Anemone Fragging?

[GriffinMarsh]

Hi was wondering if anybody has fragged anemones with around 80+% success? I've heard multiple stories of people cutting them perfectly to retain a working mouth on both sections but found it difficult to believe that the disc would recover equally on both sections. Is there any increased chance that the specimen has a higher risk of losing one of the sections? What has helped increase your success? Any info would be great!

 

[garygb]

I've never fragged an anemone, but for the record, only two species of host anemone can successfully be fragged, Entacmaea quadricolor and Heteractis magnifica. Also Epicystis crucifer, a common anemone in the trade cannot be fragged. The majority of sea anemones do not reproduce asexually, and there seems to be a very strong correlation from natural splitting and success with fragging. Both E. quadricolor and H. magnifica do asexually reproduce and there have been countless fragging success stories with BTAs and a few success stories for H. magnifica. Maxi-mini anemones can also be successfully fragged. If it's not one of those 3 species you're trying to frag, you can be pretty much rest assured you will have 0% chance of successfully fragging it.

 

[rich130981]

I have cut a few in the past without any issues. Lay the anemone foot down on a hard flat surface, spread out tenticles to clear the mouth, make one clean cut through the mouth(use a brand new rasor or scalpel), place the anemone in a seperate tank with 0 to low flow to heal. Within 30 minutes both halves will begin to close on themselves. In about 2 days you have 2 healed anemones. You can do this to a single anemone once a month. Make sure you do not saw. This will cause more wounds to the animal then you want. Also make sure you do not press/smush the blade into the anemone. This will cause tissue damage that is hard to recover from. If the anemone is large enough you can get up to five animals from one cutting session. I have seen this done but have not attempted. I have only done this with BTA's. I have no clue what other anemones this works for.

Funny your asking about cutting. In another thread i was asking how to promote splitting without cutting. Never had that happen and wanted to experience it. Good luck.

If you dont have a seperate tank for the anemone to heal i would turn off your powerheads for a day or two. This will allow the animal to heal and attach. Once they both look healthy enough plug everything back in.

 

[garygb]

Rich, you wrote "I have only done this with BTA's. I have no clue what other anemones this works for." Lots of people on this forum have unsuccessfully tried to frag other species and it seems BTAs, magnificas and S. tapetum are the only anemones that can be successfully fragged.

I hope that if you suggest fragging to anyone, you begin with the caveat, unless it is one of these 3 species you shouldn't do it.

 

[OrionN]

BTA can get chopped up with doing down the overflow then reach the pump. Multiple pieces split out and some of them would survive.
Other species that can be cut, like Gary stated about are Magnifica and Tamptum. A few other non hosting anemone. None of the other host anemone can be cut with more than 50% chance of survival. The best you can hope for is not to loose both of them when you try other host species

 

[ct_vol]

I have a RBTA that got into a fight with a Tunze and came back as 6 RBTA's... One of the remaining anemones went for a ride down the overflow... Came back as 2... Still working up the nerve to try fragging one of my Mags... Not sure I'm there yet...