Anemone ID help, please.

[xcalabar777]

I have read through many ID threads on this and other sites and done many Google searches. I am still at a loss for exactly which anemone I have. It was a gift from a friend who said it was sold to him as some sort of carpet anemone (I happily scolded him on not taking on such a high level invert without proper research, ID, and understand of it's demands.) I gladly took in the poor thing if only to prevent its death, and it has begun to improve since placed in my tank (month ago.) I've been researching anemones for a few years debating on adding one, so I am not shy on the common needs, but I'd like to know the specific need of this particular anemone just in case I need to change something. As a side note this tank is over two years old, not sure exactly how old, maybe 3 years, and had a variety of healthy life. Recently I set up a larger tank, so it was a good time when I got him to move the fish into the larger tank for their protection, the coral are soon to follow, although he hasn't moved so I guess he is happy.

Here are some pics taken under my T-5's (second pic is with the camera flash on, flash is off on the rest of the pics.)

 

[xcalabar777]

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[Reefer.1]

I have read through many ID threads on this and other sites and done many Google searches. I am still at a loss for exactly which anemone I have. It was a gift from a friend who said it was sold to him as some sort of carpet anemone (I happily scolded him on not taking on such a high level invert without proper research, ID, and understand of it's demands.) I gladly took in the poor thing if only to prevent its death, and it has begun to improve since placed in my tank (month ago.) I've been researching anemones for a few years debating on adding one, so I am not shy on the common needs, but I'd like to know the specific need of this particular anemone just in case I need to change something. As a side note this tank is over two years old, not sure exactly how old, maybe 3 years, and had a variety of healthy life. Recently I set up a larger tank, so it was a good time when I got him to move the fish into the larger tank for their protection, the coral are soon to follow, although he hasn't moved so I guess he is happy.

Here are some pics taken under my T-5's (second pic is with the camera flash on, flash is off on the rest of the pics.)

it's a tru carpet anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea) according to this the brown spots under oral disc on body id's it .
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+499+2871&pcatid=2871

 

[kduen]

it's a tru carpet anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea) according to this the brown spots under oral disc on body id's it .
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+499+2871&pcatid=2871

While being a carpet anemone yes, S. Gigantea it is not. I am about 99% sure that what you have there is a S. Helianthus or Atlantic carpet anemone. Before I clicked on the thumbnails I would have agreed with you but brownish/green verracue point to an Helianthus and not a Gigantea.

 

[bradleym]

While being a carpet anemone yes, S. Gigantea it is not. I am about 99% sure that what you have there is a S. Helianthus or Atlantic carpet anemone. Before I clicked on the thumbnails I would have agreed with you but brownish/green verracue point to an Helianthus and not a Gigantea.

+1 nothing to add, my thoughts exactly

 

[D-Nak]

it's a tru carpet anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea) according to this the brown spots under oral disc on body id's it .
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+499+2871&pcatid=2871

I agree with the others that this anemone is S. helianthis.

Please, please make sure you are 100% positive when offering ID advice. S. helianthis is COMPLETELY different than any other Stichodactyla in that it is NOT a hosting anemone, and it will eat clowns that try to use it as a host.

Regarding the verrucae, most S. helianthis typically have brown or almost orange, while most gigs have purple, blue, gray or brown, but I've never seen a gig with brown spots that look orange.

 

[RandysReef]

+1, it looks more like a gigantea but not to far from helianthus.
I don't think helianthus carpets have spots on the oral disk like that.
Im going with gigantea.

 

[kduen]

+1, it looks more like a gigantea but not to far from helianthus.
I don't think helianthus carpets have spots on the oral disk like that.
Im going with gigantea.

Trust me this is a S. Helianthus. I had been sent one by mistake when I ordered my S Haddoni. Here is a picture of it upside down in a tupperware container to show the spots.

 

[D-Nak]

+1, it looks more like a gigantea but not to far from helianthus.
I don't think helianthus carpets have spots on the oral disk like that.
Im going with gigantea.

Are you talking about the verrucae on the underside of the oral disk? If so, these are tell-tale spots of helianthus. Typically I don't feel strongly about these types of mis-IDs, but in this case, there are serious consequences if clowns are added to the tank.

If you do a quick google search of S. helianthus, you will see the exact same spots as what appear in the photos above.

Furthermore, the shape of the anemone, with its flat oral disc also points to S. helianthus. Gigs typically have a folded oral disk.

Finally, the tentacles are also typical helianthus, in terms of uniform spread and size, and shape. Healthy gigs have tentacles that resemble a shag carpet, while sick gigs look as if they are balding, never uniform as in the photos.

 

[xcalabar777]

Ok. I was having trouble deciding between a gig. and heli. myself. I knew it had to be one and since it appears the majority are thinking heli that's what I am going with. A little more backstory, my friend was told this was a gig and it appeared to be (way to go petco) until it ate his clown and a cardinal.) I actually watched the clown get eatin, it was horrible. The poor fish swam near the anemone then decided to sim into it. Within seconds it had closed around the little guy. We debated cutting the nem open but knew at that point the fish was gone and we'd be killing them both. I want to be very clear that by the time we realized something was wrong it was to late, we did not sit by ideally.

Now with an unbiased ID and a little backstory for bias.. Lol... I feel I can sadely say this just became a one anemone tank with zero other friends. Ugh.

I will say this, he is very kool looking, neon green tentacles with purple tips. Very cool looking.

 

[xcalabar777]

Thanks for you replies!

 

[nogascans]

Have one as well

Have one as well

Not to hijack your thread, but..

IF it's any consolation, I have a 6" S. Helianthus as well. I purchased online as a "green carpet anemone". It has been in tank for about 2 months now. You are correct in that is a very nice looking anemone. So far it has had no adverse effect on other livestock, and has settled in at the top of live rock in dead center of tank. All the fish seem to have a keen awareness of it and stay away. Eats 1/2 shrimp in pieces about twice a week. I understood from response here that it was not a "hosting" anemone, but I haven't had the guts to throw it out, just too damn nice of a specimen. If I could find a home, maybe I'd part with it.

I also have a Heteractis crispa in tank (90 bow) that is less enthusiastic of a specimen as far as movement/color, and it has yet to "host" with clowns in tank. It had settled in to an area left and down between rock and sand substrate where is has been nested (last few months) , until yesterday, when it decided to take a "walk" around the tank, and has found a new spot with more flow. I believe this was of my making as it had been getting bombarded with sand to the point of having it inside its ring/tentacles, so I moved the power heads to stop the sand there from moving so much. I also added a pair of Anthias, but they steer clear as well, and I don't see them being the issue.

Best of luck with yours.

David

 

[OrionN]

There are some shrimp that will use S. helianthus as a host. BTW, the anemone is the host and the fish or shrimp is the tenant. It used to bother the heck out of my when people keep referring to the anemone fish as the host.