My local LFS told me that the vibrant purple nems are, more often than not, injected...even from reputable sellers. He says this results in an anemone that never is totally healthy. I trust the LFS on most everything, but am wondering what say you, and what evidence do you have one way or the other (experience or otherwise). They say that purple doesn't exist in nature.
Are purple anemones dyed to purple them up?
- Thread starter 930Reef
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Interesting...So my "green" LTA was a very natural looking green/brown unless it shrunk up. When it did shrink, electric green almost. Sounds like the pics online of extreme purple are taken when the nem isn't totally inflated...which makes sense, and is fine, IMO. Purple/brown is beautiful too, and I'm sure ppl have unrealistic expectations for what nature makes (ask any plastic surgeon)
:beer:
Dean Ladd
New member
I would agree with the other posts. I have kept both a green LTA and Rose BTA for several years now. Both are very colorful and represent their colors very well. If they were dyed I would assume they would have lost there vibrant colors years ago. In fact the more I feed them the richer their colors get. As the other stated their color intensity depends on how inflated they are or the lighting they are under. I also agree with the brown/purple color. I have a bunch of Yuma mushrooms that to me look brown but I have had guest at my home look at them and ask what are those purple things. I also have some very pink colored Yuma's. These have been very difficult to keep happy but they have never lost their color but maybe intensity.
I have never kept a S. Haddoni's. But they have some very spectacular colors. I have kept s. tapetum's and they have some beautiful colors. I have a very magenta colored one with a green rim. I have had it for several years, Beautiful creature. I had a couple blue ones that were beautiful as well but during a tank move I lost those.
I have never kept a S. Haddoni's. But they have some very spectacular colors. I have kept s. tapetum's and they have some beautiful colors. I have a very magenta colored one with a green rim. I have had it for several years, Beautiful creature. I had a couple blue ones that were beautiful as well but during a tank move I lost those.
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D-Nak
Active member
I'd have to disagree with the LFS, as I rarely see dyed nems these days. I'm guessing that your LFS has probably been around a long time, because about 20 years ago, many of the nems that were imported were indeed dyed.
Rose BTAs started to be imported en masse about the same time I started to see a decline in dyed nems. I think the rise in popularity of RBTAs made it harder to justify dying other species. Just my opinion.
If I see dyed nems, they are usually sebae anemones (usually malu) dyed bright yellow. There's no need to dye nems purple these days -- haddoni, gigantea, and occasionally malu and LTAS all have bright purple color morphs.
Rose BTAs started to be imported en masse about the same time I started to see a decline in dyed nems. I think the rise in popularity of RBTAs made it harder to justify dying other species. Just my opinion.
If I see dyed nems, they are usually sebae anemones (usually malu) dyed bright yellow. There's no need to dye nems purple these days -- haddoni, gigantea, and occasionally malu and LTAS all have bright purple color morphs.
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Agreed. Back when I transitioned from Fish Only to reef tanks (1990), and before I knew better, I purchased a bright yellow and a bright pink Sebae. Of course neither lasted very long.
That said, it's been a very, very long time since I've seen a dyed anemone in the hobby.
davocean
Active member
I have had and seen purple LTA's, like described usually beige w/ purple highlights, but sometimes pretty purple.
While I don't doubt some may still have some kind of color goofiness, yellow is actually a natural color for Malu, and purple as well, and malu seem to retain pretty bright colors that could be mis ID'd as dyed.
While I don't doubt some may still have some kind of color goofiness, yellow is actually a natural color for Malu, and purple as well, and malu seem to retain pretty bright colors that could be mis ID'd as dyed.
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