AnemIDFAQ16

FAQs on Anemone Identification 16

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Anemone Success
Doing what it takes to keep Anemones healthy long-term

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Anemone identification 12/3/07 Hi Bob, Would you be able to identify this? I couldn't find anything on the website. Thanks for all the other answers I've already found on your site. Ross <Likely an Anemonia cf. majano. RMF>

Need an Id... Possibly Actinodendron plumosum 11/21/2007 Good day, we are Mathieu and Shelly from Alberta. <Good day to you Mathieu and Shelly from Alberta, Mich here from the snowy Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Let me deeply apologize for the delayed response.> We require some help to identify what we believe to be an anemone of the family Actinodendron. <Does look to be!> It came as a hitchhiker on the live rock we purchased (Jakarta). We started out with one and it has multiplied to eight. <Yikes!> It has a mouth <Yes.> and doesn't sting. <Mmm, are you sure? Actinodendron spp. are commonly called Hellfire anemones and with good reason. Take a look on the net for some nasty reactions some folks have had. It's not pretty! http://www.gifte.de/Gifttiere/actinodendron_kontakt_bild01.htm See page 185 and 186 http://books.google.com/books?id=YsZ3GryFIzEC&pg=PA186&lpg=PA186&dq=actinodendron+vesicles&source =web&ots=tAKJ04saeA&sig=lWlZtlpgRpA_gpZBgIDLQu-9Wn8#PPA185,M1 > We have fed it and it's doing well. <Mmm, I'm not so sure I would be encouraging it's well being.> Any help in identifying it would be appreciated. <I believe it is an Actinodendron plumosum, I am unaware of any other Actinodendron spp. found in Jakarta, though yours does look a little different.> http://www.edge-of-reef.com/anemoni/ESAActinodendronplumosumen.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/anempt2.htm > http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee69/bioroots/NewAssortedPics2007043.jpg http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee69/bioroots/NewAssortedPics2007028.jpg http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee69/bioroots/NewAssortedPics2007025.jpg Thanks and we hope to hear from you soon. <I'm sorry for the delay. I do hope this is helpful to you. Mich>

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>

Polyp ID 10/25/07 ID... AiptasiaHi Crew, <Hello Tisheena & Danny, Mich here.> We have had our daisy polyps in our tank for about three months, and they've been doing great so far. A few weeks ago we noticed another type of polyp (presumably) growing among the daisies (see attached pic). Now, wherever these new tentacle-looking polyps are growing, the nearby daisies won't open. We're not sure whether this new species is a harmful intruder. <It is a harmful intruder. It is Aiptasia and should be eliminated.> If you have any suggestions for saving our daisies, we'd appreciate it! <More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/Aiptasia/aiptasia.htm http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i3/aiptasia_impressions/aiptaisia_impressions.htm> Thanks!<Welcome! Mich>
Tisheena & Danny

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>>

Identify Anemone 10/16/07 Hi there <Howdy> I've only had a marine tank for a few months now and have acquired this anemone. Would you be able to identify it for me and tell me where to look up some information on it. Thanks very much Brett, South Africa. <Looks like a Heteractis malu to me. Bob Fenner>

Help me figure out what's Going on please... Sm. SW... pest anemones mostly... Attention... is... narrowed... perception 10/3/07 Hi All, <Amy> I have not written since my sebae anemone problem. We took him back as told and all was well. The tank has been pretty much the same since. We just kind of let it ride over the summer. I swear I have aquarium ADD. I look and read and search and get so far off track that until I look in the tank, I forget what the question was. <More rest, less distractions?> First my tank is a BioCube 29 with two 105 watts of light (that's what my husband said), a sapphire protein skimmer. The water is 0 Nitrates, 0 Ammonia, 83 PH and 15-20 Nitrates (hard for me to match the colors). It's been up for 9 months and is home to a blue damsel, 2 Nemos, one lawn mower blenny, <Needs more room than this> one emerald crab, 8 little hermit crabs, 2 turbo snails, mushroom rock, a rock anemone and the rock I'm sending pictures of. Well, I think we have Aiptasia. <Mmm, no Anemonia sp.> I took out the rock that was covered. This rock in the pictures came with yellow thingy's (don't yell, I can't find what they are) and brown buttons. <Zoanthids> We already had some brown buttons. The yellow guys won't open and haven't for a while. Is it because of the Aiptasia? Or maybe the water, light, lack of nutrients, etc. Am I supposed to feed them? I know, you can't see what they are. They look a lot like the brown ones. Plus, what is with that gray lump on the top of that one. <Maybe> Do our mushrooms look ok? <Yes> They don't seem to extend as much as the ones in the store. We also have a million bristle worms and these little flea bugs that run around at night along with all kinds of little snails. No one is looking ill so I believe everything is fine there. I will read more how to control the nutrients. We have stepped up the water changes and want everyone to be happy. Any ideas? I'm guessing that injecting them with lemon juice isn't your first method of removal. I read that somewhere. I don't want to hurt the other guys though. I included a pic of the Nemo's because they are so darn cute. Do you think they'll ever have babies? Also, Lenny the ever loving Blenny is getting quite large. Around 7 inches I'd guess. He seems happy enough, can we keep him? Humbly Yours, Amy <Read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/index.htm scroll down to the tray on Anemones... Pests... Bob Fenner>

Creature identification: Is This an Aiptasia? Don't Think So... Perhaps a Tube Anemone 9/30/07 I've had my tank up for about 10 months now and it's doing great. <Good to hear!> Not long after I got my live rock, I noticed a small, tentacled creature on it. Since then it's grown a lot. I've attached a picture of said creature (I'm no photographer). I've looked at many pictures and can't decide if this is an Aiptasia. <Mmm, I don't think so.> It has an obvious mouth in the center but the base is not long but is quite thick. I would appreciate your input as to what you think it is. <Might be a tube anemone. If so, watch you fish don't become a tasty snack. More here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/tubeanem.htm > I know its tentacles are "sticky" because if I put my feeding stick around it they grasp it. It does retreat some when touch but it doesn't fully withdraw in to the rock. I don't have an outbreak of these creatures either. Also, you guys have a great site. I spend many hours just reading all the stuff! <Thank you for the kind words.> Thanks.
<Welcome! Mich>

Might be... gorgeous. RMF.

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