Today's Diver's Den Green Carpet: Gig or Haddoni

[beachbreak]

update on green had/gig?

 

[addictedreefer]

update on green had/gig?

He will not arrive until tomorrow morning. I will post pics ASAP.

 

[msmith619]

Cool!
I was watching Diver's Den for that exact anemone. I would love to see if it looks as good in person as on their web site.

 

[addictedreefer]

So the nem arrived this morning. In excellent health and expertly packed, but because my 93 gal. DT has an established gig and mag, I have elected to quarantine the new addition for a few days of observation before introduction.

Upon closer inspection, I am convinced this is not an ordinary haddoni. However, certain traits also suggest that it is not an ordinary gig. I believe it is a hybrid, as some here have suggested. Below is a summary of traits that suggest gig vs. haddoni. Pics are also attached for reference.

Gig Traits

- Bright blue pastel column
- Faint blue/purple verrucae
- Elongated tentacles
- Tentacles spaced further apart
- Many deep folds

Haddoni Traits

- Shorter tentacles than ordinary gigs
- Wide column
- Colored verrucae are present but less prominent than other gigs I have seen

 

[addictedreefer]

Here are some shots from the QT.

 

[this is me]

Gig. A pretty healthy one. Good luck.

 

[OrionN]

Both of the anemones I had that I thought were hybrids were green like your's. I an sure you will enjoy him. Best of luck with him

 

[D-Nak]

In the original DD photos it appeared to be a haddoni, but in your recent photos it definitely looks like a gig, I don't think it's even a hybrid. The column width is deceiving when the anemone is acclimating. Once comfortable, the disk can expand quite a bit, but the column doesn't expand in proportion. Either way, it's a good looking nem and it appears healthy.

 

[taylor t]

in your recent photos it definitely looks like a gig, I don't think it's even a hybrid.

I agree. Nice find.

 

[ballr]

Looks awesome. Great find and great price, regardless of whether it's a gig or hybrid. Also, good to see a healthy carpet from DD, as it seems people have not had the best of luck with them lately.

 

[addictedreefer]

Both of the anemones I had that I thought were hybrids were green like your's. I an sure you will enjoy him. Best of luck with him

Still not convinced it is a true gig. Minh - did your hybrids attach to rock like gigantea or bury in the sand like haddoni?

 

[CoralsAddiction]

In the original DD photos it appeared to be a haddoni, but in your recent photos it definitely looks like a gig, I don't think it's even a hybrid.

+1. The original photo very closely resembled a Haddoni and now I am convinced its a gig.

 

[OrionN]

I think it can be a hybrid, you/we can just wait ans see what he looks like once he recover from stress

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I think it can be a hybrid, you/we can just wait ans see what he looks like once he recover from stress

It should be interesting to see if it is indeed hybrid. I've never seen a hybrid before.

 

[OrionN]

I mean to say he looks like a hybrid to me.

 

[addictedreefer]

Quick update: Nem has been doing well without treatment in the QT since Saturday and I plan to add to the DT today if it continues to do well. Will try to post pics tonight when I add to the DT. Still not sold on the ID and I don't think we will be able to provide a definitive assesment until he is fully acclimated.

On another note, regarding the hybrid issue in general, how can we be certain that nems such as Minh's, the red anemone at Greenwich Aquaria, and possibly this specimen are hybrids and not a different species altogether? I would bet alot of money that if most of us here forgot all we knew about nems and saw a mertens for the first time, we would postulate that it was a gig/haddoni hybrid. Is there a place that we can send tentacle clippings or similar for definitive DNA analysis?

 

[OrionN]

I don't think we (I at least) have the money to determine the DNA of our anemones. I am sure eventually we will have the DNA database that will have the species DNA sequence. They are trying to do that to all living thing. If we are wealthy enough, we can get DNA of our anemone sequel, but I am not one who have money to do this.

 

[addictedreefer]

I don't think we (I at least) have the money to determine the DNA of our anemones. I am sure eventually we will have the DNA database that will have the species DNA sequence. They are trying to do that to all living thing. If we are wealthy enough, we can get DNA of our anemone sequel, but I am not one who have money to do this.

Obviously I wasn't suggesting that we fund the analysis on our own, however, perhaps if we pool experiences together along with documentation, a research institution may be willing to take on the project. It would seem that the prospect of identifying a new host anemone species would be sufficient incentive.

 

[ballr]

Update?

 

[addictedreefer]

Updated picture below. Last night I moved him to the DT without incident. He quickly buried his foot in the sand, but I am unsure as to whether he attached to the bottom of an adjacent rock or the surface of the glass. He has a decidedly gig-like appearance, but I am convinced that he is hybrid. I am confident, however, that he is not a true haddoni.