Giant Aiptasia???

[mc-nuggs]

So I've been putting off asking this for fear of ridicule, but I'm too curious now.

Are these GIANT AIPTASIA? My tank occasionally has tiny (regular) Aiptasia, but they mostly show up on another "Island" rock, all by themselves.

Anyways, these ones came on some live rock from Florida, and they've always been much bigger than regular Aiptasia.
Even if they are not Aiptasia, I would still be interested to know what type of anemone these are.

I've occasionally fed these guys, and I like having them in my tank-- feel free to roast me.

 

[tyreefkeeper]

Wow those are big I don't think that's an aipastia

 

[NonstopSoda]

Definitely not aiptasia but after looking online i cannot find another anemone that matches it! Maybe the resident nem expert can help ID @OrionN

 

[crazyfishmom]

Could be some sort of Duncan.

 

[bossman818]

Duncan coral?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Duncan coral?

Maybe? The heads look like they could be.

Or maybe some sort of tube anemone?

 

[fishguy242]

Curly cue ? RFA babies ? think too big for wartys.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So I've been putting off asking this for fear of ridicule, but I'm too curious now.

Are these GIANT AIPTASIA? My tank occasionally has tiny (regular) Aiptasia, but they mostly show up on another "Island" rock, all by themselves.

Anyways, these ones came on some live rock from Florida, and they've always been much bigger than regular Aiptasia.
Even if they are not Aiptasia, I would still be interested to know what type of anemone these are.

I've occasionally fed these guys, and I like having them in my tank-- feel free to roast me.

Theyre getting plenty of food. Time to end them as they will multiply. Using a syringe or pipette, inject either lemon juice or better yet. . kalkwasser powder mixed with tank water into a paste the consistency of toothpaste and inject into the very center core and it will melt away

 

[PharmrJohn]

Could be some sort of Duncan.

It's aiptasia. An aiptasia named Duncan. Duncan MacLoed. There Can Be Only One (that big)........or not.

Yep. No idea....

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

My first thought would be lightbulb nems (Bellactis lux). If so, they're not a pest nem.

These can look pretty different from one specimen to another, but you can compare with the photos in the link below to get an idea of some of the variations (the tentacles can inflate and deflate like a BTA):

Meet Bellactis Lux, the lightbulb anemone!

Meet Bellactis lux n. sp. (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria: Aiptasiidae), a new sea anemone from the Gulf of Mexico! Tampa Bay Saltwater founder, Richard Londeree, has been observing Lightbulb anemones for over 30 years in the Gulf of Mexico and as of October 2023, this anemone has an official...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Spare time]

Could be some sort of Duncan.

Definitely not a duncan.

 

[mc-nuggs]

My first thought would be lightbulb nems (Bellactis lux). If so, they're not a pest nem.

These can look pretty different from one specimen to another, but you can compare with the photos in the link below to get an idea of some of the variations (the tentacles can inflate and deflate like a BTA):

Meet Bellactis Lux, the lightbulb anemone!

Meet Bellactis lux n. sp. (Cnidaria: Anthozoa: Actiniaria: Aiptasiidae), a new sea anemone from the Gulf of Mexico! Tampa Bay Saltwater founder, Richard Londeree, has been observing Lightbulb anemones for over 30 years in the Gulf of Mexico and as of October 2023, this anemone has an official...

www.reef2reef.com

Yes! This is it! Thank you @ISpeakForTheSeas !

 

[mc-nuggs]

Just thought I'd let you all know, I read that article and it turns out they are technically Aiptasia. A GIANT reef-safe Aiptasia.
Who would believe such a thing exists!
But I can attest, they stay in place, and after 1.5 years, I think there have only been 2 new ones that have shown up in the same group.
Crazy stuff.

 

[mc-nuggs]

Just had another thought-- if berghia nudibranchs eat these lightbulb anemones, they would be ideal for berghia farming.