Identify Anemone and Advise Please

[river3847]

Hi I bought this bubble tip anemone yesterday in my local store, my tank is 1 year and 4 months old, 34 gallons solana w metal light. LFS said needs lots of light and should be ok in my tank. I have 2 clowns.

I put the anemone in the middle part of the aquarium with low current, during the night it moved to the sanbed between two rocks. today I moved to the upper part on a rock that has a hole and it stayed there.

took the following picture. I would like to know the name for this bubble tip , if looks ok for you, and the proper care this anemone should take from now on.

thanks in advance.

 

[garygb]

That doesn't look like a Heteractis aurora, a sand-dwelling anemone that is generally quite hardy. Your metal halide lighting will be fine for it. You should not put it on the rocks, that isn't a natural home for H. aurora, sometimes called beaded or corn anemone. They can get up to 10 inches or so across in time. I would suggest you feed it fresh pieces of shrimp, squid, krill, about the size of a peanut, once or twice per week.

You were calling the anemone a bubble tip, that is a different species of anemone altogether.

Yes, the anemone looks healthy. The two clowns might or might not go to it. H. aurora is referred to as the nursery anemone. Several species of clownfish go to it as juveniles and then move on to other species as they mature. I had one for years, but no clownfish would go to it, not even clarkii.

Did the anemone have a reddish, orangish base? If so then very characteristic of H. aurora.

 

[garygb]

Sorry, I posted before I proof-read. I should have started off with "That looks like H. aurora."

 

[elegance coral]

That's not a bubble tip. If it's a host species, its a ticked off H. aurora. The color is good, so I'd let it settle in a bit before assuming you have a positive ID. It's not a BTA though.

 

[river3847]

hi, thanks for the quick replies, yes it has an orange base. LFS sold as assorted bubble tip anemone... that's why I called that way.. good to know it is not.

so if doesn't go with live rock, I just put it in the sand @ the bottom of the tank? that will go ok with the light? or I leave it alone now and she will find the right place?

the lights wen't off an hour ago I notice she opened more and is moving.. see what happens in the morning.

I red some of anemones no need to feed they will eat through photosynthesis on the day-night cycles. it is the case of this one or I have to feed manually? in that case how? straight to the mouth using some sort of tool?

thanks for the advice.

That doesn't look like a Heteractis aurora, a sand-dwelling anemone that is generally quite hardy. Your metal halide lighting will be fine for it. You should not put it on the rocks, that isn't a natural home for H. aurora, sometimes called beaded or corn anemone. They can get up to 10 inches or so across in time. I would suggest you feed it fresh pieces of shrimp, squid, krill, about the size of a peanut, once or twice per week.

You were calling the anemone a bubble tip, that is a different species of anemone altogether.

Yes, the anemone looks healthy. The two clowns might or might not go to it. H. aurora is referred to as the nursery anemone. Several species of clownfish go to it as juveniles and then move on to other species as they mature. I had one for years, but no clownfish would go to it, not even clarkii.

Did the anemone have a reddish, orangish base? If so then very characteristic of H. aurora.

 

[garygb]

Not surprised it's moving. It wants to be in a deep sand bed, at least 3-4 inches deep. I kept mine stationary by filling a 5 inch piece of pvc with fine aragonite sand. It dug in and stayed put.

I'm not sure what you're asking re: putting it on the sand and the light, but yes, put it on the sand and let it bury its column in the sand. it will attach its foot to the bottom of the aquarium. Your metal halide (MH) lighting is perfect for this species.

This species does host zooxanthellae, meaning a significant portion of its nutrition is obtained by light; however, supplemental target feeding is advisable. The way you do it is, you take a small piece of food and put it on the tentacles. The anemone will then transport the food item to its mouth. Fresh shrimp, for human consumption, obtained at the seafood dept. of the grocery store would be a good first meal. Again, a piece the size of a peanut is about right. Reddish base, along with the other obvious charactieristics of this species = definitely H. aurora.

You can research by googling.

Again, a realatively hardy species.

 

[marc price]

that's a beautiful H. aurora! the mouth looks a little open but nothing to worry about yet, while it's still adjusting. just watch that it doesn't open more and stay agape.

 

[marc price]

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/marine/philippines-coral-reefs.html#cr

2nd picture