Aptasia?

[ackermsb]

My tank is almost done cycling with live rock from Gulf Live Rock. Everything I have read here points no aptasia being present on their rock.

This growth just started and I am wondering if this is Aptasia. I simply can not tell from looking at pics etc so input is much appreciated.

 

[rob s.]

yep looks like the critter to me.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

My tank is almost done cycling with live rock from Gulf Live Rock. Everything I have read here points no aptasia being present on their rock.

This growth just started and I am wondering if this is Aptasia. I simply can not tell from looking at pics etc so input is much appreciated.

Can you get a pic from a different angle?

Almost looks like there are balls on the end of the tentacles, if so it is a ball anemone. (Actually a type of mushroom)

If not compare it to the the below photo from my home for hated critters tank. If it looks like this then it is an aiptasia. Do not pay too much attention to how dark this one is, it is fed reef roids daily, so is a little darker than most. They can be clear, yellow, brown and shades inbetween.

Treatment is to remove rock, if easy, inject with lemon juice, let sit 5 minutes, scrape off the area and rinse with old tank water out of the tank.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I also noticed you said gulf live rock after posting my reply. This may be a glass nem (relative to the dreaded aiptasia). Same treatment applies.

If the nem has stripes on the tentacles, it could be a baby curlyque nem as well. Better pic from different angle would let me know for sure.

 

[ackermsb]

There are definitely balls on the end of the tentacles. I will try to get a better pic.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

There are definitely balls on the end of the tentacles. I will try to get a better pic.

Awesome. Tons of friendly nems in the gulf that do not cause havoc like aiptaisa. If it is a good one, no need to kill it.

 

[ackermsb]

Awesome. Tons of friendly nems in the gulf that do not cause havoc like aiptaisa. If it is a good one, no need to kill it.

Struggling to get a quality pic. Any of these help with the ID? There are little balls on the end of the tentacles.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Struggling to get a quality pic. Any of these help with the ID? There are little balls on the end of the tentacles.

Here are some pics to compare to, as my old eyes are struggling lol. Not mine and from google. Also check out this link. you might find the nem here.

South Florida Reefs - Sea Anemones - Show all

This is a ball anemone (actually a type of mushroom)

 

[ackermsb]

Looks similar although mine is a little browner. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Rtaylor]

It’s a hidden cup coral (does it have a stony skeleton)? Does it look like these?

 

[ackermsb]

It’s a hidden cup coral (does it have a stony skeleton)? Does it look like these?

Wow! Looks really similar. I think that is it. At least I hope that is.

 

[Rtaylor]

Here are some pics to compare to, as my old eyes are struggling lol. Not mine and from google. Also check out this link. you might find the nem here.

South Florida Reefs - Sea Anemones - Show all

This is a ball anemone (actually a type of mushroom)

The anemone expert always sees an anemone

 

[Rtaylor]

Wow! Looks really similar. I think that is it. At least I hope that is.

If it is, you should see a stony skeleton when it retracts. Here’s a skeleton pic of a cluster of them I have on one of my Florida live rocks.

 

[Rtaylor]

Keep an eye out for them, about 25% of my rocks have at least one

 

[Eagle_Steve]

The anemone expert always sees an anemone

Old eyes suck lol. But mostly true. Hidden cups are cool too. Have quite a few of them in my sump rocks for the 180.