Anemone ID please.

[davez104]

Here are some pics, what do you think? They where with a group of wild caught "Barrier Reef Clowns" so I presume was collected at the same time.

The closest I can find is Heteractis magnifica. Magnifica also appear to be a natural host for Barrier Reef Clowns so maybe I'm on the right track??

Thanks for your help,
Dave.

 

[adtravels]

bta

tentacles on lst photo lower left portion

 

[adtravels]

dont be confused that the foot is not buried that animal is on the move.

 

[davez104]

How could you tell that it was on the move? Just curious, but you are right. The pic was taken only an hour or so after it was introduced to the tank. The shop tank only had standard flouro lights, so I think my 250W MH might have been a bit much for it. It moved itself to the underside of the rock it is on in the picture and has stayed there for around 3 days so far.

Thanks,
Dave.

 

[Flighty]

That could be either a BTA or a magnifica. Those bubles look much more like the way a magnifica bubbles rather than a bta to me. Do you see any dark spots on the foot?

 

[davocean]

I think adtravels meant don't assume that since it isn't buried in sand that it is on the move, as BTA's usually attach to rock.
BTA's require less light, and those MH are probably a bit strong for it, especially coming from shop w/ low light.
It may take a bit to acclimate.

 

[garygb]

I'm going to say BTA, but that's just a guess, it could be magnifica. If it winds up staying on top of the rock, I would say definitely a mag. On the other hand, if it only stays put with its base in a cave or overhang, then I would say BTA with more certainty.

 

[davez104]

This is a shot of where it moved to straight away, it seems to be happy there and has not moved since.

This is a FTS so you can see where it is positioned in the overall scheme of things.

I guess I'll just see how it goes over the next month or so, it may decide to come out in the light some more when it acclimatises. The shop lights where pretty dismall. Good for shop profits though, from what I can gather it was collected as a single anemone with the Barrier Reef Clowns, but had split into 4 nems while in the shop tank. I picked the healthiest looking one and still got stung 50 bucks for it.

Dave.

 

[mrbncal]

If it did split in teh lfs then chances are better than good its a bubble tip. Its deceiving to look at it because its color is kind of like a magnifica, but I'm leaning toward bubble tip

 

[davez104]

OK. So can I expect it to change colour and shape a little when it gets used to my lighting?

 

[adtravels]

I could tell it was on the move by the shape of the foot, thy only do it when on the move, It may never develop bubbles but it could still be a bta.

 

[garygb]

The location it went to suggests BTA, making me think my initial hunch was correct.

 

[Finious]

I vote magnifica. the tips in the upsidedown picture look like one also looking at the width of the foot

 

[Wrob]

That is not a BTA... that is a herectis magnifica or magnificent anemone... also known as a ritteri anemone. Though they share the same foot, you can easily distinguish between the two by looking at the tentacles. the BTA's tentacles will be bulbous when this short, while the magnificent anemones tentacles stay this length and are not bulbous ever. The tips of the magnificent anemone tentacles, however, are bulbous and usually yellow. The color of this one is nearly perfect. It is very healthy! It is the favored host of both false and true perculas, and the second favored of pink skunk clownfish. They move the least of all anemones, but are less often seen in the aquarium trade because they can grow so large. They have one of the most potent stings of any anemone. They require the least amount of feeding, but must be fed at least once a week. They prefer finely chopped carnivore preparations or mysis shrimp. Good luck with it! It likely moved to get the right amount of flow (medium to strong). Mine loves my 250watt MHs, but is more picky about flow. Unless I change my powerheads it never moves.

 

[traveller7]

fwiw: I would consider the ID a guess until it settles in a bit. Many of my H. magnifica did not exhibit verrucae for quite a few months. Many of my new E. quads don't act more BTA until they settle in as well.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13004032#post13004032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wrob
...They move the least of all anemones, but are less often seen in the aquarium trade because they can grow so large...

Incorrect, they arrive frequently and die very quickly.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13004032#post13004032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wrob
...They have one of the most potent stings of any anemone...

Incorrect. They have much less capability of stinging, catching and eating tank mates then hosting Stichodactlyla species and many of the other non hosting anemone species.

Care to share the source of your opinions?

 

[E.J. Coral]

too close to call from the pictures. I bought a pnk based, green tentacled anemone a few months ago that looked like the picture. I was sure it was a magnifica, as it was even sold as one. To make a long story short, three days later I was very disappointed to see it showing huge bulbs It even preferred to perch on a rock with the base exposed.... these species may be more related than we think...

 

[OrionN]

I am almost certain that it is a E. quadricolor (BTA). The third picture show a few bubble tip that is typical for BTA. There are no visible marks on the column but this is hard to detect in pictures. The position where it is, H. magnifica will not stay under a rock.
One lone factor that point o H. magnifica is that I saw one tentacle split. I think this is very common in H. magnifica while I have never seen any BTA with split tentacles.

Look closely at the third picture of this thread and you will see the BTA bulbs that I see.

 

[traveller7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13004799#post13004799 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OrionN
I think this is very common in H. magnifica while I have never seen any BTA with split tentacles.

The BTAs in with the Gasters have quite a few split tentacles, even one that rejoins in to a single tentacle at the tip.

I would hazard a quess, they are the result of injuries, but they appear very H. mag like in appearance.

 

[mrbncal]

I have a green bta with more thatn one split tentacle. I wouldn't call that a factor in identification.

 

[garygb]

Davez, is it staying in the location in the last pic, under the rock. If it is, I'm pretty sure you have yourself a nice BTA. Any new pics?