How to breed rock anemoems?
- Thread starter Anemone12
- Start date
BiggsTheGoalie
New member
You'll likely need to be more specific in what species of anemone you're considering. Truthfully, it's unlikely you'll be able to "breed" anemones in an aquarium. While some species do have specific sexes and will spawn, the result is usually a mess since they release so much sperm and eggs that it overwhelms most filtration systems. Most anemones are asexually divided to reproduce them. You'll probably have better luck doing a search by a specific species and using terms like "propagation" or "splitting".
If you're worried about 'breeding' Rock anemones, then don't bother buying them. The number of people that 'claim' to have success is very small. I've kept them for ~30yrs... Never had any 'new borns'!
Also how much are you buying them for, to spend $300?
I've had my Epicystis crucifer for several years. I started off with 5 or 6 and now have at least 30. They are internal breeders, i.e., the eggs are fertilized and remain inside the female until they become larvae. You need to provide them with good conditions to breed them. Keep the specific gravity in the 1.025-1.027 range, temp 78-82, though they can take cooler as they are found in the waters around FL. I would suggest for breeding them you feed them once or twice per week. Try to keep the nitrate undetectable and provide high lighting. I use T-5s. They are fine with moderate water flow.
BiggsTheGoalie
New member
Gary - great info! I've never kept these before; are there actual sexes, or will any two (or one?) anemones form a "mating pair"?
What does that mean?
RadReefer
New member
My rock flowers spawn every summer when the daylight coming in from the windows is longer and the temp of my tank goes from 78 to 82-84. The sex of the individual anem is also a factor as Anemone12 has stated. I have two males and they cup upwards and release sperm continuously into the water column as soon as the dusk setting kicks in. It is really an interesting sight to see. They billow white "smoke" for hours and the fish and inverts go crazy eating it. Something also to keep in mind is that in my observation, these anemones need to be fed much more often than others that I have kept to be happy. Someone else I know has these mad the breed and expel babies all the time.
