Many techniques have been devised to overcome certain problems encountered when narcotising actiniarians. From these a few have been selected as being at least partly successful. Further modifications to these narcotising methods have been introduced in order to block more effectively the nervous pathways responsible for secondary contraction reactions. Until now, perfectly expanded specimens have been achieved largely by chance. This paper records experimental results and arising problems as a contribution to a better understanding of the process and a more consistent rate of success.