Any way to bring anemones from Fiji to USA?

Flighty

Flighty

Premium Member
I was wondering if anyone has contacts in Fiji who could help arrange anemone collection and shipment back to the USA.

We will be going there in about a month and of course want to see magnificas and clowns in the wild, but would also be interested in bringing some back with information on the specimens such as depth, flow and light conditions they were collected from. As many of you know, I want to try to propagate these anemones as an alternative to wild collected magnificas which have a poor survival rate.
 
Cindy,

Cindy,

When I was in Fiji three years ago, I only saw a few large sea anemone in the small outer Islands and none in the main Island.

I think Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Tahiti are the areas with most H.magnifica.
HTH
 
I hope we will see them while we dive. We should mostly be going to the northern part of the main island of Fiji. I see picturs and descriptions of dive sites in that area with many magnificas, so I hope we can hunt them down :)
 
From the US side of things...

1) Fly back to LAX or SFO, no place else, otherwise you will not come in at an inspection station.

2) Call the Feds! Start with a call to the US fish and wildlife service at LAX or SFO, also call Customs. They will give you all the specifics and logistics.

3) Collection and importation for personal use is "no big deal".

From the Fiji side, call and ask, as I have no idea. Could anything from nothing to do, to moving a mountain.
 
Thanks. We are going through LAX. Our connection is a little tight, so the best thing I think would be to have it shipped directly to New Hampshire especially since I think a bag of anemones may be considered a "prohibited liquid" :rolleyes:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7937347#post7937347 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Flighty
Thanks. We are going through LAX. Our connection is a little tight, so the best thing I think would be to have it shipped directly to New Hampshire especially since I think a bag of anemones may be considered a "prohibited liquid" :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Nope, can not do that. You will have to stop at LAX and walk them thru the inspections, both USFWS and Customs. Plan on a couple of hours best case, a full day worst case. Calls the agents at LAX and tell them what you want to do, what they would recommend for you to do.
 
leave only bubbles and return with memories. You can get those same anem's from your lfs, why take a clownfishes home?

just my opinion, no offense
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7938963#post7938963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ezhoops
leave only bubbles and return with memories. You can get those same anem's from your lfs, why take a clownfishes home?

just my opinion, no offense
Click to expand...
ezhoops, Every magnifica in every tank was taken from the ocean along with hundreds which died from poor collection, long shipping and improper husbandry when it got to its destination. I am trying to propogate magnificas so that there is less waste and better understanding of these critters.
 

ezhoops, Every magnifica in every tank was taken from the ocean along with hundreds which died from poor collection, long shipping and improper husbandry when it got to its destination. I am trying to propogate magnificas so that there is less waste and better understanding of these critters.
Click to expand...


Really!! I had no idea :D (jk) appreciate that and think it is great. I was just in australia and wanted to do the same but after seeing the low numbers I just thought it would be terrible for anyone to do it.

Like I said this is only my opinion, feel free to do what you like.

BTW, Are you prepared to propagate this anenome?

What is your supposed way of propagating this anenome?

What is your research and background sources for propagation?

I'm just assuming you have this all figured out.

You state"Every magnifica in every tank was taken from the ocean" sooooo

I guess my ultimate question is; what are you going to do different?

I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ or anything I would really like to know as I'm sure many other people do.
 
she was pretty clear about what she was planning on doing differently. Please take the time to read her post before blasting her.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7941802#post7941802 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dantodd
she was pretty clear about what she was planning on doing differently. Please take the time to read her post before blasting her.
Click to expand...

ezhoops is not being disrespectful in the least.
 
No problem with the questions. The more this gets talked about the sooner people will work it out.

I guess I was exaggerating when I said every magnifica in any tank was taken from the ocean. There are probably 10 that were created from healthy magnificas splitting in tanks. I have two of them. But out of the number taken from the ocean every year (I have heard 30,000 but I am not sure of the accuracy of that figure) that is a pretty bad track record.

I have been researching this for about two years and have sat down and discussed it with Anthony Calfo, Ron Shimeck, Rob Toonen and others. We have set up a 625 gallon system and will be adding propagation tanks as the anemones get larger and will add a separate tank for male magnificas if we have any spawning events in the future.

First we will be attempting manual splitting of large magnificas and the ultimate goal will be researching sexual propagation.

I'm not a scientist, just a hobbyist, but this is possible and will be done some day. In tank propagation means less demand on the wild anemones, anemones available which are better acclimated to tank life and more knowledge about the anemones if we ever need to repopulate a wild area.
 
I hope you are successful. I would love to see something like that happen. Maybe once someone is successful with one type, it will be easier to do with others. Maybe sebaes, I have one so I'm a little partial to them ;)

I think of the bta options we have now. I would like to get a rose in the near future. I think of my options. I actually have the choice of getting captive bred (clones). These to me, are a much more responsible way of going. It's better for the oceans and the things that call the nems home. The ones in the ocean can stay there, repopulating their areas.

I would much rather have the clones of ones that have been in tanks, even better, the grand daughters of g. grand daughter clones. They're much better suited to life in our tanks. IMHO, they're hardier than their wild caught kin. I run MH lighting, and I would love to get one from a fellow reefer who also runs similar lighting to make the transition as easy as possible on the nem, allowing the greatest chance of survival.

I think if we could do that with all the nems, that would be a giant step in the right direction in our stewardship of the oceans and our tanks. It's got to start somewhere. I'm glad you're willing to do the research and step up to the plate. I doubt there is any thing I can do to help, but if there is, I would be happy to.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7941802#post7941802 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dantodd
she was pretty clear about what she was planning on doing differently. Please take the time to read her post before blasting her.
Click to expand...

Dan, actually no she wasn't very clear. Thats why I asked specifically. She has now become very clear with her intentions and
I appreciate it very much. I am glad to hear what she is attempting and wish her all the luck and I would gladly help her out if she lived closer.
I hope all works out well and please update us on your findings.
 
OK, I guess it was just the fact that I've been here and have read numberous times about Cindy's interest in improving the husbandry of anemones and propogating them.
 
Dan, I may have missed something, no hard feelings. BTW I think it is fantastic what she is attempting. I wish all hobbyist were so outgoing.
 
Cindy, this might be of some help for ya regarding the magnifica's. There is a research center on Heron Island in Australia where I dove and spotted some huge one's just recently. I'll do some looking around and see what I can find for ya.

The research center is run by the univ. of Queensland. They do a lot with turtle research but not sure on the anem's


this is the site for the resort, as for the research center????? I would look thru the univ. of Q'land.

http://www.heronisland.com/great-barrier-reef-diving/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Why do oversized protein skimmers not adequately remove protein from a tank?
Replies
17
Views
3K
Guygettnby
Guygettnby
xLennie
Which bubble tip anemone should I get?
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
xLennie
xLennie
Corals.com
**FIJI IS BACK AT CORALS.COM** ~ Stunning Yellow Leathers, Trachy, and so much MORE!!
Replies
4
Views
734
Corals.com
Corals.com
Corals.com
** BIG New Fiji Update!** Tons of New Corals & Wednesday Walkthrough!
Replies
2
Views
521
Corals.com
Corals.com
J
Salt water from PNW in tropical system?
Replies
7
Views
1K
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Back
Top