My BTA finally split! Now when can I feed them?

[todd22]

In my previous posts I was a large supporter of light as the main food for BTA's. I had great success for around 6 monthes or so it seemed with not target feeding my prized rose bta and boasted about my success. Since then my anemone began to wander the tank constantly and began losing size rapidly. I gave a second thought and read a number of posts that promote frequent feeding as a necissary condition for bta's and decided to give it a shot. Well I was glad to see my anemone had started to stay put and after a few weeks started to gain some size, after I began feeding. A few weeks later I went to the fish store and bought my anemone some krill, squid, and brine that I decided I would mix up its diet. Sure enough almost immediately after feeding it a little squid I saw the foot start to spread across the rock it was attached to and slowly move in opposite directions. After some wandering, it split. Both anemones are looking great, but they seem to be uninterested in food. I am now a beleiver in the many that suggest in feeding bta's, and am curious how long until the recent splits will accept more food?

 

[Anemone]

IME, it usually takes at least a couple of weeks for the anemone to be able to accept food - it needs to reform its mouth (ripped in half in the split). Offer a piece of krill every few days - you'll know when the anem is ready again when it grabs the krill and swallows - then it's back to feeding as usual.

Kevin

 

[Shamrock317]

Dr.G - I just loged on to ask the same question.
I have a BTA that split about 11 months ago after it was in my tank for about a month. I think this split wasa due to stress as it was bleached out. Well after settling down and getting their color back, I decided to ive them a "treat" of fresh shrimp (the cocktail variety). Within two weeks, both BTAs have split. All four look godd and healthy. Its been one week since they split, and I was wondering the same thing. I dont think I fed them for a while the first time.

 

[Shamrock317]

Dr.G - I just loged on to ask the same question.
I have a BTA that split about 11 months ago after it was in my tank for about a month. I think this split wasa due to stress as it was bleached out. Well after settling down and getting their color back, I decided to ive them a "treat" of fresh shrimp (the cocktail variety). Within two weeks, both BTAs have split. All four look godd and healthy. Its been one week since they split, and I was wondering the same thing. I dont think I fed them for a while the first time.