hitchhiker

[Kingx]

So I was at the LFS the other day picking up my branch of hammer coral that they were babysitting for me. It turns out now that I have this little anemone who wanted to come along for a ride. I know that they didn't know about it because it was in the tank with the corals and it is about the size of a dime. What should I do to try and care for it? My only fish is a small maroon clown that can get a little excited.

impossible to get a decent picture >< but it is kinda brownish green. I think it is an LTA.

 

[baileyblue]

greenish brown and the size of a dime... sounds like aptaisia. i'd get rid of it asap.

 

[kimsie]

It does look like Aiptasia - a pest anemone... Do a little reading or search on them and figure out how to get rid of it before you have many many more!

 

[Kingx]

no... I know what thoes look like. It isnt an aptaisia. It has tenticales like an anemone. Im pretty sure that is what it is but im not sure on the type. it has moved a little since last night. The tentacles are slightly bubbly.

 

[kimsie]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13068584#post13068584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kingx
It isnt an aptaisia. It has tenticales like an anemone.

Aiptasia is an anemone.

 

[Kingx]

I have had aiptasia before and I know all about them, what they look like, and how to get rid of them. I am positive that this is some sort of "good" anemone such as a bta or lta or it is some sort of polyp. Im less inclined to belive it is a polyp of sorts because it has moved a decent amount. I know the picture is bad, but I can easily tell in person that it is not an aiptasia.

 

[kimsie]

Ok - It's just most host anemones don't hitchhike in 'dime sized'...

Have you had any experience with Majano Anemone? They can be very cute (very small) but are also a pest anemone. They can look like a baby bubble tip - they have very distinct 2 rows of tentacles with their oral disk clear and range in color from pink to greenish... Also sometimes called Glass Anemone.

 

[kimsie]

Can you get a better picture - using the Macro function on your camera? That sometimes helps...

 

[Kingx]

actually now that I think about it the hammer coral was sitting next to some rock that had all of these little polyps growing all over it. It might be what that is. but this thing is moving around and it has a foot similiar to a host anemone. I am going to drive back over there and ID the polyp and will post later tonight.

 

[avp]

it's a majano anemone. Nuke it now, before it takes over.

-avp

 

[Slakker]

+1, majanos strongly resemble small BTAs.

 

[Kingx]

I looked at some pics online, it does strongly look like a majano anemone. What is the best way to get rid of it? looks like i might be able to scrape it off or something.

 

[dc]

I would kalk it or use vinegar. Sometimes scraping leaves part of it. I know someone who added them to their tank, they lived to regret that.

 

[pgammon]

I made the mistake of keeping one in an old tank, the only way I got rid of them was scraping them all off everything after I'd emptied the tank.

 

[dc]

Well I think the thing I've heard about these is that they multiply so slow, people don't see them as a threat. Then you wake up one day and they're all over.

 

[melsueshepp]

DC, what do you mean by use vinegar? i have 2 little aiptasias growing in my small tank. would that get rid of them? and is it safe to use in reef tank?

 

[Slakker]

use a syringe to inject them with it or shoot it into their mouth.