Good or bad. What is it?

[JohnHubbs]

This popped up in my tank a couple months ago now there are little babies all over my tank. Is this good or bad… obviously, it’s breeding like an invasive.

Can anyone ID?

I haven’t added a coral to my tank in over a year.

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

Looks like an anemone of some sort, but not sure what kind. It kind of resembles aiptasia, but it's hard to tell. Pictures under pure white light can help positively ID.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Looks kind of like some sort of rock flower anemone, but I am certainly not sure. @ISpeakForTheSeas may know

 

[dan’s tanks]

Maybe a lightbulb anemone deflated?? I know those come in on Tampa live rock

 

[SantaMonica]

Hopefully it's a unique nem that you could sell.

 

[FUNGI]

Looks like a corkscrew anenome

 

[JohnHubbs]

This is it under white light and just had a good look. They’re everywhere in my tank now.

 

[Goaway]

Aiptasia.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Doesn’t look like apsasia to me. It looks very nice but I would have some caution.

 

[Goaway]

Oh right, they can become a pest, sting, irritate, cause coral to have tissue recession.

 

[BristleWormHater]

Doesn’t look like apsasia to me. It looks very nice but I would have some caution.

Ooh actually white light pics look more concerning

 

[FUNGI]

My moneys on CorkScrew.....:

Corkscrew Tentacle Sea Anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis)

One of the Indo-Pacific Anemones

scuba.spanglers.com

 

[JohnHubbs]

Gut is telling me Aiptasia (I think that’s how you spell it) and get rid of it. But I’ve never seen it this big or with colors. I’ve seen it brown with a long base. But this flat no base.

 

[Goaway]

Gut is telling me Aiptasia (I think that’s how you spell it) and get rid of it. But I’ve never seen it this big or with colors. I’ve seen it brown with a long base. But this flat no base.

There are other types of aips. Example exaiptasia. Yes, that's the name.

 

[FUNGI]

There are other types of aips. Example exaiptasia. Yes, that's the name.

yes possibly......

 

[FUNGI]

either way,,,,,no bueno.....nuke it

 

[Goaway]

yes possibly......

Regardless, the anemone is spreading like aiptasia. Not good.

 

[phillyb614]

This popped up in my tank a couple months ago now there are little babies all over my tank. Is this good or bad… obviously, it’s breeding like an invasive.

Can anyone ID?

I haven’t added a coral to my tank in over a year.

Looks like aptasia to me. If you have an outbreak, I would get some peppermint shrimp or an aptasia eating filefish. I have both and it has been completely eliminated. You just need to make sure you feed your tank well after purchasing them, so they won’t bother your corals.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Looks kind of like some sort of rock flower anemone, but I am certainly not sure. @ISpeakForTheSeas may know

In this case, this nem is almost certainly from the Aiptasiidae family; the tentacles don't look quite right for a Lightbulb Nem to me, though I have seen some specimens with similar striping on the tentacles and a similar ring around the mouth. My best guess at this point, though, (which is just a guess) would be "True Aiptasia" (Exaiptasia diaphana).

For examples:

Sea anemone from Guam

www.marinespecies.org

Exaiptasia pallida, Fig.4

Observed in Port Marina-Saidia Morocco on Jan 06, 2023 · 15:23 Morocco part of Mediterranean Sea

www.marinespecies.org

 

[Sophie"s mom]

In this case, this nem is almost certainly from the Aiptasiidae family; the tentacles don't look quite right for a Lightbulb Nem to me, though I have seen some specimens with similar striping on the tentacles and a similar ring around the mouth. My best guess at this point, though, (which is just a guess) would be "True Aiptasia" (Exaiptasia diaphana).

For examples:

Sea anemone from Guam

www.marinespecies.org

Exaiptasia pallida, Fig.4

Observed in Port Marina-Saidia Morocco on Jan 06, 2023 · 15:23 Morocco part of Mediterranean Sea

www.marinespecies.org

Wow! That is certainly wild looking for an aptasia! So glad you are here for all of us to lean on for this knowledge.