Friend or Foe (Help Please)

[beapeams]

Can anyone tell me what this is. Is it an Anemone or something else. It is very small right now.

Thanks for your help

 

[Sk8r]

People are going to yell 'aiptasia!' but I don't think so. That looks more like a polyp than an anemone. The hint is that central mouth. There are many varieties of polyp, and I can't help you with that, but ask in the zoanthid forum, and one of the resident experts may id it for you.

 

[beapeams]

I was thinking against aiptasia to. The foot of it is different than the red aiptasia that I have seen. It is also a much darker red than I have seen before. It reminds me of my Green Bubble tip.

 

[capncapo]

I would definitely watch it.

Many aiptasia don't really look to be when small. The tentacles and central disc on yours reminds me of one that I had that was not a desireable species to have in my tank.

The experts will tell you that coloring is NOT an accurate indicator of species.

 

[beapeams]

It is sitting in a spare tank currently and out of my main tank. Wanted to get other views on this before disposing of it. If it is aiptasia it will be the first one that I have had since I added my Pepermint Shrimp.

 

[Letmegrow]

It's a aip, not any type of coral, but an aip.

 

[Nanook]

You could make a case for a Majano-Aiptasia...otherwise known as "MajahAips"

dave

 

[chadscamaro]

Actually it looks like a Waratah anemone. Some wholesalers have had those on their lists recently and they are red like that.

 

[Mykayel]

Well, I don't have a clue... but if you like it, watch to make sure its not an envasive species. If you don't like it, kill it.

 

[beapeams]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7644615#post7644615 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chadscamaro
Actually it looks like a Waratah anemone. Some wholesalers have had those on their lists recently and they are red like that.

I would have to agree with you Chad after looking up pics of the Waratah I am almost positive that is what it is. Do you know if they are safe, or become nusiances, and how big do they get.

It is in my QT currently. I did not want to take a chance with it in the main. Hopefully I don't see a bunch of these pop up in the main tank. I figured in the QT I can see what happens.