I.D. For Anemone

[rwilliams26]

Could someone help us to ID this fellow? :shock:

[rwilliams26]

No clues yet? I KNOW someone knows what the heck this guy is!

[Am]

looks like the one I was asking about http://www.etropicals.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=43&pCatId=1330
check it out..maybe flower anemone??

[rwilliams26]

So is AM right? Is this a type of Flower Anemone?

[Am]

I think I intimidated everyone with all my coral reef knowledge! lol j/k :-D

[rwilliams26]

Well, Am....it's funny you posted that link, cuz I was looking at the same page just before I logged back on and saw your response! I've had a flower anemone in the past, and have seen a few too, and this guy looks different in the way it's tentacles seem to have two distict points of origin (outer and inner radius). I know flowers can come in LOTS of different colors, too...but haven't seen one like this before.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

[GaryP]

I believe that Flower Anemones primarily come from the Caribbean so I wouldn't be surprised if that is what it is. If no one here can give it a definite ID let me know. I'll see if the guy I had for marine invert biology is still at A&M Glaveston. I think its a good bet that its at least closely related to a Flower.

Gary

[GaryP]

Hey Ron, there are a couple of really good anemone forums over on CR and WWM. Why don't you post the pic over there? Make sure that you include that you collected it at Port A. in your post.

Gary

[rwilliams26]

Gary,

I guess I haven't been around long enough to zero in on those acronyms. Can you "tell me where to go" more directly? :-D I agree with your guess though...I think it's RELATED...but not sure if it's actually a flower.

[Isis]

i used have some of those when I had collected them about 8 years ago... Pretty hardly little guys... Dont' know the species though, just that they are native to these waters.

[GaryP]

Ron,

Here is wet web media (WWM), anemone forum:

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemones.htm

Here is ReefCentral anemone forum (RC):

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=36

You will probably have to get a membership on RC first to be able to access the forums.

Gary

[Instar]

That same rock anemone can also be picked up from the muddy water inside the crashing waves and under the Port Aransas pier between all the barnacles where is gets almost no light at all. The light florescent red tells you a bit about its needs in the aquarium. It loves very high current, very low blue (actinic) light. Perfect for a nano or florescent tank too. Easy to keep and feed because they have quite a sting in their tentacles. As long as they get lots of current and can bury their foot a little in a hole or shell, they stay put. It is not the same species as the Carribean/Florida flower (rock) anemone that Reeftopia sells. I never did try to ID it other than that.

[rwilliams26]

Larry,

Thanks! :D This little guy seems to be quite content so far in my JBJ Nano-Cube...I've added a small second powerhead for added flow, which is now pretty brisk for the 12 gallon system. I do appreciate the great feedback..thanks again!

[Instar]

From a FAQ on wetwebmedia:
It looks like "Viatrix globulifera, Turtle Grass Anemone (or a very close relative of this one). Tropical West Atlantic. 1/4-3/4" diameter...
Other Species:
...there are several other actinarians that hail from the tropical West Atlantic (and sub-tropical). Most are small, obscure... found on Sponges, Turtle Grass, and/or rare. There's even a (pest) species of Glass Anemone (Aiptasia tagetes)... None are regularly found/collected for the ornamental aquatics interest. For folks with a penchant for the rare, buying, culturing fresh live rock from the area can be a viable avenue for securing specimens."
To be sure of a reasonably accurate ID, a more detailed study would be necessary of the actual morphology of the anemone.

[reefer74]

I agree with it being the same type of anemone that is at Port Aransas...I have used it myself many times as bait....an old man gave me the secret a couple of years ago....Great bait for catching Sheep Head. And if it's not....heck I'm no scientist, but if you want to get rid of it, I plan on going fishing this week!


Johnny G.

[reefer74]

Yup...sure am serious....all those old men on the jetties tearing those sheephead up with those long poles with no reels. How it was explained to me is that all of these anemones are on the undersides of the granite rocks and such that are on the jetties. What you do is go over to the surf side, and put in right near the jetty...with a light weight, hook, and an anemone on the end. No time at all is what it takes to catch your limit of the tender morsels....Oh yeah...and what are you still doing awake...go to bed!...I'm the late night lurker on here.

Johnny G.

[Instar]

No man, you can't use my anemones as bait. I like them and have had them for about a year now.

Up all night Josh \o/

[reefer74]

ehhh...no problem...don't think I'll need them...there is such an abundance of them on the rock structure, that about 30 minutes will get me all of the anemones that I will need for fishing. Just gotta pluck them off of the rockwork, but other than that...it's free bait galore.


Johnny G.

[rwilliams26]

Well, thanks at least for the assitance with the I.D. for the anemone. No comment beyond that. :?