what do you know about H. malu

[GSMguy]

Heteractis malu, with shorter tentacles and a sturdier body (previously called Discosoma malu). Heteractis malu is perhaps the least spectacular of all the Heteractis varieties. It is very often imported and can be found in large numbers in pet stores. It can be kept in invertebrate aquariums but it is recommended that, when doing so, no other anemones are placed in the same tank. Nettling or the exudation of toxins may affect this anemone. For instance, adding a Carpet anemone in addition to H. malu would mean the end of the latter in a short manner of time. H. malu has another drawback: not many clowns will form symbiotic associations with it.


and with only one anemone fish species: Amphiprion clarkii.


Heteractis malu
(Sebae, Singapore Sebae, Hawaiian Sand, White Sand, Delicate Anemone)
Host Clowns: Clark's, but may accept Bluestripe, Pink Skunk, Tomato, and possibly other clowns in aquariums.

 

[GSMguy]

bump im wondering if anyone has H.Malu

 

[anthworks]

I thought I had one but it looks to be a H Crispa. From my research it's mis-identified quite a bit.

 

[GSMguy]

well ive cancelled my order for it will be waiting for crispa

 

[Mirror Pond]

Is H. Malu the one most LFS call Sebae that are usually very bleached (yellow/white) with short rounded purple tipped tentacles or are those H. Crispa?

 

[TOURKID]

they had one on divers den for a few minutes today, did u see it?

 

[raoul]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9175908#post9175908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mirror Pond
Is H. Malu the one most LFS call Sebae that are usually very bleached (yellow/white) with short rounded purple tipped tentacles or are those H. Crispa?

Crispas can look like that, don't know about malus. Sometimes crispas are confused with malus in this stage because of the shortened tentacles.

 

[Mirror Pond]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9176395#post9176395 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by raoul
Crispas can look like that, don't know about malus. Sometimes crispas are confused with malus in this stage because of the shortened tentacles.

That does make it confusing since most of the LFS get in these very bleached anemones and label them as sebaes. I would like to obtain a H. crispa but don't want to buy a malu.

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9176331#post9176331 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TOURKID
they had one on divers den for a few minutes today, did u see it?

that was mine the one i cancelled

 

[TOURKID]

maybe im confused anns it wasent a crispa, but no it wasent yours.. its was peachy color pink tips it went in a few minutes time

 

[raoul]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9177357#post9177357 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mirror Pond
That does make it confusing since most of the LFS get in these very bleached anemones and label them as sebaes. I would like to obtain a H. crispa but don't want to buy a malu.

It may vary by region, but here in the midwest, the crispas seem to be more available than malus. Here the odds are very good that you'll be taking home a crispa. I wish I had a comparison pic for you.

Make sure you're prepared for a crispa before you get one, if you get a bleached one, you will need to baby it for a bit, to get it healthy again, and some don't make it.

 

[GSMguy]

oh maybee i was napping when divers den was updated today on monday they sold my h.malu that i had put in place of the origional crispa that died i really wanted the crispa not a malu
someone got that green hadonni as well i really should have gotten that pair of harlequin shrimp last night they were great

 

[marc price]

do a google search for " Anemone fishes and their host sea anemones " and click on the link to www.nhm.ku.edu/inverts/ebooks/intro.html ( for whatever reason i can't access the link direct without google ) . excellent descriptions with pics . there and also good pics of h. malu and h. crispa in Invertebrates a quick ref. by jullian sprung .
the small bleached out nems . often have characteristics of h. malu , such as uneven length of tenticles ... it can be diff. to tell them apart however not so as they color up and grow .

 

[Slakker]

Link works fine for me, Marc. Great site, it's got a lot of info on it.

 

[Mirror Pond]

Thanks for the link. The problem I'm having is that I have seen a lot of pics of healthy H. malus and H. crispa but none of the "sebaes" that the LFS carry. The next step is to ask the owners what scientific name they were shipped as and try to come to some conclusion. I'll also keep searching online and try to link a picture if I can find one.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9178798#post9178798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marc price
do a google search for " Anemone fishes and their host sea anemones " and click on the link to www.nhm.ku.edu/inverts/ebooks/intro.html ( for whatever reason i can't access the link direct without google ) . excellent descriptions with pics . there and also good pics of h. malu and h. crispa in Invertebrates a quick ref. by jullian sprung .
the small bleached out nems . often have characteristics of h. malu , such as uneven length of tenticles ... it can be diff. to tell them apart however not so as they color up and grow .

 

[raoul]

Mirror Pond - sometimes M. doreensis have been sold under the common name of sebae too. I don't know if they are as poor a shipper as crispas though.

Unfortunately, the scientific name the nem is given is only as good as the people who give it. If they don't have the right info (or care) it could be wrong or outdated. If they let you, maybe you can take a camera with you, snap a couple pics and post for ID confirmation.

It's also not out of the question to ask the LFS to let you see the nem eat before you buy one. Most reputable stores will happily do this for you. If it eats, that's a good thing, but it may even wrap around the food allowing you to see the underside of the nem where identifying characteristics are, it would be good to take a pic of that part too if you go that route.

Good luck!

 

[Mirror Pond]

This is pretty much what I am seeing at LFS except this one is not bleached like a lot that I see. I know it is labeled as H.crispa but it sure does not have the long tentacles that are seen like in Wilerson's book.

http://www.reefermadness.us/Heteractis_cripsa.htm

 

[raoul]

If I saw that nem in the store, I would not think crispa - I've seen bta's that look very similar to that. Check for verrucae to rule out bta if you're wanting a crispa.

I just don't know how to tell the difference between a crispa and malu if both are starving and bleached - sorry.

 

[GSMguy]

mirror pond that is definetly a crispa in that picture

 

[raoul]

I've never seen one like that in person, doesn't mean they don't exist, it's just not the typical crispa I guess.

I'm curious how to tell from just that shot. There's still so much to learn