Trying to ID before i Buy!

[frog.pauley]

My LFS is looking decent finally! Got some new staff that have a clue, and are working to make everything better....cept proper ID's! They have a nem I am looking at, but dont know if it is Haddoni or gigantea! All the guy knew was it is pacific! :debi: I have been searching for a way to positively id it...no luck yet. The nem is tan in color, not very large seems to be in the 6 inch range. I do believe it had some spots on its underside but not all the way down. The Tenticales look to be short and stubby, not what i have seen of giganta photos. So what do i look for to id him? Thanx for any help!

 

[Postal]

The verrucae (spots) on the underside of a haddoni are usually white or pale and not that obvious. The spots on a gigantea of often a vibrant color similar to that of the tentacles.
There is always the chance that the anemone could be a Merten's as well.
A pic will make ID a lot easier.

 

[bradleym]

DO NOT get it if the spots on the underside are brown or tan. It could be a sun carpet, or Helianthus sp. which will not host clowns and will eat fish. Make sure its not that kind.

 

[frog.pauley]

i learn something new everyday! I have never heard of that species. The spots where brown or tan (wish i would have looked a little closer now)...but the nem is a tan color. May be able to get in there tomorrow and get a pic. Thanx alot, gonna research that species.

 

[bradleym]

The name is Stichodactyla Helianthus. It's called the Antlantic Carpet, but there are a lot of names for it and it may be from other seas than just Atlantic. Google the scientific name for pics.

 

[kduen]

This is what the Stichodactyla Helianthus's verrucae look like.

 

[frog.pauley]

I did google this last night. I'm not 100% certain...but it does resemble it. Now, all the pics i saw of this nem it was pretty much opened up flat, where the nem at the store is all "saddled up" like haddoni...Will try to get a pic today. Thanx again!

 

[kduen]

When I ordered my S. Haddoni they accidently sent me a S Helianthus and for about the first hour or so it was saddled up like a haddoni which confused me as well. If it has visable spots that are easily seen most likely it is not a S. Haddoni. Toddrtrex's post (#10) in this thread has some good pictures of what you can expect a S. Haddoni's verrucae to look like.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1943754&highlight=s+haddoni+verrucae