Hitch Hiker Anemone Good or Bad?

[keysfishfinder]

I got a really cool piece of Rock (lots of holes) yesterday and I found these 2 cool anemone's. Hopefully they are not evil .

Thanks for looking and happy holidays

 

[DJLiquid]

Aiptasia. Bad if it spreads from what I've read.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

My guess is some type of rock anemone, or possibly a majano anemone. Majano would be bad - rock anemone would be OK.

 

[melosu58]

I agree with Kurt. The color scheme does not look right to be aiptasia.

 

[Tony Gill]

Not sure about the identity of the sea anemone - however, I just wondered whether the hydroids to the left of the anemone in the second photo are cause for concern.

Tony

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

I was thinking that was just some type of macroalgae...

 

[roka64]

Yeah, it looks like a macro rather than hydroids.

 

[keysfishfinder]

watching it closely, the hermits are not touching the little tree looking things. I will continue to monitor the anemone. Will update you when I return on Saturday.

Thanks again for all the effort

 

[keysfishfinder]

These things are very neat, they shrivel up and look dead then a short time later they are open and moving tentacles in the current.

I was feeding the fish some shirmp and one piece got near the anemone. Next thing I know the anemone swung its tentacles over and grabbed the shrimp piece and stuffed it in its mouth. I have since feed them tiny shrimp pieces and they seem to be very happy.

 

[Tony Gill]

When you say "tree looking things" do you mean the things I thought were hydroids and others thought were algae? If so, from your description they are almost certainly hydroids. Check out the following website for comparison (e.g., Thecocaulus): Réserve Naturelle Marine de Cerbère-Banyuls

I don't know much about hydroids, but I do know that at least some of them can be nasty. (I've been stung by my fair share while collecting in the Indo-Pacific.)

Tony

 

[Devilishturtles]

I agree with Tony, those are definitley hydroids and you'll probably want to remove them.

The anemones, how large are they?

 

[keysfishfinder]

I will pull the dryoids out.

The anemones are small, one is about 1.5 " when open fully, the other is maybe 2" when open.

 

[sterling]

i think that the anemone might in fact be aptasia. http://www.saltyunderground.com/images/aiptasiaCloseUp.jpg
here is a picture i found on the internet that looks very similar if not exactly alike and it is labelled "Aptasia Anemone".

 

[Ziggy953]

I have had aiptasia that looked very similar to that. Rock anemones usually have short tentacles. I would guess it is aiptasia.

 

[thincat]

majano anemone. I had some and they multiply rapidly...

 

[keysfishfinder]

thanks everyone, Both of the anemones are gone. Was checking on the fish and realized they were missing. Scoured the entire tank over the last few days and filters, no where to be found. Very strange.

 

[thincat]

Do you have any coral banded shrimp in the tank. They are known fish eaters.

 

[keysfishfinder]

I did find a shrimp in the tank but cannot identify, and he is camera shy. Best pic I got is this.

 

[pat8you]

Looks like some kind of lobster to me. Lobsters are generally opportunistic feeders and will eat anything they can get to get their claws around easily. Unless you really like it i would try to get it out of your tank to be on the safe side. May get bigger and start taking a snap at smaller bottom dwelling fish and inverts.

 

[keysfishfinder]

I am guessing I got the guy off a piece of live rock from the east coast of Florida, in shallow water. If that helps. It does not seem to have antenna like our normal lobster, plus the claws are not normal.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!