Mertensi ?

I'm still struggling accepting this ID. Call me loopy, I know. Jared, the markings you posted of the Atlantic carpet have well organized spots, and no red markings on the bottom of the foot. The red markings on the OP's pic shows a different marking pattern, and show up on the bottom of the foot. From what I understand, Mertens have disorganized red markings all the way to the foot, and under the foot. You're all probably right, it's just me struggling....

OP, do you have any pictures of this anemone when it opens up under lights?

I am too, but I know petco always gets them in. The small red dots are what's throwing me too.

I know it's not a mert though. A merts red verracues are different. They are larger and more organised.

The main reason why I thing it's an Atlantic is because of the brown oral disc and the typical dull brownish green hard short stubby tentacle color. They always have that two-tone (light/dark) color pattern.

Who knows, maybe it's a hybrid Atlantic/mert. Lol
 

Let's compair.



The tiny speckled red dots are the only difference.


Look at the verracues on this brown mert.






Let me hit that sucker with my 165W full spec LED, I bet those tentacles with spread out, and he will flatten out like a pancake.


Bro, you said he gets shaggy and folded up like a gig when he's under light. Can you post pictures of this?
 
Last edited:
The foot of the OP's keeps me thinking though. Then I start second guessing again.

I'd still like to see a pic of the anemone opened up under stronger lights, I've seen a few guys post pics of their mertens with short haddoni like tents before.
 
Taylor, the spots on your mert look smaller than most. Maybe because it's so large.

what color are his spots? Are they still magenta?
 
Here is the anemone 5 days later after introduction and fully open
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    58.4 KB · Views: 13
I remembered the mistake I made when I got a S. helianthus quite a few years ago have a foot look just like the OP's anemone. Since then I can always tell at a glance and have not pay that much attention to them.
I think I make too early of a conclusion in this case as to the species of this anemone. Regardless, It is not one of the host carpet anemones nor a S. tapetum.
 
Mine had red colored markings when I first got it. Now it looks a faded brown to me, I'm guessing because it's grown so large.

Pics are too blurry. I think you're right, not a hosting species.
 
I've never seen an atlantic carpet with that colored foot and column, but when you look at the tentacles, it's almost exactly the same. I've seen hundreds of them.

I wonder what it is? If it's not an atlantic carpet, it's got to be in the same family or very close to one.
 
I've never seen an atlantic carpet with that colored foot and column, but when you look at the tentacles, it's almost exactly the same. I've seen hundreds of them.

I wonder what it is? If it's not an atlantic carpet, it's got to be in the same family or very close to one.

Yeah same I've never seen a atlantic with that color foot.
 
Back
Top