Divers Den Anemone Colors

[swampy42]

How legit are the nem colors on Divers den? Would this Sebae(sold) or LTA acutally keep its colors like in the pics? I'm just planning out my next pick-up and want to make sure I choose wisely. I'm just worried that a similar Sebae would brown out.

Sebae

LTA

 

[elegance coral]

The photos are taken under 20K MH's, so they will appear more blue in the pic ,than they will under more daylight type lighting. Look at the sand. That will give you an idea of how much blue the lighting is adding to the pic. The sand is white, but it looks light blue.

 

[sland]

I have ordered a marble nem from them about a year ago, and it held it's color just fine, especially since I had it lit under the same lighting as them. Of course water quality, lighting, etc will play a role, you will get what you paid for. I have ordered multiple items from them and all arrived healthy and looking like what I bought, but they stayed that way, key part.

 

[Nebthet]

The sebae anemone they are showing and calling a crispa has been named incorrectly. It is a Malu. It has longer tentacles on the end, than in the centre and the tentacles have rings around them. All traits of a malu. Plus, crispas don't come in that color variation naturally.

 

[elegance coral]

The sebae anemone they are showing and calling a crispa has been named incorrectly. It is a Malu. It has longer tentacles on the end, than in the centre and the tentacles have rings around them. All traits of a malu. Plus, crispas don't come in that color variation naturally.

You're right. That's rare for them to get such an obvious ID wrong. Maybe it's a typo or something??????? I wish they would quite using the term "sebae" all together. All it does is confuse people.

 

[bradleym]

To add on a little here, had it been a white H. Crispa like it's listed as, it DEFINITELY would've browned out. And then maybe gotten purple or green tints.

 

[Big E]

[qupte]Quote:
Originally Posted by Nebthet
The sebae anemone they are showing and calling a crispa has been named incorrectly. It is a Malu. It has longer tentacles on the end, than in the centre and the tentacles have rings around them. All traits of a malu. Plus, crispas don't come in that color variation naturally.

You're right. That's rare for them to get such an obvious ID wrong. Maybe it's a typo or something??????? I wish they would quite using the term "sebae" all together. All it does is confuse people. [/quote]

I disagree, that's not a Malu............looks nothing like mine or has any of the characteristices of a Malu. They have it listed as a doreensis anyways.

 

[elegance coral]

[qupte]Quote:
Originally Posted by Nebthet
The sebae anemone they are showing and calling a crispa has been named incorrectly. It is a Malu. It has longer tentacles on the end, than in the centre and the tentacles have rings around them. All traits of a malu. Plus, crispas don't come in that color variation naturally.

You're right. That's rare for them to get such an obvious ID wrong. Maybe it's a typo or something??????? I wish they would quite using the term "sebae" all together. All it does is confuse people.

I disagree, that's not a Malu............looks nothing like mine or has any of the characteristices of a Malu. They have it listed as a doreensis anyways.[/QUOTE]

You're looking at the wrong anemone. Click the link above the LTA that reads "sebae"

 

[OrionN]

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/detailed_image.cfm?ddID=108750
I keep both and I think it is a H. malu instead of H. crispa

 

[phender]

I have to respectfully disagree with those who think it is a malu. The markings on the tentacles are not rings as they would be in a malu. The "reticulations" on the tentacles are characteristic of crispa that are regaining their zooxanthellae.

I agree that the anemone is not in the greatest shape, and it is often difficult to tell the difference at this stage, but I would vote for crispa from what I am seeing.

 

[Fishy_Clown]

+ 1 crispa

 

[Big E]

My mistake at looking at the wrong picture initially, but I don't think the other is a Malu either. The malu rings are distinct rings & also the tentacles are too dense in that picture.

I've seen a handful of true Malu's over the past 3-4 years & they usually are easy to identify.

 

[Nebthet]

I have to respectfully disagree with those who think it is a malu. The markings on the tentacles are not rings as they would be in a malu. The "reticulations" on the tentacles are characteristic of crispa that are regaining their zooxanthellae.

I agree that the anemone is not in the greatest shape, and it is often difficult to tell the difference at this stage, but I would vote for crispa from what I am seeing.

I still must also respectfully disagree with you too.
according to several sources the malu has the reticulation on the tentacles.

HETERACTIS MALU (HADDON AND SHACKLETON, 1893)

Delicate Sea Anemone

Original description As Discosoma malu, from specimens collected at Mer, in the Torres Straits

Other names previously used include Macranthea cookei (by Reed 1971), Radianthus papillosa (by Dunn 1974, Moyer 1976), Antheopsis papillosa (by Cutress 1977)

Diagnostic field characters Tentacles sparse, stubby (rarely to 40 mm long), of variable length even within one radial row, commonly magenta-tipped. Oral disc lies at surface of sediment in which delicate column is burrowed. Column commonly pale cream or yellow colour, may have splotches of deep yellow or orange.

Details Tentacles arise from brown or purplish (rarely bright green) oral disc as much as 200 mm in diameter that may have white radial markings; evenly tapered to point or slightly inflated in middle; lower part same colour as oral disc, but upper portion may have several white rings or green end. Column very thin in expansion; upper part violet-brown (due to zooxanthellae) with longitudinal rows of adhesive verrucae. Anemones can retract completely into sediment; most common in shallow, quiet waters.

Similar species Macrodactyla doreensis, Heteractis aurora and H. crispa also live burrowed into sediment. The columns of all four species may have red or yellow blotches; that of H. crispa is much firmer than that of H. malu (which is similar to that of H. aurora). In contrast to animals of the other three species, H. malu has relatively short tentacles, typically of variable length; tentacles of the other two species of Heteractis may also be magenta-tipped. Tentacles of H. crispa may contract in the absence of a fish, but H. malu has fewer tentacles per radial row; tentacles of H. aurora may be similarly sparse, but have swellings at intervals.

Distribution: Scattered localities from the Hawaiian Islands to Australia and northwards to Japan

HETERACTIS CRISPA (EHRENBERG, 1834)

Leathery Sea Anemone

Original description As Actinia crispa, from specimens collected in the Red Sea

Other names previously used include Radianthus kuekenthali (by Mariscal 1970, 1972, Uchida et al. 1975, Moyer 1976), R. malu (by Allen 1972, 1973, 1975), R. ritteri (by Allen 1978), H. macrodactylum (by Cutress and Arneson 1987)

Diagnostic field characters Tentacles long (typically to 100 mm), sinuous, evenly tapered to point, often tipped mauve or blue, rarely yellow or green. Oral disc widely flared, may exceed 500 mm diameter, but commonly 200 mm. Column gray in colour, leathery in texture, with prominent adhesive verrucae; lower part rarely mottled with yellow. Column buried in sediment so oral disc lies at surface of sediment, or pedal disc attached to branching coral.

Details Tentacles very numerous -- to 800 counted. Oral disc usually brownish violet or gray, rarely bright green. Tentacles shrivel when animal is disturbed, and assume green or gray luster; may shorten greatly in absence of fish. For an animal attached to coral branches, verrucae adhere to branches, holding oral disc open among them; verrucae adhere to sediment particles if animal lives in sediment.

Similar species Heteractis magnifica rarely lives on branching coral. Its blunt tentacles and brightly coloured column are distinctive. Macrodactyla doreensis, Heteractis aurora, and H. crispa also live burrowed into sediment. In contrast to anemones of those three species, H. crispa has many, long tentacles. Those of the other two burrowing species of Heteractis may also be magenta-tipped. Tentacles of H. crispa may contract in the absence of a fish, but they are more numerous than in H. malu, and lack the swellings of H. aurora. The column of H. crispa is unique among host actinians.

Distribution French Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia to the Red Sea, and Australia to Japan

Other sources:
http://www.nhm.ku.edu/inverts/ebooks/intro.html
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/hetmalufaqs.htm
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reef/anemones/SebaeAnemone.php
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/reef/anemones/DelicateSeaAnemone.php
http://www.marinelifephotography.com/marine/cnidaria/heteractis-malu.htm
http://www.saltcorner.com/Articles/Showarticle.php?articleID=144

 

[elegance coral]

I do have to agree with Phil on the fact that, coming to a positive ID using nothing but a top down shot, of a withdrawn anemone, is very difficult. I too have to stick with my original assumption though. I don't believe the anemone has enough tentacles to be crispa. When it expands, the tentacle count will not change. There will be large void areas on the oral disk where there are no tentacles. Like malu. If you compare the length of the interior tentacles to those around the perimeter, it's obvious that they are much longer on the perimeter. Like malu. According to their description, the anemone has a 3/4" pedal disk and is 3" when expanded. These are proportions of H. malu. Not H. crispa. H. crispa would have a much larger pedal disk.

 

[Big E]

Malu pics showing tentacle rings & tentacle shape, length & sparsness towards the middle.

[/IMG]

[/IMG]

 

[Big E]

video for maybe a better above view.......

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[bradleym]

Big E, that's a fabulous anemone! Good find.

 

[phender]

I still must also respectfully disagree with you too.
according to several sources the malu has the reticulation on the tentacles.

The descriptions mentioned rings not reticulations. Since you are quoting Fautin and Allen you might want to look at the actual book. My 1992 version has a pink H. crispa on the crispa page showing those exact reticulations as are appearing on the anemone in question.
I didn't look at all of your links, but I did look at a couple that I didn't recognize. Unfortunately a lot of internet info is just "book reports" taken from other sources and not actually independent knowledge or research.

I do have to agree with Phil on the fact that, coming to a positive ID using nothing but a top down shot, of a withdrawn anemone, is very difficult. I too have to stick with my original assumption though. I don't believe the anemone has enough tentacles to be crispa. When it expands, the tentacle count will not change. There will be large void areas on the oral disk where there are no tentacles. Like malu. If you compare the length of the interior tentacles to those around the perimeter, it's obvious that they are much longer on the perimeter. Like malu. According to their description, the anemone has a 3/4" pedal disk and is 3" when expanded. These are proportions of H. malu. Not H. crispa. H. crispa would have a much larger pedal disk.

To me the tentacle count looks very crispa-like. They look very dense to me. Since the anemone is not fully expanded, I think comparing inner tentacle length to outer length would be misleading. IME, crispa that are buried in the substrate tend to have a more delicate column that those that live on rocks. The ones I have had that moved from sand to rock actually developed a leathery column and larger foot soon after moving out of the sand.
When I look at the tentacles of a malu I consider them quite "football" shaped. These don't look football shaped enough for me.

video for maybe a better above view.......

[/URL][/IMG]

This is a great pic of what I would consider a typical H. malu. When I compare this pic to the anemone in question, I am not seeing the unknown anemone as a malu.

It is my opinion (and it is just an opinion) that historically sebaes in less than good shape have been routinely mis-IDed as malu, even by anemone experts. When you see a real malu, there is little doubt as to what it is. I have raised quite a few small anemones that many people would have called malus into large, obviously crispa anemones. IME, unless it is obviously a malu (like the pics Big E posted), even if it has a delicate column, it is most probably H. crispa.

There is no way I can make a 100% positive ID from one picture, or even several in some cases, but I would be willing to bet a couple bucks that if we saw this anemone in person that we would think it was H. crispa.

So did anybody here buy it so we can come over and take a look?

 

[Winwood]

I agree with Phil, looks like crispa to me.

 

[Big E]

I agree as mentioned, it can be tough to make a good ID from some pictures. In person, this is an easy anenome to ID. Even in my pics the 'nem is crunched up a bit because it's in a tupperware bowl making the tentacles seem a bit dense.

Most of the inner tentacles are literally nubs & spaced out quite a bit.