How can I tell if an anemone is dyed

[iamwhatiam52]

There is a beautiful maroon/red anemone at a nearby LFS, 6"diameter, very short tentacles, but not quite as short as most carpets I've seen. LFS employee did not know what it was. I'll get a pic tomorrow if it is still there.

Is there any way to tell if an anemone has been dyed? Irregular color? Too regular color? Base and top same color?

Any tips would be helpful. I would like to watch it for a while but here in New York it is not an option. It will be gone before the weekend is out and if this color is for real I want it. I have room for it even if it does grow to a foot or so.

 

[bradleym]

Check this out:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=18114475

That's a naturally red carpet and some discussion about a "red Gigantea". Gigantea carpets have sighty longer tentacles than other carpets, but they are VERY hard to care for, and all carpets get about 2 feet or more in size.

Here is a thread with several good pictures of a healthy, non-dyed, red carpet:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1868139

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Thanks for the links.

Looks nothing like any of the pictures.

I only got a quick look at it, all folded up behind a rock, but the color is darker sort of like this and I think tentacles do not cover the whole disk like a carpet. Could it be a large and exceptional nice rock flower anemone? if so, what is it worth?

I'll get a better look at it today.

 

[ocellaris123]

The only dyed hosting anemones i see nowadays are "sebaes" which are dyed yellow. A dyed anemone usually has the foot the same color as the dye, so the entire anemone will be a uniform color, from pedal disk to foot. Wetwebmedia claims that carpet anemones which are blue, green, and red are all dyed but those colors appear naturally.

 

[bradleym]

Here are some excellent examples of red Epicystis Crucifer AKA Rock Anemone, you can be the judge on that ID comparing to these pictures I would guess.

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Here are some excellent examples of red Epicystis Crucifer AKA Rock Anemone, you can be the judge on that ID comparing to these pictures I would guess.

Got links?

 

[bradleym]

Got links?

Doh!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1963653

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Now that it is right side up and out in the open it is clearly a bubble tip as any fool can see.

The small size and short tentacles also fooled me.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=400&pictureid=25341

 

[bradleym]

LOL. And a very healthy, un-dyed one at that. Glad to hear it.