ID this Mini Carpet Anemone

[sdoggssf]

It looks like a Rhodactis but has the characteristics of a crpet anemone.

 

[seapug]

I think it's just a rhodactis. I don't know of any carpet anemone that has the different, pointed tentacles around the outside like that.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I'll agree that it does look similar to a Tonga Bullseye Mushroom (Rhodactis inchoata), but I'm not 100% on that ID.

 

[sdoggssf]

It does look like a mushroom; however, when you touch it, it sticks to your finger like an anemone.

 

[TitusvileSurfer]

I don't have an anemone...but wouldn't that hurt?

 

[seapug]

With the exception of a couple of the more "potent" species, most anemones won't give a sting that you can actually feel on calloused skin like fingers.

So sdoggssf, I've seen you post this in some of the other forums and people keep IDing it as a Rhodactis. Apart from the fact that it is sticky (not a slam dunk ID as an anemone), what makes you think this is a carpet anemone and not a Rhodactis mushroom?

Where did it come from? Was it sold to you as a carpet anemone? Please fill us in.

 

[Scissorhand]

pls expand on what you mean by "characteristics of carpet anemone".

In my experience, carpet anemone has short tentacles similar to icordias. I don't really see that from your picture.

 

[FishyBiz]

Looks like a pizza anemone to me. I used to have two of them. One purple and one yellow. Fast growers and aggressive.

 

[sdoggssf]

I bought this as a rare mini carpet anemone from a person that is very knoledgable in the reef trade. This Anemone looked like a Rhodactis mushroom when i first seen it too, however as i looked closely and started to touch it, it resembled what we thought was Stichodactyla Tapetum (mini carpet). Its bubble like tentacles are more compact than Stichodactyla Tapetum, but it has the same pointed edges. I know the picture doesnt do it justice, but maybe this will show the difference between a blue tongan Rhodactis and this ??Anemone??

Blue tongan

Unknown

 

[Peter Eichler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10800785#post10800785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seapug
With the exception of a couple of the more "potent" species, most anemones won't give a sting that you can actually feel on calloused skin like fingers.

So sdoggssf, I've seen you post this in some of the other forums and people keep IDing it as a Rhodactis. Apart from the fact that it is sticky (not a slam dunk ID as an anemone), what makes you think this is a carpet anemone and not a Rhodactis mushroom?

Where did it come from? Was it sold to you as a carpet anemone? Please fill us in.

Those people keep being wrong. I fully believe that it's Stichodactyla tapetum. And yes, Tapetum anemones will have the tentacles around the outside like that to one degree or another.

 

[dshnarw]

I agree - S. tapetum. I have several that are nearly identical to the one pictured, except in color.

Pointed tentacles, rows of tentacles radiating from the mouth, and sticky as can be - all signs of a mini carpet.

(and while sticky may not be a definitive test as an anemone, it definitely knocks out mushroom as an option)

 

[SuperNerd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10802196#post10802196 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sdoggssf
I bought this as a rare mini carpet anemone from a person that is very knoledgable in the reef trade. This Anemone looked like a Rhodactis mushroom when i first seen it too, however as i looked closely and started to touch it, it resembled what we thought was Stichodactyla Tapetum (mini carpet).

Does this person know, and did you also notice when you touched it, the fact that this "mini carpet anemone" almost sticks to your fingers like other mini carpet anemones?
Because it looks bleached and may not be as sticky as a healthy mini, you may need to wait and touch it again at a later time. Try offering it little bits of food to get it to that point.

If it isn't a rhodactis or a mini carpet then you may have something new in the hobby. In that case YGPM for future clones/frags. :lol: