Aiptasia pallida - 10/06/2009
Hi Crew
Can you verify that this (attached) photo is of an Aiptasia pallida ? Off a local wreck site here.
regards
Jim Eagles
Brisbane Queensland
<Mmm, is not... A. pallida is not found there (is in coastal Caribbean, coastal US Atlantic, N. Carolina to Texas...).
Don't know what this is... maybe Oulactis muscosa, for the variegate-colored tentacles... though these are mainly inhabitants of rocky pools... Do you have a close-up pic? If you have time, interest, try perusing Daphne Fautin's site:
http://hercules.kgs.ku.edu/Hexacoral/Anemone2/
Bob Fenner>
Re: Aiptasia pallida
Thanks Bob, for the prompt and helpful reply, much appreciated
cheers
Jim Eagles
<Welcome Jim. BobF>
Fw: Aiptasia pallida
Attn Bob Fenner
I knew that the A. pallida was N. American, but worried it has travelled here. Bit of a nasty species to have introduced here. Have checked up on the species you mentioned (Oulactis muscosa) but apparently it is only found in rock pools, the specimen I sent the image of was photographed two miles deep on the wreck. Looks like I'll have to keep looking. Thanks again
regards
Jim Eagles
<... this animal, the wreck are thousands of feet down in depth? Or this distance from shore? BobF>

Query Regarding Strange Specimen - 10/01/2009
Dear WetWebMedia,
<Dear Writer! Crewmember Sabrina with you today.>
I have been browsing Wet Web Media for some time, and find it to be wonderful and informative.
<Thank you very much for these kind words.>
Unfortunately, I have been unable to find any information regarding a creature I found in my 10-gallon nano tank. This tank has about twelve pounds of live rock, and a red crab who hitchhiked in on a rock. Among other inhabitants, it has had a bizarre netted flatworm, a bright green mantis shrimp, and several other strange, but interesting, animals. I have managed to locate information on these other creatures, but not this anemone. The specimen has just divided, leaving me two half-inch anemones.
Considering that I first saw it at one half inch in diameter, I thought it might perhaps grow larger before dividing as it did. It has short tentacles that do not appear to sting, but adhere to fingers when presented.
<The main knee-jerk reaction that I took this question is the preceding statement. I feel compelled to mention that not all critters in reef tanks are safe to touch! PLEASE be cautious about poking about or intentionally touching cnidarians and other reef life. For one, it's not very good for the Cnidarian. For two.... Well, do a search on palytoxin and understand that there are good reasons to be cautious about unknown - and even well-known - animals in reef tanks. Blanket statement: wear gloves when working in fish tanks. I'll be the first to admit that I don't always do so myself in my own tanks, but I should.>
It is fluorescent under actinic lighting.
I had fed the anemone mysis shrimp and other meaty goods before, but the other day it got a hold of one of my young Bettas that had escaped into the marine tank.
<Yee-ikes!>
The Betta was retrieved, but did not survive.
<I'm so sorry to hear this. It may have been the saltwater more than the brush with the Cnidarian in question. Please consider lids for any of those Betta tanks that don't have one, eh?>
While I do not believe it is a Majano or Aiptasia,
<It is neither an Aiptasia, nor an Anemonia majano. Of that I am certain.>
I could not say for certain. Finally, I note that I do not intend on populating the tank with fish. I find it interesting to discover new and interesting creatures almost weekly.
<Neat! I have to say, that can be more fun than a tank full of fish.>
Attached Images:
Anemone 1: Creature shortly after I had found it.
Anemone 2: Creature about three months after discovery.
Anemone 3: Immediately after it divided.
Anemone 4: One day after it divided and relocated.
<I think.... and that is to say, I'm not sure.... this might be a Stichodactyla tapetum, "mini carpet anemone". My first thought was that it's a Ricordea of some sort, and that may be the case, but the smooth center with radiating lines seems more consistent with Stichodactyla tapetum. Take a look at images of this and also of Ricordea. Hopefully Bob will provide further input if I am completely in error.>
Thank you for your time, Sunstar
<Glad to be of service. Thanks for the very nicely taken photos! Wishing you well, -Sabrina>

Bulb (Entacmaea quadricolor), Sebae (Heteractis crispa), or other Anemone? 9/28/09
I got an anemone today, asking for (and thinking that I also received and took home) a Bulb Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor). However, when I finally got home, acclimated it, and turned on the lighting, it appeared to look like a Sebae (Heteractis crispa) or other type of anemone (because it has those pink dots at its tips, and also when on a piece of live rock it has longer tentacles).
<Here's a clue>
I attached pictures in different types of lighting. Can you help me identify it? Is it a bulb? Or Sebae? Or other?
<Read here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm
"and the linked files above">
Or is there something I can do to correctly identify it?
<... note the color of the pedicle, the verrucae... This animal/specimen is badly bleached...>
Like, put it next to a bulb anemone and see if they "sting" each other (2 bulbs won't sting each other, right?)...?
Tanks!
Fanta
<Keep drinking, oh, reading... Bob Fenner>

Anemone Identification 9/26/09
Hello Crew,
<Bonnie>
Thank you for helping me last time with my "mini anemone" assessment. It is a Corallimorph and you were right.
Now, here I am again with another question.
This is a strange one, because I've owned this rock some time now, years, and I don't really bring a lot of "new" rocks into my tank, but I am noticing a couple new things popping out of rocks when I move one or when I breaker one apart, and this is my newest thing...another anemone.
<Mmm, yes>
I am really concerned that this could be the dreaded Majano Anemone, and having never owned one, or had one, I'd like to find out.
<Sure likes like one... a beauty... Not to be dreaded>
So far, the little thing is peaceful, and doesn't seem to be bothering anyone. He is approximately 1/3 inch in diameter.
Could someone help me ID this? I truly hope you come back and tell me "It's not Majano"! LOL.
Thanks, in advance...Bonnie
<Welcome. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/anemoniafaqs.htm
Bob Fenner>

Anemone Identification. 8/21/09
Hello WWM crew.
I have been using WWM as a Information resource for little over a year now and you have my thanks for providing such detailed information.
<Welcome>
I am the owner of a 14 gallon bio cube "stock" and have been doing well for about two years now with several soft coral species.
I am having difficulty identifying a small anemone I found on my live rock about a year ago.
I had initially thought it was a majano,
<I too think this is what this is>
It has never multiplied and I never directly fed it until recently.
The Anemone is about the size of a Canadian two dollar coin and has a Lime green body with a row of bump
like structures at the very edge of the body column just before the tentacles.
There seems to be at least four rows of tentacles, each tentacle seems to exhibit a rounded end with a
nipple like nodule at the tip.
The tentacles seem quite colorful and if it Truly is a majano I feel inclined to keep this one as it seems to
demonstrate a wide range of colors.
I fed it some pieces of silver side which it quite rapidly consumed, after which it displayed extremely
Bright coloration.
Any Thoughts?
<Maybe Anemonia... but whatever it is, it's a beauty. I'd keep about. Cheers, Bob Fenner>

I.D Anemone 8/15/09
I just purchased this already set up tank a few weeks ago and we cannot figure out what kind of anemones these are. Can you help?
>.... sure... Anemonia. RMF<