Hitchhiking anemone (not aiptasia)

[wonderloss]

I just bought this nice mushroom rock, and when I put it in the bucket for acclimation, I found this guy in the bag. Does anyone know what it is? Is it tough to care for? Sorry the picture is not great. It is about 1.5"-2" across, and the tentacles are only around the edge of the disk, and they are purple. The body is pink.

I really did not plan to get an anemone right now, but I also would hate to get rid of something for no reason. I'm not sure if the LFS would take it back, and I figure the stress of taking it back and forth would not be good for it. If it is something I can care for, and is not a danger to fish or corals, I would like to keep it. On the other hand, if it is likely to die and kill my tank inhabitants in the process, I don't want it to go in there.

For tank details, I have had it set up over 1.5 years. I have PC lighting, 2 65W 10000K and 2 65W actinics. My fish are a percula, firefish, and a scooter blenny. I'm just getting started with my corals, mostly softies.

Thanks for any input.

[Woodstock]

I am not sure. The base looks to be red so it may be one of these:

http://fins.actwin.com/articles/choosinganemone.php

Heteractis magnifica, Ritteri, African, yellow-tipped anemone This anemone is usually rather large. Their tentacles are long with very blunt tips that are lighter in color than the shafts. The base may be red or purple but brown is more common.
Good Points- They are relatively common in the market. They are accepted by almost every variety of clownfish. Bad Points- They tend to move to the highest point in the tank, often up the sides of the glass very near the water return pipe. In nature they tend to be found at the highest parts of the reef exposed to strong light and currents. In the aquarium they will need very strong lighting (metal halide) and very strong alternating (wave) currents to do well. They also have a reputation for being able to catch and eat medium sized non-clownfish.

Macrodactyla doreensis, Long-tentacled anemone These anemones have very long (up to 5-6 in.), smooth, thick tentacles sometimes with longitudinal stripes extending into the oral disk. The tentacles originate from a round flat oral disk, distinguishing it from the condylactis anemone. The foot of the base is almost always bright red or orange.
Good Points- They are hardy if kept under Metal Halide lights. Under lower light levels they seem to slowly waste away. They come in a variety of patterns and colors including purple. Accepted by Clarki clowns, tomato-type clowns and pink skunk clowns. Bad Points- They must have bright lighting. They normally live with their base buried deep in the sand and sometimes have a difficult time finding an attachment spot in a reef-type tank.

Once your anemone expands, do a google search for photos of the above anemones and see if they resemble yours.

Let us know what you find out~

[wonderloss]

Thanks Woodstock. Looking at the pictures, I think it is Heteractis magnifica. It is still in the tank right now, but I don't think I'm going to be able to keep it. I don't think the lighting in my 55 gal. is strong enough for it, and most of my fish are on the small side. My clown might appreciate it, though.

On the other hand, it found a nice crevice in the rock in which to attach. I'm not sure how easy it will be to remove it if I decide to get rid of it. Only the tentacles are exposed. I guess I will cross that bridge when I come to it, if it doesn't decide to move before then.

[cheeks69]

I don't think it's a magnifica, could you take a clearer pic of the tentacles ?

[wonderloss]

Here is a better one.

[wonderloss]

The bump thread reminded me that this one needed a bump.

I still have the anemone, and it seems to be doing alright. It stays open during the day, and has not been moving around. It seems to like it's little niche.

Any suggestions Cheeks, or do you still need a better picture? My digital photo skills are somewhat lacking, and I can never get the camera to focus on what I want it to.

[cheeks69]

Originally Posted by wonderloss

Any suggestions Cheeks, or do you still need a better picture? My digital photo skills are somewhat lacking, and I can never get the camera to focus on what I want it to.

I can't tell by the photo. Have you noticed it move to the highest part of the tank ? They will usually do that since they're one of the most light demanding anemones.

[illcssd]

fwiw
90% sure its a bta, not h magnifica. Wrong tentacle shape and the base of the anemone is the wrong color. Plus, the way it attached itself in a hole also points to e. quadricolor--bta. How big is your tank?
Try to get a clearer picture of around the mouth and the base so i can be sure....

[wonderloss]

Now that I have observed it more, I think it is a BTA. The tips have the distinctive bulbs most of the time. Online pictures of BTA seem to really accentuate the bubbles, and they really did not look like mine at first. I will try to get a better pic soon. I have been having computer problems, so I have not had time.

My aquarium is 55 gal. The anemone still has not moved from its crevice, so I think it is pretty happy. It opens up nicely during the day. It eats when fed. Definitely my best hitchhiker, so far.

Are you an anemone expert of some sort, illcssd? I have noticed you chiming in on a few anemone ID threads.

[illcssd]

Lol, i am by no means an expert. But if i had some kind of a say..."specialty." It would be anemones. Currently i have the following:
2 h. crispa's; 1 purple 1 brown, a tan/pink h. magnifica, and a bunch of rose e. quadricolor's. The only two i am missing that i want are mertensii and gigantea, both of which i can not find otherwise i would have.
I just like them, and clownfish lol. Its why i got into this hobby.

[Boomer]

tentacles are only around the edge of the disk

Then it is not an anemone and is some kind of mushroom.

[illcssd]

I'm afraid not boomer. First off, mushrooms are not as mobile as this anemone has been. Second, the anemone was un-healthy when first discovered, now if you look at the second picture, the tentacle's have grown in and they appear to have bubble's on the end. Typical of a bta recovery. Also look at the base, there is no stalk like a mushroom, but an actual foot, hence anemone. When Wonderloss posts the new pictures we will be more sure.

[Boomer]

First, you can not tell from any of those pics if there is a stalk, base or foot at all. You are dreaming What do you mean the tentacles have grown in ? Those pics are 2-days apart. You can not grown in new tentacles in 2 days. Where does he say this is mobile other than finding a spot.

90% sure its a bta, not h magnifica. Wrong tentacle shape and the base of the anemone is the wrong color

What do you mean wrong? Ritteri's can have bases of different color pink, brown, brownish red, red etc. and the tenticles can be bulbous or unbulbous. I raised them for years. Even a crispa could be like his pics


the way it attached itself in a hole also points to e. quadricolor--bta.

That does not point to a quad at all. Many anemones do this, such as a number of the carpets to include Ritteri's

The only thing one can get from those pics is wild guess. Could it be a BTA, sure, that would be the best guess other than a shroom, as they do come as HH, the other anemones rarely do. There are also bulbous rock anemones.

If there is only one ring of tentacles on the outer edge it is not an anemone ...period.

[BrothaWolf]

[BoomerD]

Lemme join ya Brothawolf... and I brought a couple of cold ones to wash that popcorn down...