sense to me since for any animal to have the energy to reproduce, it must have the protein available. I also believe that the better water quality and the abundant food cues the anemone that it is in a very suitable environment capable of supporting more anemone like itself, a kind of trigger if you will.

[Madreefer]

Thanks Laurie. I guess i'll continue doing the things I do as I dont want mine to split.

[brotherd]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

Last pic is the original nem. First pics are the mass, photobucket crashed during upload so can't show where the tentacles are coming out, but they are on the bottom.

That is very cool!

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

Well now I'm just not sure. This morning there were 2 distinct separate anenomes. One on the bottom, one just above. Both had tentacles. Now the bottom one is tight against the rock and I'm wondering if there's a hole that it squished itself through. Guess I will have to wait until the lights turn off now.....

That's exactly what mine did, it wedged itself between two rocks so 3/4 showed on one side and 1/4 showed through a tiny opening on the other side. The rest was on the bottom of the rocks, under the middle part where you couldn't see it, making it look like there was two fully separated nems instead of one.

[mike31154]

The GBTA in my tank has split a number of times. I've also inadvertently torn one clone in half trying to get it out to pass on to another hobbyist. Unfortunately, the larger piece I gave him didn't make it, but the sorry remains of a piece that was stuck deep in a hole in my tank did! Quite amazing creatures.

I've found the time to split has varied considerably when mine has gone thru the process. Similar to what you may be experiencing, mine actually did tear itself nearly in half only to put itself back together. I swear there was only a small string still holding the two parts together & the next day it closed up on itself again. The mouth had been totally torn apart & it looked like a horseshoe. A few photos follow, not the greatest but I think you get the idea of how far it had gone before reversing the process. It then stayed normal for months before finally completing a split.

Should be able to see the foot at top left, bottom right fairly well here. It really anchors the opposite sides in order to tear itself in half.


Mrs. Maroon is wondering what's up. Have to say she was patient about the whole thing though.


Ya, not the greatest photo, but you can sort of see the horseshoe shape here. The open part of the horseshoe is what used to be the mouth.