How do you cut frags off an anemone to reproduce?

I have a couple caught from the gulf of mexico. Was reading up on them and saw they can reproduce by splitting them. If a accidently kill one thats a risk I will take. Any help would be great.
 
I found an article on the net wich was a study on reproduction in the anemones. It stated they cut slices off of a certain part(i think the bottom) put them in small dishes in a dark room and fed them freshly hatched brine shrimp. The article was confusing but sounded like the technique was simple to create some more copies of my anemones. The ones I have cycled with my new tank and are very hardy. They survived the die off of some rock I collected and through the complete cycle with no water changes. Think they will do great for my home grown beginer tank. And hey they are free.
 

whipple

Member
Hey no offense but just cause they were free dont mean you should cut them up in the hope they would recover with out knowing what you r doing that is irresponsible to even attempt
 
Here is what I foundout <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expltx/eft/gulf/cspecies/seaanemonefact.htm" target="_blank">http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expltx/eft/gulf/cspecies/seaanemonefact.htm</a>
Jetty: Sea anemone
Bunodosoma cavernata
They seem happy and have not moved around at all. Actualy the mollies i bought to cycle my tank keep them clean. They get stung from time to time but are doing good around them. Almost lost a hermit but was able to pull him free. They dont seem too toxic to my fish.
 
Whipple, why are you harshing my melow?
i have heard of people doing it to coral. Arent they in the same catagory? I read somewhere that jellyfish, coral and anenome are somewhat the same. Please forgive my lack of knowledge. just want to experiment a little.
 

the claw

Active Member
I don't think Whipple is hammer dogging on you, I think he is just trying to say that life is too precious to throw away, just because you got it for free. We are all responsible. Fragmenting corals are one thing, slicing and dicing an anenome is another. Patience is the key, what's your hurry?
 
D

diatom

Guest
Ronald~
Buy a book buddy! And leave the experimenting to scientists my gosh.
BTW No corals and anemones are not "in the same category" except that they both live in the ocean.
On the positive, at least this wasn't another lighting question.
 
OK Buddy,
Diatom said"BTW No corals and anemones are not "in the same category" except that they both live in the ocean."
Then why under coral info on this site it says:
All the corals and anemones we'll be talking about are part of a biological group known as cnidaria.
Cnidarias can be either an individual animal like the anemone or members of a complex colony. These colony corals share the food and nutrients taken in as a whole even if only one of the polyps takes it in on the coral
I dont know why people are quick to give info without even knowing what they are talking anout.
So I ask again what is the difference then between takeing a frag from coral and an anemone.
 

drew_tt

Member
In the Kingom Animalia, under the Phylum Cnidaria, are all of the jellyfish, corals, anemones, etc... They are related via the same taxon level, but its still pretty general. Animals in this taxa have a very simple anatomy. Now, anemones dont have extensive systems, but they are more complex than most corals. Corals do not really have 'specialized body parts,' and thus you can break them off, as one piece is basically the same as another. Anemones divide when they want to. It would be pretty difficult to determine where to cut them, because Im sure they would need a good percentage of their own 'parts' for them to grow as a frag. Its just not for us to try, as it would require a LOT of knowledge and hands-on cnidarian experience... leave it to the scientists.
Drew :)
 
D

diatom

Guest
Ron~ ok pal here's some basic bioloy for you. This is the taxonomy for the modern man:
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Primates
Family Hominidae
Genus Homo
Species sapiens
And this is the taxonoomy for the Stegasorus:
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Archosauria
Order Ornithischia
Family Stegosauridae
Genus Stegosaurus
Species stenops
Now we are in the same Phylum as the stegasorus was...now if you want to say that we are essensially the same as that prehistoric animal well then you go ahead. Maybe you should do some researcg before you tell people THEY don't know what they are talking about.
Again my advice stands...buy yourself a book. Good luck setting up your 110.
 
Has anyone else tried sammystingrays method. There isn't much info on this topic anywhere on the web. And I apoligize for saying that coral and anemones are similar. It was just that for some reason this site put them together under their info on coral section. It was misleading to me and I thought because this site lists the under coral it would be close to the same reproductive structure. Anyways how many poeple have had the same luck as sammy in this method. Also sammy where did you hear about trying this? Thanks for the input.
 

beachbaby

Member
Hey Sammy- Glad I wasn't eating dinner when I read your frag instructional post...Yuck! <img src="graemlins//uhuh.gif" border="0" alt="[U-Huh]" />
 

luke

Member
ronald_mauldin@hotmail - In theory, as Sammy demonstrates, anemones CAN be fragged. BUT (there is always a but :) ) This does not mean it will work, or work well. The reason SOME corals can be easily fragged is they have many mouths. Essentailly individuals living together. If you cut a group of 1000 into two, the mouths that are severed in two will likely die, but the majority of the mouths will live. So each piece may end up with 450 mouths.
Now if we apply this thought to an anemone... Your anemone has one mouth. If you cut it in half, it will likly perish. The way anemones cut into two, on their own, is by devolping a second mouth then begining to seperate (once there are mouths for both pieces). This is a slight over simplification but true none the less.
Single polyped corals (one mouth), like certain Fungia sp. and others, have the same problem. If you cut them in half, then they devolp infections and die. This can always happen, but it is more likly in single polyped corals (and anemones).
something to note:
If your anemone is as happy as you say he is, then he will certainly devide on his own, soon.
Luke
 
I never meant to cut it in half. I had read and can not find it again, where you could take a slice off of the foot and and that slice will regrow a mouth. I am sure I am not the first person to think about this. Just maybe the first to ask. I see from the amount of hits alot of people are interested though. Thanks sammy for the help I couldn't remeber which part they took a slice from. Now I know the foot. As soon as I get a digital camera I will take before, during and after pictures and post them if anybody else wants to know if it is possible. The anemones I have did come off of rock that I collected from beach rock and is know as a Wharty Anemone. Thank you again Sammy for your replys and not just more lets all go and hug some seaweed responce.
 

ironreef

Member
Most likely anemonie =the ones you don't want aiptasia other hichicers reproduce rapidly= can't kill. Host anemonies usually can't propagate this way. otherwise they wouldn't be hard to keep or not recommended for newbies. Dunno they type you have but imo I would let it be. if they are happy they will reproduce on there own. Most don't by the way. Bubble tips do frequently but the rest nay
 
well if anybody wants a followup, I cut a small piece from the base of one of my anemone and my anemone is doing great as always and the small section I cut off is sticky and has not turned white. It has only been three days will let you know if a clone reproduces from the section of foot.
 
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