Encourage BTA to split

[ruppertb]

I have a 30gaL plumbed into my main system, it houses a pair of clowns and 4 bta's one is the size of a large dinner plate and i would like to encourage him to split, any techniques. I have seen a guy take a knife to one but i dont really want to resort to that.

Any help would be wonderful

 

[FOO-CAT]

I've "heard" feed the heck out of it and large water changes will encourage them to split. ??

 

[FishBeard]

Easiest method would be to just cut it. One that big will be a very easy first time for you to learn with. Just the fact you want it to split means it will be stubborn and defiant. They can read minds you know...

 

[skinz78]

It was probably me who you saw cut one, I posted a vid a while back. I've also heard that if you stress them with different direct water flow patterns they may split.

 

[Mike&Terry]

for what it's worth, and I am certainly no expert, our rbta has split on 3 occasions when we pulled the rock it was on out of the water. It was only out of the water briefly each time and it actually split into 3 after two of those instances.

-Terry

 

[emerald525]

The only time I have had my rbtas split is during a tank move when I have moved them out of the water so you have a good point there Terry.

 

[typicaltony]

any major stressing events will do

 

[emerald525]

any major stressing events will do

Yes this is true. It is a survival mechanism. I just personally don't like stressing them out so I have not tried any of them.

 

[longbeachstateofmind]

try feeding heavy :}

 

[wysiwyg]

heavy feeding stressing them and cutting hem are the only methods i have heard to make them split

 

[303travism]

I split mine by accident I used to keep my water in my garage and I would bring it in and let it warm up before I did a water change I didn't allow it to warm up enough did the water change and woke up the next morning with 3 nems!