Propagating your riterri/magnifica anemone
- Thread starter BKTruong
- Start date
D-Nak
Active member
Whooops, sorry, I wasn't done with my response. I was waiting at the dentist office and started my response and didn't mean to send it.
I had a mag that split naturally. It was almost done splitting completely but then stopped. I ended up cutting the two nems apart. I think they will split when stressed, like BTAs.
However, I also think that like some BTAs, individual mags are either male or female, or they're the colonial type. If they are male or female, splitting them will kill either one side or both. If they're colonial, then force propagation should be fine. The problem is that there's no way to tell the difference.
I remember only one story of force propagation of a mag and it was actually a guy local to me. IIRC, one side made it and the other side didn't.
As davocean said, once people have healthy mags -- which in itself is still rather rare -- they don't dare trying to cut them, so finding a success or failure story will be tough.
All that said, I believe it is possible to do. I just fall into the category of never doing it myself.
I had a mag that split naturally. It was almost done splitting completely but then stopped. I ended up cutting the two nems apart. I think they will split when stressed, like BTAs.
However, I also think that like some BTAs, individual mags are either male or female, or they're the colonial type. If they are male or female, splitting them will kill either one side or both. If they're colonial, then force propagation should be fine. The problem is that there's no way to tell the difference.
I remember only one story of force propagation of a mag and it was actually a guy local to me. IIRC, one side made it and the other side didn't.
As davocean said, once people have healthy mags -- which in itself is still rather rare -- they don't dare trying to cut them, so finding a success or failure story will be tough.
All that said, I believe it is possible to do. I just fall into the category of never doing it myself.
davocean
Active member
Agree, and I'll add to that I also agree w/ stress splits, as I had a mag going through cipro treatment that started to split, but did not complete.
My best guess is maybe it was getting better in treatment and stopped, it really looked like it was going to make it, but it just seemed in limbo, sadly did not survive.
My best guess is maybe it was getting better in treatment and stopped, it really looked like it was going to make it, but it just seemed in limbo, sadly did not survive.
dieselkeeper
New member
I would agree with above statement. I have one in a 40 gal. It is 10 inches across. I just got a 90 gal just for the mag. I plan on possible having other carpets as well one day.
D-Nak
Active member
I remember that. We can say that they did successfully cut it in half (in the tank!). but both sides later died a few months later, so we'll never know about long term success. I wouldn't consider it a successful propagation. I'd need at least 6 months in order to call it a success.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Z6kSRws7z0" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
You'll see in the comments that they said both halves died...
"They lived for four months and ate out of their new mouths actually. But a new employee did water change and left them above water line too long and stressed them out and died. Was mad and sad about it since it was preventable but we can only move forward and learn."
Unfortunately I don't buy this story because unless they left them say, overnight, a water change shouldn't cause too much stress. They're commonly exposed for hours during low tide.
davocean
Active member
I was just going to say, sounds like they pinned blame on new guy rather than owning up to possible complications from a forced split.
I've seen many pics of mags exposed on bright sunny hot reefs half a day on low tide.
They can hold their own water for quite a long time.
I've seen many pics of mags exposed on bright sunny hot reefs half a day on low tide.
They can hold their own water for quite a long time.
OrionN
Moved on
There is this thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1455935&highlight=magnifica
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1455935&highlight=magnifica
davocean
Active member
My mag sits high and dry on every WC, and there are pics of reefs w/ tons of mags doing just the same.
Most educated vendors ship them in almost no water at all, just enough to keep them wet, as they hold their own for a long time.
Wow. I can't help you on cutting but that is an incredible looking mag. Been searching for one like that for about two years. I have a nice one but yours definitely beats it. I'd not take a chance on losing that guy by cutting. I am of the belief that there are 2 types of mags. One type will split naturally and the other type just grows into beasts. Just a theory though
