Hey Bob, its Niki. Got an anemone question here. -11/19/07
Hey Bob,
<Howzit Nik?>
Hope this letter finds you in good health and happiness...everything here at Quality is great and just as you said it would be. (awesome company).
<Yes... at the top of the best two of its kind on the planet (the other TMC in the UK)... Best set-up, folks, systems, suppliers... and livestock suppliers. Indeed, Quality>
My question pertains to the ever-so-daunting task of identification. I am trying to get the pictures and the scientific names matched up with our anemones in our catalog. Our Bob here mentioned you would be just the person to ask. I did go on WWM but could not find specifically the answer to my question.
I am trying to get ironed out the malu and crispa thing, is H. malu an obsolete name? Did they merge it into H. crispa?
<Mmm, no... or should I remark, "not as far as I'm aware"... Same genus, different species... the Sebae is almost always readily identifiable with its "tips" coloring... and the pedicles of both are very different...>
Also in our catalog we have 'Sebae' describing H. malu in our common names. Here is a link, it all just looks wrong to me. http://qualitymarineusa.com/products.asp?cls=2&scls=5&cat=50&scat=538&pg=1 Can you tell me what you think? Or refer me to a good reference online or a good book for identifying anemones?
<The two pix shown look okay to me... as far as species ID goes. The best site, links period for hexacorallians are Daphne Fautin: http://hercules.kgs.ku.edu/Hexacoral/Anemone2/>
Also is malu a sand anemone, or a type of LTA?
<The Malu could be called a sand anemone... the LTA is a different species. Please see here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm>
I have found indications of both.
<There is MUCH mis- and dis-information about. Am asking friend/anemone guru Brenda Furtak to chime in here>
Thanks so much, your friend Niki
<Cheers, Bob Fenner>

Anemone Identification 10/20/07
Hello WetWebMedia Staff People!
<Hi Kevin>
As my subject suggests, I need help in identifying an anemone that I am attempting to purchase. I am trying to complete my fishtank with a Heteractis malu,
<Difficult critter to keep/acclimate.>
but I'm having issues going to different LFSs and finding the one I want. I've seen different anemones that look like long tentacle anemones, Heteractis crispa and Heteractis malu, but at some point they all seem to be labeled as sebae anemones.
<One and the same. Read here. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/heteraccrispa.htm><<... these are separate species... RMF>>
I have tried doing picture searches online to try and distinguish which anemone is which, but the pictures seem to come up looking very much the same. The WWM pictures are too small for me to effectively identify the anemone I'm looking for. What are the clear differences between the three anemones that can help me distinguish one from the other, including foot / tentacle color, etc?
<Oboy, as far as color, it will depend on how healthy the anemone is. They generally do not ship to well. But I'll give it my best. Heteractis Magnifica can grow to an enormous size of about three foot and the tentacles are greenish in color with purple tips. Heteractis Aurora, sometimes called the Beaded Anemone, has characteristic knobs on the tentacles and a striped oral area. It likes to bury it's column in the sand. Heteractis Malu likes to do the same and has short tentacles creamy in color with small purple tips. Heteractis Crispa has numerous long pointed tentacles creamy in color, and is one of the more commonly found anemones.>
The reason for me attempting to get a Heteractis Malu is because its occasional appearance in certain parts of Hawaii. I decided a while back that I wanted to have a Hawaii themed aquarium, not including those pesky triggers or butterflies that eat inverts. Thanks for all of your help!
<You're welcome. James (Salty Dog)>
Kevin <<See here as well: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm. RMF>>