[Max]

I think my Ricordia is starting to split. You may not be able to tell by this pic but here it is anyway. It has 2 mouths and the 2 humped up areas will directly split between them. I read that they will look pinched when they split and wondered if this is what is ment by pinching.

Second question is, It is on a rock fragment that if they split Id like to be able to seperate them. The rock is to small for the both of them unless they overlap or move of the rock and Id really like to spread them out a bit.Can they move by them selves? What is the recomended way of manipulating them? Ive read ways of spliting them by cutting them and may try it if they split into 2 pieces but im not willing to hurt the only one i have just yet.

Any info I can get would help a bunch. Im in no hurry to have them split just want to seperate them a bit when they do. They are only where they are for the time being. If they split and 1 moves off the rock id not be happy where it is. because from what little I have messed with them, once on rock they arent easy to move.

Max

[Ninong]

When they begin to split you will notice that you have two separate "circles" of tentacles instead of just one. That's what they mean by "pinched." In other words instead of having two mouths with just one common oval shaped grouping of tentacles surrounding both mouths, you will start to see the animal pinch in to form sort of a figure eight shape before pulling apart. That's one way that Ricordea spp. can split. That's what you are seeing with yours right now except that the part on the right is rising up and facing away as it pinches between the two separate groupings of tentacles.

They also reproduce by moving and leaving a tiny piece of themselves behind that forms a new polyp. You can propagate them by slicing them with a sharp razor blade into pie shaped wedges but I have never done that.

[Max]

Thanks Ninong,

I moved it from the spot it was in to a smaller rock of its own that it can grow all over if it wishs. If it does split I may try and spit the second one into quarters after it grows a little.