How can i tell when a rock anemone is about to spawn?

[lulu0520]

I've had a lot of baby rock anemones in my aquarium and I just wanted to know what it looks like before they spawn

 

[Peace River]

@Ron Reefman @homer1475 - can you offer any tips regarding the question above?

 

[jabberwock]

following

 

[homer1475]

While I have never noticed any difference before spawning, they will will cup up during spawning.

 

[JoJosReef]

Following. I've been feeding my RFAs (4 in one nano tank, 2 in another) TDO pellets and Reef Nutrition slurry on the daily trying to get them in the mood. Any music you think would work? I'll do it!

 

[olonmv]

Following. I've been feeding my RFAs (4 in one nano tank, 2 in another) TDO pellets and Reef Nutrition slurry on the daily trying to get them in the mood. Any music you think would work? I'll do it!

Have you tried “Lets get it on” on a constant loop?

 

[homer1475]

I've heard Barry white on a loop usually does the trick. Lol

 

[Peace River]

I've heard that you can overfeed RFAs (and similar creatures) where they will take the food but it will not get consumed and will rot inside of them. I don't know where that threshold is but something to be aware of when regularly feeding RFAs. Coral foods are smaller and can be digested more quickly, whereas pellets are more targeted/contained but take more time to break down into food, so the type of food may also be considered when determining frequency.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I've never noticed any change in the RFA before they spawn. As Homer said, they do stretch up and form a cup when they spawn.

As best as anybody has been able to figure, the gestation time from the spawn to birth is somewhere in the 25 to 35 days.

 

[JoJosReef]

I've heard that you can overfeed RFAs (and similar creatures) where they will take the food but it will not get consumed and will rot inside of them. I don't know where that threshold is but something to be aware of when regularly feeding RFAs. Coral foods are smaller and can be digested more quickly, whereas pellets are more targeted/contained but take more time to break down into food, so the type of food may also be considered when determining frequency.

Sounds like I should find some quality LPS pellets and leave the TDO to the fish and crabs (I have a white spotted nem crab that starts walking towards me the second the return goes off; I call it a pig crab).

 

[JoJosReef]

Have you tried “Lets get it on” on a constant loop?

I've heard Barry white on a loop usually does the trick. Lol

I dunno. This is an office tank. Might raise some eyebrows or, worse, HR tutorials!

 

[Dburr1014]

I dunno. This is an office tank. Might raise some eyebrows or, worse, HR tutorials!

Maybe try the love shack then. More upbeat and accepted in a work environment.

 

[JoJosReef]

Maybe try the love shack then. More upbeat and accepted in a work environment.

And then watch those sexy shrimp dance!

 

[flashsmith]

I've seen mine "spread his seed" a few times and never any babies. I have maybe 4 or 5 in that tank and nothing.

 

[lulu0520]

I have those two that keep standing up, but they don't stay standing. And then there's the one that's kinda inverted

 

[lulu0520]

These are some of the babies I have in the tank right now. I also have some in a mesh breeder

 

[lulu0520]

I have those two that keep standing up, but they don't stay standing. And then there's the one that's kinda inverted

Now this one is standing lol

 

[Peace River]

Sounds like I should find some quality LPS pellets and leave the TDO to the fish and crabs (I have a white spotted nem crab that starts walking towards me the second the return goes off; I call it a pig crab).

I have a least a dozen RFAs and have had good luck with TDO B1 to small. Just throwing out overfeeding as something to think about (it may or may not apply in your situation).

 

[homer1475]

I've never directly fed mine, but I do broadcast feed the tank and am sure they catch some.

Stretching, mine do all the time, which is what your picture shows. "Cupping" cannot be mistaken for any other kind of action by them. They literally look like a cup, and stretch their stalks out as much as they can. Females do the "cupping" as the males "blow smoke".

I've had many babies over the years, ans from what I have seen, the females start cupping long before(like 15 to 20 minutes) the males start blowing smoke. When I notice it, is when I start looking, and a few minutes later the males blow smoke.

In @Ron Reefman RFA thread, there is a few videos of them spawning. What the males look like when doing their thing, and what the cupping females look like.

 

[jabberwock]

I dunno. This is an office tank. Might raise some eyebrows or, worse, HR tutorials!

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