Sharing my New Nem!

[bradleym]

I went on a field trip for work and stopped at a new (to me) pet store before I headed home. Way in the back, under such dim lighting I couldn't see detail on the oral disk, and in a bare bottom display of all things, I found a GORGEOUS H. Aurora! OK, enough ripping on the LFS. This one was obviously in great shape, very healthy, probably new to them as well. It had no evidence of bleaching or dying, longish tentacles, and reacted quickly to being disturbed, so I dared to ask the price. The lady said said "Let's see, looks like the Sebae is $32" I bit my tongue. Anyway, despite the questionable situation, I wasn't about to drive 2 hours each way just to see how it was in 3 weeks so given it's condition I took the plunge.

I acclimated it and it dug in after about 15 minutes so I took this pic. It's not fully open here yet, but WOW! :inlove: Fully expanded it measures just 2.25 inches, but is seriously jam-packed with ornate patterns.

Well that was yesterday and today it was fully open so I fed it a tiny little bite and it was all over it! I tried to get a pic of it settled in but my phone flaked out, sorry. I will probably update this with a better pic but I just had to share my "diamond in the rough".

 

[jayelblock]

Great score, and gorgeous! I'm sure it will thrive in its new home.

 

[elegance coral]

Cool score and one you don't see every day. That's one of the three species I haven't kept yet.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

Nice find,looks great.

 

[garygb]

Looks healthy. I'm glad you rescued it before a likely demise in a dim tank.

 

[bradleym]

Thanks everyone for the comments. I am very hopeful that it is going to do well.

Great score, and gorgeous! I'm sure it will thrive in its new home.

I hope to live up to your expectations of my husbandry! lol

Cool score and one you don't see every day. That's one of the three species I haven't kept yet.

I agree, come to think of it, I haven't seen any tanks featuring healthy, grown H. Aurora. What's that all about? And just out of curiosity, what are the other 2 you have yet to keep?

Looks healthy. I'm glad you rescued it before a likely demise in a dim tank.

LOL, I like that you call it a rescue, I may use that in the future. And yeah, the lighting was pretty dim. I couldn't believe my eyes when I got into good lighting and got my first look at the oral disc. Ironically, I bought it before I saw the center, but that is hands down my favorite part.

Here's a new pic, fully open again today, and my phone actually worked. It blows me away how much there is going on in there, it looks like an Aztec calender or something.

Side View

 

[mr.iacuessa]

i want an aurora

 

[fragtrader]

beautiful specimen. i have some in my farm, and this one has excellent coloration. does the underside mantle have orange or deep red coloration? this looks like its from sri lanka.

 

[elegance coral]

I agree, come to think of it, I haven't seen any tanks featuring healthy, grown H. Aurora. What's that all about? And just out of curiosity, what are the other 2 you have yet to keep?

There's someone here on RC that has three beautiful auroras in their tank. I can't remember who it is though.
The other two anemones I haven't kept are mertensii, and adhaesivum. Some day I'll have my mertensii.

 

[bradleym]

beautiful specimen. i have some in my farm, and this one has excellent coloration. does the underside mantle have orange or deep red coloration? this looks like its from sri lanka.

The base is a bright pasta red. Kinda orange tinted but definitely red. It is mottled towards the top, but still the same red. What can you tell me about them? What's the difference between Sri Lanka H. Aurora and other H. Aurora?

 

[bradleym]

i want an aurora

LOL, keep your eyes open. This one was a total fluke, in a place I would've never expected such a looker. They are often sold as "carnation anemones" FYI.

 

[fragtrader]

The base is a bright pasta red. Kinda orange tinted but definitely red. It is mottled towards the top, but still the same red. What can you tell me about them? What's the difference between Sri Lanka H. Aurora and other H. Aurora?

I can tell you they are expensive to ship from Sri Lanka. ;-)

What you have is a beaded sand anemone. Not rare in the wild, but not common in the states. Very unhealthy shipping mortality rate and most importers don't chance buying them as they do not ship well. I am captive breeding them now and have had great success cutting them. There are some good articles on heteractis aurora on the web. They will get a nice zebra pattern under 460nm actinics. Congrats on having that nem.

 

[bradleym]

I can tell you they are expensive to ship from Sri Lanka. ;-)

LOL

What you have is a beaded sand anemone. Not rare in the wild, but not common in the states. Very unhealthy shipping mortality rate and most importers don't chance buying them as they do not ship well. I am captive breeding them now and have had great success cutting them. There are some good articles on heteractis aurora on the web. They will get a nice zebra pattern under 460nm actinics. Congrats on having that nem.

Thanks, and thanks for the info. They thought it was the same kind of anemone as the bleached H. Crispa in their main display. Lucky me! And I definitely appreciate the tip on the zebra striping, as that's the only trait I was hoping to gain. Other than slightly pale striping, I would say this is a perfect specimen, so that cinches it!