Do rock flower anemones split, or reproduce sexually?

[Nicholas41]

I was interested in getting some rock flower anemones. I was wondering if they reproduce by splitting or sexually. Just was curious before I spend 80-100 a piece on some. Thanks!

 

[bradleym]

They only reproduce sexually. They don't split.

 

[violet21chewy]

I have had spawning in my tank twice. From the last spawn I have found 5 baby anemones. Luckily, some of them are orange. I kept 5 in my 120. Will take pics and try to download.

 

[Subw00er]

I have two rock anemones in my tank, one orange and one yellow.. think they'll mate at some point? How does it work exactly?

 

[garygb]

Assuming one is a male and one is a female, when they spawn the male releases sperm into the water. The sperm fertilizes eggs inside the female's body. The larvae hatch and then the female expells the larvae once it is ready to morph into a polyp. The polyp attaches to liverock and begins to grow.

 

[violet21chewy]

Here is one of the best out of 5. The other pic shows all 4. The 5th is in a different tank.

 

[violet21chewy]

Another pic

 

[violet21chewy]

Garygb- do you have timelines? From when a male spawns to when larvae hatch, develop, and expelled? Not much info out there.....

 

[garygb]

No, I don't know how long it takes, sorry.

 

[Nicholas41]

Too cool! I was wondering if it was possible for them to reproduce in a reef tank. I assume the baby anemones just attach onto rock instead of floating loose in the water column?

 

[violet21chewy]

Yes. They do attach but they did move around a lot. I was lucky it find the ones I did.

 

[HereFishy1]

Did they have the same color as the parent or were they different?