if you are looking for a Stichodactyla mertensii...
- Thread starter sedgro
- Start date
From that single top shot, it looks like mine upon first arrival as well. As you said, without a better picture showing the column, tough to be sure. A bit more expensive then I would expect, must have wholesaled for the same as the Red Haddoni's.
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
Where?..I don't see it
never mind I found it
never mind I found it
elegance coral
They call me EC
I e-mailed them, and asked them to post a pic of the column here in this thread. Chad returned my message, in like 5 minutes, and said he would check into it when he gets to the warehouse today. $500 does seem a little steep, but if it is mertensii, I may order it.
You think I could slip it into the tank without the wife noticing?
You think I could slip it into the tank without the wife noticing?
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
I'll just wait till my LFS finds me one..with my LFS it should cost me no more than $250.
elegance coral
They call me EC
My LFS wouldn't know a mertensii if it was stuck to their arm. I don't think they will have one in my lifetime.
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
When there was one on LA divers den. It didn't cost that much.
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
He said he won't be at the warehouse untill this evening.
Don't know how an LFS can even order a Merten's. They typically arrive and are treated as "brown haddoni's". Unless they happen to be in good shape and showing the shaggy tentacles, then someone treats them like gigantea.
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
Hey Scott, does a mertensii have a sting like a haddoni? I've seen haddonis and giganteas in person but not a mertensii. So does it sting if you touch it?
Since they will not guarantee live arrival, anyone have any comments on the likelihood of live arrival of the various species of carpets from Reefscience?
$500 is a lot to risk without knowing the likelihood of success from a particular vendor.
$500 is a lot to risk without knowing the likelihood of success from a particular vendor.
wicked_NaCl_h2o
New member
Doni, she bought her purple haddoni carpet from reefscience.
Much milder sting then haddoni, at least to the human touch. Mine did not seem to much of a threat to the inhabitants.
Based on the pictures, the one looking like a merten's is likely a good candidate. It does not appear bleached and they tend to ship fairly well based on the few arrivals I have tracked. If it is a mertens, they are not common so difficult to price; but they do not typically command a high price since they are very rarely ID'd properly.
Personally, I would avoid buying carpets without a guarantee unless the pricing is at a range to afford 3 attempts. Most are going to die in the first 10ish days.
Personally, I would avoid buying carpets without a guarantee unless the pricing is at a range to afford 3 attempts. Most are going to die in the first 10ish days.
OK, thanks. Maybe I'll stick to shopping the Divers Den.
OK, thanks. Maybe I'll stick to shopping the Divers Den.
phender
Active member
I have been lucky enough to get two mertens carpets. One was about 12" across when I got it. The other was ~4". The retail prices were $50 and $22 respectively. When I got mine most hobbyists did know what a mertens was. One of them was IDed correctly by the wholesaler the other was an "assorted carpet"
In my experience they do ship very well. The few that I have seen at wholesalers and the one I saw at a LFS were all in good shape.
Be warned, if it is a mertens, that 8-12" anemone will swell up to 16" once it acclimates to your tank and will be 24" before you know it.
In my experience they do ship very well. The few that I have seen at wholesalers and the one I saw at a LFS were all in good shape.
Be warned, if it is a mertens, that 8-12" anemone will swell up to 16" once it acclimates to your tank and will be 24" before you know it.
elegance coral
They call me EC
The way I see it, if you're shopping for a mertensii, you can't afford to be picky. You got to grab it when/if you can. No one wants to pay $500 for an anemone that may die in a few days, but what choice do we have? It's not like we're going to get another chance any time soon.
phender
Active member
I think you should ask yourself, "Why do you want one so bad?"
It is just a brownish yellow anemone. Its not like they do back flips or something when you feed them. You will rarely see the underside or the foot, which actually has some color. They aren't rare in the wild, just usually too big to collect.
For $50 it would be a nice anemone because it is accepted by most clowns, doesn't have a powerful sting and its hardy on par with haddoni, but for $500 no way. Unfortunately someone will buy it at that price and that will set the standard for prices in the future.
Heterodonut
New member
Phil, I agree with what you say (usually do) but the one upside to the high ticket price is it will keep just anybody from buying it. Hopefully, whoever has that kind of dough, also has the equipment (lighting etc.), space, and the know-how to take care of it.
