Carpet ID Help please!

Galail52 · Jan 4, 2020

So I picked this fella up from LFS. Just wanting to check on what it is. Based on something I’m reading online, myself nor my uncle are very certain the store was correct in its labeling.

He is currently in a basket awaiting his permanent home. So you’ll see that in the photos. We’ll be updating him to something nicer tomorrow with some sand in the bottom of a carrier for him

Thanks for the help all! Let me know if any other photos are needed.

DeniseAndy · Jan 4, 2020

How big is it? Looks like a Maxi Mini Carpet (Stichodactyla tapetum). Although could also be a haddoni if large and small tentacles. Though looks too multicolored. My guess is a maxi mini. These guys are great. I have quite a few. Max out around 4-5" and never seem to bother anything.

DeniseAndy · Jan 4, 2020

What did the store say?

Galail52 · Jan 4, 2020

He said it was a Haddoni. We were thinking possibly a gigantea just because of the red spots on his foot.

DeniseAndy · Jan 4, 2020

Really hard to say. I could not really see the foot very well. The tentacles do look more raised than haddoni and more of the disc is absent of tentacles. Could be gigantea. See if it likes rock or sand. May help you figure it out. Pretty either way.

Careful though, my haddonis ate quite a few fish. Darn things now have their own tank with only clowns soon.

OrionN · Jan 4, 2020

That is not a Haddoni. While it maybe a Gigantea, I think it is much more likely a S. heliantus. Better pictures under normal light is needed to tell for sure. The ratio of the foot diamenter to the diameter of the oral place is too large to be that of a Mertensii or Gigantea.

lpsouth1978 · Jan 5, 2020

I am the uncle, and can can say with a certainty that this is NOT a maxi mini. I first thought that it was a Haddoni, but then started looking closer after getting it home and am unsure. It looks quite similar to my 3 other haddoni in the system, but there a some small differences. Due to the rows of spots on the underside of the disk and foot I was thinking it may be a gigantea, but I have never kept one so am unfamiliar.

OrionN, we will try to get some better pics in the morning for you. I have never heard of a Helianthus until now. It seems there is not a lot of info online about them and I have never heard anyone mention them in forums. Based on what little info I have found, I think it is certainly possible you are correct. I certainly trust your expertise in this area!

vetteguy53081 · Jan 5, 2020

heliantus good possibility as it represents a haddoni, but smaller version. Gigantea is very hairy looking and doubt this would be gigantean.

D-Nak · Jan 5, 2020

I’m fairly certain that it’s S. helianthus. The orange/tan verrucae is the indicator.

Cstar_BC · Jan 5, 2020

Could it be Mertensii ?

“Appearance of a Sea Anemone: The Non-Stinging Carpet Anemone Stichodactyla mertensii has a pedal column that is often relatively narrow with a sticky foot which they use to adhere deep into rock crevices or holes. They also use this "foot" to move around if conditions are not ideal. The pedal column is whitish or tan with sticky verrucae (bumps) that are tan, magenta, or orange.”

Galail52 · Jan 5, 2020

Not Mertensii, he is very sticky

Cstar_BC · Jan 5, 2020

Do you have a clownfish ? Hosting Seems to be the big difference between the two ? Maybe that will answer your question

good luck

chizerbunoi · Jan 5, 2020

I have all 3 other hosting carpet species and have included pics for your reference.

Haddoni - no spots

Gigantea -spots are not equal size in straight line like helianthus. Also color is purple/red and not tan/brown.

Mertensii - spots go all the way down through the foot and are intense through many columns.

DeniseAndy · Jan 5, 2020

Great shots. Thanks for the input. Hope it helps the OP identify.

OrionN · Jan 5, 2020

column of the S. heliantus (aka Atlantic Sun anemone)
copyright: carmelo_lopez

The verrucae are brown or yellow dark brownish, and inline. The oral plate is only slightly larger than the column so the anemone does not have much folds like Gigantea, Mertensii or Haddoni.
Becareful with keeping this anemone. There are no clownfish in the Atlantic so this is not a clown fish hosting anemone. Helianthus carpet often eat clown fish, although sometime Clarkii complex clown can adapt slowly and does get hosted by S. helianthus carpet.

NanoDJS · Jan 5, 2020

That is a "Majic Carpet" or Persian Rug Mini Maxi

Galail52 · Jan 5, 2020

Here are some slightly better photos. If they change anything. If not, I appreciate the help in figuring out what this guy is

OrionN · Jan 5, 2020

That is a non clownfish hosting Atlantic Sun Carpet Anemone, or S. helianthus.

Galail52 · Jan 5, 2020

OrionN said:
That is a non clownfish hosting Atlantic Sun Carpet Anemone, or S. helianthus.

thanks!

lpsouth1978 · Jan 6, 2020

OrionN said:
That is a non clownfish hosting Atlantic Sun Carpet Anemone, or S. helianthus.

Thanks for the ID. It is a bummer that it is a non hosting anemone, since it was intended for a pair of Occs. Oh well, it is a great looking nem any way. It is currently in a QT going through Cipro. It continuously deflates and the mouth gets VERY large (gaping) especially when lights go out. It is still very sticky and attaches to the tank quickly. Just figure it is better safe than sorry. Hopefully in about a week it will be all good! OP is much better about water changes than me, and has plenty of saltwater ready to go for the entire treatment period.