Anemone Propagation system for profit?

[Fishninja]

The other day my rainbow bubble tip anemone split, and the thought crossed my mind that I could take a 20L or a 40 breeder, line the bottom with marinepure balls, use chinese *#*% boxes for lighting, add a powerhead, and I would have myself an anemone propagation system! Then I began to think about whether I could profit off of this.

I figured that if a bought a nice flame tip/ or inferno bubble tip for $400-$600 I could cut it into two, then cut those two leaving me with four, then eight, etc. It seems like this would be fairly simple to do and you could make a lot of money doing it.

I then came to the realization that there probably was a reason that I wasn't seeing everybody doing this to make money. What am I missing here that would stop this idea from succeeding? Thanks for your input.
-Fishninja.

 

[Nano101]

I just watched my RBTAs split naturally once or twice a month and sold the little guys for $100 a piece on Craigslist

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I think they have a lower survival rate when you cut them vs. them doing it. I don't know too many people willing to cut up $600 of anemone for it to die.

 

[Fishninja]

I just watched my RBTAs split naturally once or twice a month and sold the little guys for $100 a piece on Craigslist

Yes, I just figured that if I could sell the split for $100 then it would be easy enough to just try to propagate them and be able to take $100 and make it into a lot more.

 

[MurphyJ]

First, you better have the provenance. There are a lot of Nems being sold as "flame Tip" or "Inferno" that are really RBTAs or rainbows. You better do your research.

Second, a $400 - $600 Nem of the above is going to be small as it has already been cut many times. It will be 4-6 months before it is large enough for you to cut. Why would anyone sell a fully healed and mature high end Nem for that price? If you can quickly cut and sell for a profit, why not them?

Third, you have NO guaranty that they will survive. And if they do, then you have another 4-6 months for them to each get large enough to cut again.

And fourth, fourth because if you are only thinking about money this does not apply, we do not know what effect cutting has on Anemones. I don't see posts saying an Inferno or Flame Tips spawned (haven't seen any). Then, again, we don't see many posts on spawning in captivity period. Not a criticize against you or anyone else that chooses to cut, just my opinion and a question that has been running around in my head for a few months.

Research being done suggests Anemones are not "eternal" as we commonly think. They have a set life span. Research is new and not definitive (my opinion). Some researchers are now saying that the Anemones in the wild can not keep up with the harvesting and there should be a ban or limit on harvesting for the Ornamental Coral Trade.

Personally, I want to see posts asking how we can propagate Anemones in captivity via spawning.

 

[Nano101]

First, you better have the provenance. There are a lot of Nems being sold as "flame Tip" or "Inferno" that are really RBTAs or rainbows. You better do your research.

Second, a $400 - $600 Nem of the above is going to be small as it has already been cut many times. It will be 4-6 months before it is large enough for you to cut. Why would anyone sell a fully healed and mature high end Nem for that price? If you can quickly cut and sell for a profit, why not them?

Third, you have NO guaranty that they will survive. And if they do, then you have another 4-6 months for them to each get large enough to cut again.

And fourth, fourth because if you are only thinking about money this does not apply, we do not know what effect cutting has on Anemones. I don't see posts saying an Inferno or Flame Tips spawned (haven't seen any). Then, again, we don't see many posts on spawning in captivity period. Not a criticize against you or anyone else that chooses to cut, just my opinion and a question that has been running around in my head for a few months.

Research being done suggests Anemones are not "eternal" as we commonly think. They have a set life span. Research is new and not definitive (my opinion). Some researchers are now saying that the Anemones in the wild can not keep up with the harvesting and there should be a ban or limit on harvesting for the Ornamental Coral Trade.

Personally, I want to see posts asking how we can propagate Anemones in captivity via spawning.

I got super lucky in spawning my RBTA in my 75 about 8 years ago. I am not lying when I say 1-3 small splits a month. It was a rare anemone that split all the time. Too bad it got caught in an intake and nuked a tank. Had it for almost 8 years

 

[PSLReefer]

The other day my rainbow bubble tip anemone split, and the thought crossed my mind that I could take a 20L or a 40 breeder, line the bottom with marinepure balls, use chinese *#*% boxes for lighting, add a powerhead, and I would have myself an anemone propagation system! Then I began to think about whether I could profit off of this.

I figured that if a bought a nice flame tip/ or inferno bubble tip for $400-$600 I could cut it into two, then cut those two leaving me with four, then eight, etc. It seems like this would be fairly simple to do and you could make a lot of money doing it.

I then came to the realization that there probably was a reason that I wasn't seeing everybody doing this to make money. What am I missing here that would stop this idea from succeeding? Thanks for your input.
-Fishninja.

Then your in the hobby for the wrong reason

 

[Mandrew]

Then your in the hobby for the wrong reason

I wouldn't say that.. I think propagating anything corals or anemones would be a great addition to the hobby. Just because someone wants to find a way to make money doing what they love doesn't mean they have ill intentions. Money is not evil.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I would love for everything in our hobby to be aquacultured... we are extremely reliant on the ocean to supply us still.

 

[badhabits]

Every aquacultured nem purchased is one step closer to getting rid of the wild harvest practice...whether it's for profit or love of the hobby

 

[ritter6788]

Can it be done? Yes

Does it always work out? No

Buy 1 $400-$600 nem and it dies shortly after you get it and you're already in the hole. Buy another to replace it and you're $800-$1200 in the hole.

Buy a $600 nem and find out a year later when you've grown a few that multiple people have tanks full of them and your stuck with a few $60 BTAs that people won't pay shipping cost for.

Too many BTAs out there already being passed off as some type of rare anemone that everyone already has. Even the sunbursts are getting more common.

 

[Lovemycj7]

The market for $500 nems is small (from personal experience selling them). Not many people can afford to drop that type of cash. If your looking to make $$ on your investment low risk, buy a few RBTAs put them in a tank like you said, feed them let them split naturally and sell them for $50 a pop locally. You'll sell those easily and your $100 investment will pay for itself many times over. If you go the high end route just to sell them you would need to find the right person might not be in your local market and would need to sell one just to break even. If it dies or something happens during shipping then like other posters have said you are in the hole big.

I have a sunburst, it is in my display and I bought it because I wanted one. It has split and I have sold the splits but I didn't buy it with the intent to propagate for profit. I also disagree with the idea of cutting a nem though I haven't done the research to be properly informed if the animal feels pain or not it just personally doesn't sit well as I'm not sure how one could determine with certainty that it doesn't. But from a business perspective cutting like others have said seem to raise the risk of killing it altogether. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[Hotelbravo]

@Lovemycj7 I believe the lack of a nervous system for anemones is an indicator that they cannot feel pain.

 

[meli81]

I do sunburst Anemone and all natural splits for about 400& on up so I feel in time you can

 

[drtrash]

Puppy mill really?

 

[Amoo]

If you're going to do it, please do it correctly. I'm not going to get into my personal thoughts on it but here you go. Yes all the way back in 2011 BRS showed us this technique.

 

[Dancingmad]

My btas split out of control and i even stopped target feeding them ages ago. Its nemagedon. I've done some trading with a lfs for livestock/reefing gear. Never considered for profit operation because in fear it might taint my love of the hobby. Money complicates things [emoji3].

 

[nashvillian]

I would diversify and get RBTAs and rainbows and just let them split naturally. You would be getting a higher success rate and a larger purchasing demographic

 

[Wayn3sWorlD]

I do sunburst Anemone and all natural splits for about 400& on up so I feel in time you can

Selling?

 

[FarmerTy]

I do it. It works fine for me. I have Colorado Sunburst anemones and frag them manually. Works just the same as me fragging Rbtas back in the day, not one death yet.

FWIW, I have a 14-person waitlist so I don't think the demand will go away anytime soon.

I absolutely love this hobby so I take offense to anyone saying I'm in the hobby for the wrong reason just because I make money on the side to support it. I'm an acro guy, I keep one Colorado Sunburst in my tank and I propagate the rest of them to collect more corals/fish/new equipment and to pay for maintenance items and food.