Stichodactyla tapetum at the New England Aquarium

Conesus_Kid

Premium Member
I thought this was pretty neat:

I just got back from a three day trip to Boston with the 7th grade class. One of our stops was the New England Aquarium.

If you've never been, I'd recommend it if you're in the Boston area. They have a neat cylindrical tank that spans four stories tall. They have a "fake" reef with lots of artificial corals loaded with hippo tangs, sohals, vlamingi's, assorted butterflies and other "non-reef safe" fishes. There's also a softie/LPS tank with some C. argi, Banggais, and a fair amount of Valonia algae!

What caught my eye is the beautiful mixed reef aquarium that you pass on your way downstairs to the jellyfish exhibit. It's a really nice looking tank that has a jellyfish tank right behind it that gives the appearance that the jellies are in the same aquarium. I had spent some time checking this aquarium out last year, and did the same this year.

What really caught my eye was down in the lower right-hand corner of the tank. There was a small group of Stichodactyla tapetum (mini carpet anemones), along with a single "maxi" mini carpet.

It was my understanding that these things aren't so common. I didn't have the time to seek out any of the caretakers to ask about the tank or the 'nems as I had a bunch of 7th graders in my charge.

Would there be a possible connection through the Boston area reefkeeping club? I know that Gary M. distributed quite a few of these.

I just thought this was pretty kewl and wanted to share and get any insight anyone might be able to share (Gary??:wavehand: ). I'm not into the "designer" coral lineage thing, but I think it's neat to find out how things have been passed along from person to person.;)
 
Unfortunately, no. I figured I wouldn't be seeing anything I didn't already have pictures of. I didn't even think to snap a cell phone shot.

There isn't even a pic of the tank in question on the NE Aquarium web site.

Bummer, I know. :(

I will say that the specimens seemed to be a touch lighter green than the ones that are in the school aquarium. I don't know if that could be a result of the differences in lighting between the two tanks.

You can be certain that I will bring the camera on next year's trip!
 
Unfortunately, no. I figured I wouldn't be seeing anything I didn't already have pictures of. I didn't even think to snap a cell phone shot.

There isn't even a pic of the tank in question on the NE Aquarium web site.

Bummer, I know. :(

I will say that the specimens seemed to be a touch lighter green than the ones that are in the school aquarium. I don't know if that could be a result of the differences in lighting between the two tanks.

You can be certain that I will bring the camera on next year's trip!
so when is the trip?
 
I had forgotten about this thread!

I had forgotten about this thread!

Thanks for the reminder! This year's trip is May 13-15th. I will definitely be bringing the camera and will be on the lookout for mini-carpets! :bigeyes:

I'm glad that I mentioned where in the display that I saw them, too!
 
I know I have some, ultimately from your doorstep by way or Carrie aka CRP. How did you come upon them G?

Scott, I LOVE the Beantown aquarium. The main cylinder is spectacular, BUT, I've not been there since taking up the hobby. I'll be on the US aquarium tour when the chillins are old enough to point and take it all in.

Dying to see Atlantas.

Any others of note? Lookin for the biggies. (not to hijack...)
FWIW been to New Orleans, Boston, Maui Ocean Center, and many many small ones along the way.
 
I've been to the Georgia Aquarium, and it's a good 'un.

IMO, that reef display on the way down to the jellyfish exhibit at the NE Aquarium is one of the best I've seen. It's relatively small, but well put together with great specimens.

You probably already know this, but I wouldn't bother with the Niagara Falls Aquarium.

Other than that, I don't get out much, so can't recommend any others.
 
Ha, Niagara Falls. I've been to a few lemons. Key West comes to mind. But you're so hung over down there you hardly notice. The outdoor shark display will get your attention. They get those bad boys from just off shore and keep em for a few days in the briny enclosure. You can hang right over the side and see nothing, then all of a sudden a 7 foot bull cruises by.

jaws2.jpg
 
Hi Scott,I've been to that aquarium and enjoyed it. . My daughter lives in Boston. I saw them feeding those jellies cyclopeeze a few years back and have incorporated it into my feeding routine since then.
 
I'll bet it was a donation.
We / I can probably find out for sure.
The Steinhart has contacted me for a few mini carpet anemones.
Shimek got a few from me. So did Sprung.

They're popular with the natives :)
 
Pics as promised!

Pics as promised!

I just got back last night, and have pics as promised. These are from my absolute favorite display in the New England Aquarium, just before you go downstairs to the jellyfish exhibit.

There's a nice mixed reef aquarium that has a jellyfish aquarium as its background. At first glance, (and to the untrained eye), it appears as if they share the same aquarium.

Without further ado, here are the pics of the mini-carpets. They seem to look a little different than mine. I'm not sure if it's due to a different morph, or different lighting/flow/water chemistry.

IMG_1360.jpg


IMG_1363.jpg


IMG_1370.jpg


They've spread throughout the aquarium.

We only had about 45 minutes in the aquarium (bummer), but I took a ton of pics. Here's a link to the Photobucket album: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v213/skrebbeks/New England Aquarium May 2010/?albumview=slideshow
Enjoy!
 
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