Help with wild caught anenome ID

scotteod · #1 07/09/2007, 09:00 PM

Does anyone know what kind of anenome this is? Anyone have any experience with them in a reef tank, especially nano?

I caught it Sunday in about 8 feet of water, in some sand near a rocky area off of Singer Island (S. Florida). It has a yellow foot, about 1" in diameter, and when fully open, the body expands to about 3" in diameter. The center tentacles are surrounded with a "skirt" of tiny tentacles. The center tentacles and surrounding skirt are extremely sticky. In the attached photo, the tentacles are not expanded.

I'm trying to keep it in sand, away from rocks (and permanent attachment, hopefully). It happily eats frozen mysis shrimp.

If I can't figure it out in another day or so, it's going back to the ocean.

Thanks.

scotteod · #2 07/09/2007, 09:28 PM

I waited a little longer and got some better pictures...

Thanks again.

a&cbowman · #3 07/09/2007, 11:13 PM

just looks like a big aptasia or glass anemone to me.....

PhillyD123 · #4 07/10/2007, 02:58 AM

Buy a harpoon boy if that is aipasia you are screwed

OrionN · #5 07/10/2007, 04:22 AM

This is one of the many temperate non hosting Atlantic anemone. It will be fine in a reef tank but will not host clown fish. It is not an Aptasia.

RicksReefs · #6 07/10/2007, 07:25 AM

Phyllactis flosculifera uncommon caribbean sand dwelling anemone similar in behavior to Ceriathus tube anemones.

scotteod · #7 07/10/2007, 05:16 PM

Thanks, Rick. Where is your business located?

Amphiprion · #8 07/10/2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RicksReefs
Phyllactis flosculifera uncommon caribbean sand dwelling anemone similar in behavior to Ceriathus tube anemones.

I don't know if it can be narrowed down to the species that easily, but it is safe to say that it is indeed a Phyllactis species (though there are also similar genera).

RicksReefs · #9 07/10/2007, 06:18 PM

I'm in Stuart. But unfortunately, my no compete contract (I manage Aquatic World) prevents me from selling locally.
stop into AW in your ever in the hood, though.

scotteod · #10 07/11/2007, 02:58 PM

Good ideas, all, and thanks again for your efforts.

I'm going to take it back to its home. It's spent the past two nights pulling itself through my sand bed, foot planted firmly on the bottom glass and making a furrow in the sand with its head, "chasing" a small colony of cup coral. I moved the coral colony to the other side of my tank, and the critter changed direction and starting chasing it again... I even caught it with its mouth open, reaching for the coral. It's funny to watch, but I don't want the agressive behavior.

BristlewormKing · #11 07/11/2007, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PhillyD123
Buy a harpoon boy if that is aipasia you are screwed

ROFLMAO....I would have seconded that one!