Spawning carpet nem!

S

Squirt

Today I nearly had a heart attack. I fed the 115reef at work this afternoon, and looked over everyone in the tank. The blue carpet anemone was it's usual gorgeous self, though folded up with the clowns dancing around in it. I noticed the foot was really engorged, and standing up much taller than normal... then IT happened.
Five minutes after feeding the fish, thousands of eggs and sperm were SPEWING out of the nem, turning the entire tank water milk white, with a visibility of about 2"!!!!! I leaped to the computer and started researching. I found out that carpets rarely spawn in captivity, the reasons are unknown and if anything, it only happens once a year and finishes within a week. Most of the eggs went over the overflow and the skimmer went crazy. If any settle in the tank, there will be a bunch of nems in the future. If you want to have a peek, check out my tank at Petorama Mansfield this weekend!!
Catherine
 
Sounds like it likes you.

I thought most nems were male or female and thus only produced eggs or sperm. Are carpets different?
 
I doubt if they are specifically male or female only, that would then require at least two nems for reproduction. Many nems clone themselves by splitting, so it makes sense that one nem could broadcast it's own eggs and sperm. This planktonic stage works in fish to increase the odds of some of them surviving by enlarging it's community in a hospitable environment. Perhaps this is the same thing?
Catherine
 
wow good luck...hopefully they grow into nice little babies. i have always wanted a small, young nem but you never see them. i hope you get some from it.
 
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