What is this? Inexpensive Anemone

[ozzyjazz]

I got this from a LFS that did not know what it is. It was only $13us so I decided to take a chance. Does it look like my ocularis will host in it? They seem to be ignoring it so far. Is it dangerous? I can't find any pictures on the Web that look like it.

 

[Jason S]

Kind of looks like a very bleached out Sebae Anemone to me.

Edit: If it is, I know it is not a common anemone for an Ocellaris to associate with. I do not recall if I have ever seen it to be honest.

 

[davocean]

For best ID you need pics of the base or column underneath, tentacles alone are not best for ID.
In either case it is bleached, mysis feedings may help until it regains zooxanthellae, hopefully.

 

[joshky]

I would agree with it most likely being a crispa, not a natural host for ocellaris but you can pretty much throw that rulebook out in an aquarium. It's fine for a general guide but that's about it, you may find them being hosted by it in the future if it doesn't die on you first. Other than being bleached it looks OK but anemones can go downhill really quickly.

 

[ozzyjazz]

Anemone Foot

Anemone Foot

I decided to move him into a brighter lit part of the tank. This is a picture of his foot. He has not yet opened back up though so his tentacles are still tiny.

 

[LesMartin]

M.doreensis

 

[hotelbravo]

I decided to move him into a brighter lit part of the tank. This is a picture of his foot. He has not yet opened back up though so his tentacles are still tiny.

in the future do not move your anemone unless its in danger of being sucked into an overflow or jet. its stressful on the anemone when you move it. if it wants to be in the brighter light it will move to the brighter light on its own.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Agree with Hodge, let it go where it wants to.

 

[ozzyjazz]

M.doreensis

M.doreensis

M.doreensis

After looking at numerous M. doreensis on Google I have to agree. That must be what my guy is. Sadly it seems to be rather rare that they host up with clowns. Oh well, he is sure attractive and a nice addition to my tank.

I did not know about the stress imposed on them by moving them. He was fully established where he was but in response to the suggestion that his algae was gone I assumed that he would be better off in brighter light. He has opened up completely where he is now so I hope I did not hurt him much.

I tried to feed him some mysis with my turkey baster. He did not pull any of the mysis shrimp down to his mouth though. I kept my cleaner shrimp away from him for several minutes but he never retracted any of the tentacles that had shrimp stuck to them.

Any suggestions on feeding him?

The photo is of him today.

 

[ozzyjazz]

Thanks for all the replies. It sure is nice having you guys to ask about stuff like this.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Let him do what he wants. There has to be some zooxanthellae in him or you will have to give him some. Otherwise it will die. I wish you the best with it as it's very bleached.

 

[hotelbravo]

he needs energy since he is bleached so bad he may not be able to photosynthesize its food and therefor needs to be fed. i would not feed mysis its not very nutritious instead feed oyster, squid, clam, or shrimp fresh from the fish market do not buy cooked food. chop it up into small chunks and feed about once a week. if he does not eat this food than you need to buy some zooxanthellae. when trying to feed it might be best to hold the food next to its mouth since it has little energy to grab.

 

[Rippinfrags]

If he is attaching and inflating he will be fine. Just give the anemone time and an occasional feeding never hurts. IMO, feeding to often can do more harm than good. Keep your water parameter stable and I would watch to make sure you shrimp is not aggravating it. Best of luck and keep us updated.

 

[ThRoewer]

Sadly it seems to be rather rare that they host up with clowns. Oh well, he is sure attractive and a nice addition to my tank.

They never-ever host up with clowns.
However clowns may chose them as hosts.

The following Anemonefish species chose M. doreensis as a host anemone in the wild:

A. crysogaster
endemic to Mauritius and rather hard to find. I had one and it actually chose an Actinia spp. I had in the tank as a host. So it seems they are as opportunistic as A. clarkii when it comes to anemones.

A. clarkii
they are the most opportunistic and can be found in all host anemones. In captivity they take pretty much every anemone that is large enough (3" in diameter), regardless if host anemone or not.

A. perideraion

In captivity A. ocellaris and A. percula have accepted it and I suspect many other clowns will settle for them rather than being without an anemone.
Some melanistic forms of A. percula from the Solomons that were hosted by M. doreensis lost most of their black (see here).

Your anemone seems to be extremely bleached and until it regains some color I wouldn't add clowns to it, especially not big ones.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I agree that it is an M. doreensis.

What size tank?
What lights do you have?

As for feeding, the smaller the better --- takes energy to digest food, if you give it a big piece there is a chance that it won't fully digest and start to foul inside the anemone.

As for it being bleached, they can make a full recovery if given the proper conditions. From 10+ years ago,

From this;

To this in a couple of months;

 

[ozzyjazz]

Anemone

Anemone

Thank you very much for the pictures. I can now see why many of the pictures on Google had tentacles much longer than mine. My guy is just in poor health! I hope he survives and that my clowns take up residence in him.

 

[SNAKEMANVET]

If it hasn't attached yet,turn off powerheads and dig a hole in your sand near the liverock and place it there.Give it a few minutes to see if it attaches.They like to have their foot attached down below the sand.