Manually Splitting Anemone

downhillbiker · 04/10/2008, 11:36 AM

Do you recommend manually splitting an anemone? What are the processes and success rates? Any little tips to keep in mind?

The college has a GIANT Rose Long Tentacle and I may split the anemone, if it wont kill it. I take care of the aquariums in the marine biology section, and I think they would let me, but I want to have some backup knowledge first.

dzeadow · 04/10/2008, 11:41 AM

its possible. Go to the Anemone and Clownfish forum. THere's someone that does it for propogating purposes. I'd ask the question there for the best responses.

kar93 · 04/10/2008, 11:44 AM

There was somebody who cut there carpet anemone but when he put one half back in the tank it killed his fish and both halves eventually died.

seapug · 04/10/2008, 12:14 PM

BTA's can be manually divided by cutting them right down the middle with a large, clean surgical scalpel. The key seems to be getting half of the mouth on each slice.

Regardless, most will divide on their own in time. Mine have done it twice in the past 4 months.

jrlafrance · 04/10/2008, 02:12 PM

When upgrading our tank, I didn't realize my GBTA was attached to two different rocks. When I took it out of the old tank, it tore into two pieces. It looked horrible for about 1 week, then one of pieces split, and all three are doing great now. Again, this was an accident, but proves that it can be done!

briangg57 · 04/10/2008, 02:43 PM

It's so easy, even a caveman can do it. 1st gently remove from aquarium. Just gently get your finger between him and whatever, just slowly work him out. Took me about 5 min. Wear gloves. Then I put him on dinner plate, foot down, tentacles up. Next, get ketchup, just kidding. Next I CARFULLY using the sharpest fillet knife I own, NOT serrated. I sliced him down the center being very careful to divide the mouth into 2 EQUAL parts. Then in a bucket of aquarium water, I gently swirled him around to remove slime. Then I let him stay there for about 10 min. Swirled again and then I put THEM! back in aquarium. One of them tried to move immediatly but I caught him and put him back and they haven't moved now in 5 months. This is a pic. about 3 months later. I still have them and they are great

downhillbiker · 04/10/2008, 03:13 PM

Yeah I dont know if I will do it with the college's anemone, but i may try it with my superpink condi anemone. I just dont want to risk it if it isn't my livestock.

Does anyone have experience or heard of cutting a condi anemone in half.

04/10/2008, 11:36 AM	#1
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	Manually Splitting Anemone Do you recommend manually splitting an anemone? What are the processes and success rates? Any little tips to keep in mind? The college has a GIANT Rose Long Tentacle and I may split the anemone, if it wont kill it. I take care of the aquariums in the marine biology section, and I think they would let me, but I want to have some backup knowledge first. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/10/2008, 11:41 AM	#2
dzeadow Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 2,589	its possible. Go to the Anemone and Clownfish forum. THere's someone that does it for propogating purposes. I'd ask the question there for the best responses. __________________ - Danny Current Tank Info: Dual 50 Breeder system, 30g custom sump/fuge, MSX200, Tank1-6x24T5 retro, Tank2-4x39T5 retro

04/10/2008, 12:14 PM	#4
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	BTA's can be manually divided by cutting them right down the middle with a large, clean surgical scalpel. The key seems to be getting half of the mouth on each slice. Regardless, most will divide on their own in time. Mine have done it twice in the past 4 months. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

04/10/2008, 02:43 PM	#6
briangg57 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 634	It's so easy, even a caveman can do it. 1st gently remove from aquarium. Just gently get your finger between him and whatever, just slowly work him out. Took me about 5 min. Wear gloves. Then I put him on dinner plate, foot down, tentacles up. Next, get ketchup, just kidding. Next I CARFULLY using the sharpest fillet knife I own, NOT serrated. I sliced him down the center being very careful to divide the mouth into 2 EQUAL parts. Then in a bucket of aquarium water, I gently swirled him around to remove slime. Then I let him stay there for about 10 min. Swirled again and then I put THEM! back in aquarium. One of them tried to move immediatly but I caught him and put him back and they haven't moved now in 5 months. This is a pic. about 3 months later. I still have them and they are great __________________ Ain't like goin down to the pond, cetching bluegills and tommy cats. Current Tank Info: 75 gal.,20 gal. sump with wet-dry, also run carbon,75 to 100lbs live rock. 3&1/2 inch sand bed, 390 Watts PC. lighting and loving it!!!

04/10/2008, 03:13 PM	#7
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	Yeah I dont know if I will do it with the college's anemone, but i may try it with my superpink condi anemone. I just dont want to risk it if it isn't my livestock. Does anyone have experience or heard of cutting a condi anemone in half. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/10/2008, 11:44 AM	#3
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	There was somebody who cut there carpet anemone but when he put one half back in the tank it killed his fish and both halves eventually died.

04/10/2008, 02:12 PM	#5
jrlafrance Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Escondido, CA Posts: 25	When upgrading our tank, I didn't realize my GBTA was attached to two different rocks. When I took it out of the old tank, it tore into two pieces. It looked horrible for about 1 week, then one of pieces split, and all three are doing great now. Again, this was an accident, but proves that it can be done!