What to do with this behemoth

Leadfooted · Aug 20, 2019

I purchased this at my LFS when they appeared to be 3” diameter. I was hoping to keep it in this basket and allow It to split babies. Instead here we are about 2 months later and it’s grown massive, single tentacles reach out 9”! As you can see it’s totally outgrown the basket and no babies.

Since it has little room , will this prevent it from splitting??

I was hoping it would remain short bubble tentacle and smaller diameter but kiss that idea goodbye lol.

Katrina71 · Aug 20, 2019

What a beautiful nem!

mta_morrow · Aug 20, 2019

For me, feeding my rainbow nems makes them split. Started this with 1 the size of a quarter 16 months ago. I have 2 now as big as yours and I quit feeding them and no splits in 8 months.

Brew12 · Aug 20, 2019

Leadfooted said:
I purchased this at my LFS when they appeared to be 3” diameter. I was hoping to keep it in this basket and allow It to split babies. Instead here we are about 2 months later and it’s grown massive, single tentacles reach out 9”! As you can see it’s totally outgrown the basket and no babies.

Since it has little room , will this prevent it from splitting??

I was hoping it would remain short bubble tentacle and smaller diameter but kiss that idea goodbye lol.

It's an anemone. If you want it to split, it won't. If you want it to stay short it will get long and stringy. If you like where it stops it will move. If you put an expensive frag on the opposite side of the tank it will go after it like a heat seeking missile right before it b-lines for the powerhead.

BTA's are the rebellious teenager of the reefing world.

dantimdad · Aug 20, 2019

Split it yourself.

If you slice right through the center of the mouth in one swift motion, it will wrap back around and close back to a new mouth. This can be done again in a couple months.

Daniel@R2R · Aug 20, 2019

Leadfooted said:
I purchased this at my LFS when they appeared to be 3” diameter. I was hoping to keep it in this basket and allow It to split babies. Instead here we are about 2 months later and it’s grown massive, single tentacles reach out 9”! As you can see it’s totally outgrown the basket and no babies.

Since it has little room , will this prevent it from splitting??

I was hoping it would remain short bubble tentacle and smaller diameter but kiss that idea goodbye lol.

That's a really nice one!

Leadfooted · Aug 20, 2019

Thank you for all the feedback and jokes lol. I didn't know what I wanted to do with it or where I could keep it but I could't pass it up, colors are so intense and bright in person. I'll keep it for a bit more in hopes I can get one baby out of it for my DT, if not I'm afraid it'll end up in the selling forum.

BTW, It's totally the rebellious teenager, I added all kinds of rock to the basket so it would attached to rock right?? Wrong, it pushed through the rocks and attached firmly to the plastic basket lol.

FragileReefer · Aug 20, 2019

I've had my Rbtas for almost a year now and they have never split. They just get larger.

But I did just watch a YT video that someone used an mp40 in a similar size tank for 48 hours and had 2 splits. "Movie magic" aside I've always wondered what would happen if I increased the flow in my nano. I knew it would be a nem tank so I figured I wouldn't use a power head. And haven't had any problems.

But I feel like you might be in the same boat, low flow situation and no split. But we will see if I find a cheap powerhead one day I might give it a try.

Leadfooted · Aug 20, 2019

I think the conclusion is my Rainbow's just plain happy. @dantimdad , I think you're right, cutting it's going to be the only option but I can't bring myself to cut it. I think I'll sadly have to let this one go and maybe in the future a new build with room for it. It deserves a much larger home and a little clown family. Thanks ya'll

Peace River · Aug 20, 2019

Leadfooted said:
I think the conclusion is my Rainbow's just plain happy. @dantimdad , I think you're right, cutting it's going to be the only option but I can't bring myself to cut it. I think I'll sadly have to let this one go and maybe in the future a new build with room for it. It deserves a much larger home and a little clown family. Thanks ya'll

Whatever direction you decide to go, you have raised a stunning nem!!!

REEFer86 · Aug 20, 2019

Leadfooted said:
I purchased this at my LFS when they appeared to be 3” diameter. I was hoping to keep it in this basket and allow It to split babies. Instead here we are about 2 months later and it’s grown massive, single tentacles reach out 9”! As you can see it’s totally outgrown the basket and no babies.

Since it has little room , will this prevent it from splitting??

I was hoping it would remain short bubble tentacle and smaller diameter but kiss that idea goodbye lol.

What a beauty!

Drdrew99 · Aug 20, 2019

As mentioned by dantimdad earlier, a clean cut down the middle through the mouth works well. Check you videos online. Ryan at BRS has a good one. Good luck.