Anemone ID question (with pic)   1/19/12
Hi there!
I've enjoyed browsing your site, I've always found great information! I have a question for you regarding a mystery anemone I acquired yesterday. I was in a local fish store and saw what I though was a purple Ricordea mushroom,
<Mmm, no>
 until looking closely... I asked the man who worked there and he didn't seem to know what it was (it was in a harlequin shrimp tank, towards the top attached to the glass in the back) the man said it must be a small bubble tip anemone,
<I do think he's right... from the shape of the animal, its tentacles, wrapping about the rock... Entacmaea quadricolor>
 and said if I want it I can have it for $15.  I inspected the foot (intact) and the mouth (closed tightly) the color is beautiful, brown foot and tentacles, fading into a bright purple/lavender at the tips. I took it home and after looking online cannot find anything regarding "purple" bubble tips.
<Oh! The species occurs in many colour variations>
The anemone is small, maybe 3 inches across.
<Yes; "it has shrunk"... from a lack of food, inauspicious circumstances likely... Can/will come back w/ good care>
 It seems to be doing well so far, but it is a mystery. I have no idea exactly what species this is.. Can you help? Thank you so much!!
Leah
<Please read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/bubbletipanemones.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Rock Flower Anemone, Lighting and Sump Recommendations    1/21/12
Hi Bob,
I sent you a question a few weeks ago about a polyp rock with five flower anemones attached. I thought you may like a better photo. You may use it if you like.
<Thank you>
I have two quick questions for you. I recently had to move my 46 gallon Bowfront reef tank to a much sunnier location. My light fixture is a Nova Extreme t5 with 2 10,000 daylight bulbs programmed from 9-9, and 2 blue actinics programmed from 8-10. Includes LED moonlights as well. Since moving the tank, it has developed slimy red/brown algae on the glass and the live rock is a much darker green color. Do you think the increase in natural light may be contributing?
<Seems to be>
 Also, I currently have a HOB filter and CPR BAKPAK skimmer (has worked very well). I want to upgrade to a sump that will also hold a skimmer. Any recommendations for a unit that will fit in a smaller cabinet?
<Mmm, yes. Please read here re: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/skimrs4sumpsf.htm
Thanks for all of your help.
Your site has been a major factor in the success of my tank!
Karen
<Ahh! BobF>

Swimming anemone?   <<Bob! Bartholomea!>> 12/24/11
Hi wonderful experts.  I hope you are having a great Christmas!
<Thank you>
I recently bought a detritivore kit for my refugium.  Yesterday I saw a bizarre little creature 'sunning' itself on top of the clump of Chaeto.  It resembled a tiny light tan octopus, though with many more tentacles.
<I see this... Aiptasiid, Glass Anemone>
 When I startled it, it snapped all of its tentacles together behind it and thereby dove into the heart of the Chaeto.  This morning I found it attached to the side of the refugium.  This made me think it might be an anemone, but I never heard of an anemone that is a fast and graceful swimmer.
<There are a few... some clunkier, slower>
  It can move FAST, with its many tentacles trailing behind.  The dealer quickly got back to me and suggested that it might be a swimming anemone, and I should remove it.
<Yes I would>
 I did, and got a couple of photos.  I Googled "swimming anemone" and got no useful hits.  This phrase also came up empty on WetWebMedia.  I have attached two photos.  The diameter of what you see in these photos is about 5-6 mm.  Can anyone tell me what this is?
<Please see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/aiptasia/aiptasia.htm
and the linked files above>
  I have it in an isolation chamber in my QT right now, in case it is a good thing and I want to return it to the refugium.
<Some people employ these as filters... to take up unwanted nutrient... But they (the anemones) can become problematical in terms of rapid reproduction, displacement of other life>
  I would deeply appreciate any information anyone can provide.  Thanks! 
You folks are the best.
Tim
<We try. Cheers! Bob Fenner>

Re: Swimming anemone?    12/26/11
Bob - Thanks for the fast and important answer!  I hope you had a great Christmas.
<Is it over? Whoa!>
I got rid of the Aiptasia.  But sometimes it is so frustrating learning that there are so many things I don't know.
<Mmm, not for me... got used to this long ago. Now I really look forward to such discovering>
 I was positive it was not an Aiptasia.  I've read all about it in books and here, especially because some months ago when I cured a small batch of live rock for a special project I had a huge Aiptasia outbreak.  A handful of peppermint shrimp seem to have eliminated them all, though the real test will be to see if they come back.  But the Aiptasia I had there and that I've read about were very different from this guy.  Those all had a prominent oral disc, while this one had no oral disk at all (that I could see).  Those all had a prominent pedestal separating the foot from the oral disk.  This guy had no pedestal at all (that I could see).
<Mmm, this is why I stated/speculated that it was an Aiptasiid (the family), not necessarily of the genus Aiptasia>
 It was built like a WW II naval mine, a round central body with tentacles radiating out from it.  So I concluded that it was not Aiptasia.  Now I learn that there is a huge variety of this beast!  Sigh.  Well, I'm learning slowly.  Thank again!
Tim
<Take 'er easy Tim. BobF>
Re: Swimming anemone? 12/26/11
Tim, you triggered some memories... perhaps this is a Viatrix globulifera... BobF
Re: Swimming anemone?
Bob - Thanks for the additional info.  You guys are wonderful to us newbies.  I checked this viatrix and it is not a match.  I think you are right about this being an aiptasiid.  It doesn't look like my others in shape, but it's the exact color (transparent light tan) of an Aiptasia. 
Just another variation.  In any case, I removed it and am keeping close watch for any friends and relatives.
Tim
<Thank you for this follow-up Tim. BobF>

Anemone id   10/30/11
Hello,
<Hi Rob>
I purchased this "anemone" at my lfs. I was told out is a bubble tip anemone. However I have not been able to find a bta that looks anything like this. Can you tell me if this is the case?
<Could be an Entacmaea... Please see here: http://wetwebmedia.com/btaidfaqs.htm
Thanks
Rob
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Anemone identification  10/25/11
Hi guys,
Got a question for you. My local fish store sold me this anemone (see pic) they said it is a curlyque anemone but none of the pictures of curlyques I have seen look like it. Is it really s curlyque
<Not>
 or is it a different type of anemone and if so what type. It appears to be none aggressive and doesn't scare easily. It also doesn't move. Any ideas?
<Whatever it is, it's badly bleached and starved. Appears to be a Condylactis... Bob Fenner>
Thanks,
Timm

Anemone ID, reef stocking reading    7/25/11
Hi guys,
<Howsit?>
My name is Tim and I recently got some additional live rock (cultured Tonga) for my aquarium. The picture attached is a hitch-hiker I cannot seem to identify. I am confident it is not a glass anemone. Can you help?
<Appears to be an anemone/Actinarian of some sort... Agreed that it's not an Aiptasiid... I'd leave, see what it develops into>
Also I am considering getting a curlyque anemone. What are your thoughts on these guys? Anything major I need to be aware of?
<Too stinging for most settings... Use the search tool on every page on WWM re the name, read the cached/colored parts>
My tank is a 220 gallon. It houses a yellow tang, blue hippo tang, strawberry Pseudochromis, six line wrasse, two brittle stars, a percula clown, two engineer gobies, and 3 firefish. It also has approximately 250-280 pounds of live rock (various types including Gino, Tonga, and lettuce coral all aqua cultured). I use reef capable Marineland LED lighting, a Tom Aquarium Products wet/dry filter with protein skimmer, and a UV sterilizer.
Are there other good anemones or corals you would recommend? Any other fish or inverts that could be good additions?
<This is all posted/archived on our site...>
Thanks for all the great information you guys provide.
<Please use it>
You are a life saver for me and hobbyists everywhere.
<Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Anemone positive ID please 6/29/2011
How are you guys doing.
<Ok>
Thanks in advance for all this service you guys provide us with.
Pictures attached
#1 (I think Magnifica?)
<Mmm, no; likely Heteractis malu>
when touched feels a bit leathery stands very strong even with strong flow on it seem not to hang loose. Nice green color with very light purple tips.
<See here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm
Feels extremely sticky on the touch. Has been in the tank for about 1 month now and has been eating well.
#2 (I think LTA?)
<Mmm, no... almost assuredly this is a badly bleached Heteractis magnifica... see the comments re the pedicle>
looks very loose and much longer tentacles. Sways hard in the flow.
Does feel sticky on the touch though not that extreme. Has a light whitish purple color with a bright purple foot. Very bright purple tips at the end of its tentacles.(not clear in the pictures)
Has been in the tank over a month and eating very good although the 2 hosting clowns tend to grab everything out of it.
#3 (I think Rock Flower Anemone?)
<Good as name as any. I've seen this, or some similar Actinarian in and about Sulawesi and S. Saba at times. Don't know the scientific name... some folks state as Epicystis this or that.>
doesn't feel that sticky at all though has just been placed in the tank.
Foot did take though within a minute and it started to inflate instantly.
Has bright dark purple short tentacles with white rings around its tentacles. Looks like it has 3 separate heads but is one anemone with one central located mouth.
<Is a beauty for sure>
Has not been fed yet as just placed in the DT
<Thank you for sharing. Bob Fenner>