Anemone ID

[Agathos]

I just picked up this very small anemone at my LFS. It has a 1 inch foot, buried in the sand bed. The width of the top is less than 1 inch. Pink mouth and very small (damaged?) tentacles.

 

[romsoccer12]

that doesnt even look like a nem to me haha but im no expert. what did the LFS say it was and how much did u pay fo rit? once its tentacles come out, maybe try feeding it some small mysis because it looks to be in poor shape

 

[Agathos]

that doesnt even look like a nem to me haha but im no expert. what did the LFS say it was and how much did u pay fo rit? once its tentacles come out, maybe try feeding it some small mysis because it looks to be in poor shape

He didn't know what it was at first before he lifted it up from the sand bed and saw the foot . He said it has been in a bad shape for a long time, I paid approximately 35 USD (for comparison, large beautiful anemones go for about 140 USD). I'll try feeding it a little bit tomorrow.

Here's a picture I just took. The thing has come a little bit up out of the substrate now, part of the stalk can be seen. (There's a pebble near the mouth).

 

[Ron Popeil]

looks like it will turn out to be a heteractis aurora or beaded anemone.

 

[MarinaP]

+1 on aurora

 

[clowns101]

+2 totally aroura!

 

[romsoccer12]

35 dollars for a beat up 1inch anemone? beautiful anemones dont all go for 150, normally only roses..

 

[Agathos]

35 dollars for a beat up 1inch anemone? beautiful anemones dont all go for 150, normally only roses..

I think the prices may be a little bit higher here in my country

 

[MarinaP]

They nice rarely seen in the hobby anemones, Agathos. Good purchase

 

[romsoccer12]

guess i was wrong. like i said not the anemone expert. its just ive had aiptasia bigger than that.. xD

 

[garygb]

I would guess H. aurora too. If it is H. aurora, the base will be a reddish/orangish color. I had one for several years, they like good reef lighting and benefit from regular target feeding. Even though technically they are host anemones because several species of clowns will go in them as juveniles, only clarkii will go in one as an adult fish.

 

[NCSUsalt]

it looks like it could also be a ****ed off flower anemone (Epicystis crucifer)

what part of the world are you in? that could help determine what your geographical area is more likely to see as imports

 

[Agathos]

I fed it a little piece of shrimp today. I had to place a glass over it to protect it from the hermits and Lysmata, but it swallowed it. This looks promising.

The LFS were I bought it is in Norway.

 

[Agathos]

It has emerged a bit from the substrate now, and parts of the foot (or the "stalk") can be seen and it's is not red or range-ish. Is this what is referred to as the base? Or do I need to lift it up and look under the foot to see the base?

 

[kkiel02]

it looks like it could also be a ****ed off flower anemone (Epicystis crucifer)

what part of the world are you in? that could help determine what your geographical area is more likely to see as imports

Thats what I was thinking but its so small its hard to tell.

Well after that last picture I have doubts about the flower as they usually dont stick up like that.

 

[garygb]

It looks like aurora, but I don't see the characteristic reddish base, perhaps it is still hidden by the gravel. I wouldn't suggest you uproot it. Just provide good light and regular small feedings. Aurora gets rather large, maybe 10 inches across eventually.

 

[Agathos]

It looks like aurora, but I don't see the characteristic reddish base, perhaps it is still hidden by the gravel. I wouldn't suggest you uproot it. Just provide good light and regular small feedings.

That's exactly what I will do. And if it grows I'll take new pictures and post here.

Thanks for all the help, guys!

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

my guess it is a flower anemone. just my .02.

 

[Agathos]

I've been googling all the suggestions without finding a picture that perfectly fits. Here's two more pictures of it. The disc is much more pink than seen in the photos. It is more or less fully extended from the substrate now.

 

[Agathos]

The anemone is doing fine. Every week I feed with small pieces of raw shrimp. It has definitely grown in size.

At night it lowers itself in alignment with the substrate, during the day it extends itself towards the light. I guess it preys on small critters that sumble onto it at night, while being in symbiosis with photosynthetic microorganisms that energize it during day.