Gulf Live Rock Anemone ID

[OldRed1]

It’s my understanding that aiptasia anemones do not grow on live rock from the Gulf, as they are non-native to the area. I have recently noticed several small anemones growing on my rocks, and they seem to be accumulating quickly. If not aiptasia, what might these be?

 

[happyhourhero]

The ones I had come in on my gulf rock never spread. I am not sure of the exact species but they do look a bit different than the types you see in the pest realm.

 

[OldRed1]

The ones I had come in on my gulf rock never spread. I am not sure of the exact species but they do look a bit different than the types you see in the pest realm.

I’ll keep an eye on them! Thanks for the feedback!

 

[wtdenk]

I have a few tiny ones of those that have appeared on my gulf rock a few months after receiving my gulf rock. They haven't spread and seem harmless so far. I also received a lightbulb anemone on one of my rocks that I absolutely love.

Your rock looks almost identical to mine. The only potentially bad hitchhikers I've witnessed so far is a polyclad flatworm and a bright yellow worm no one can confidently identify. I removed the flatworm, only saw the yellow one once. I also saw a baby snail that I'm hoping is a nassarius and not a whelk. The rock is fantastic and I'm very pleased so far with the amount of life and diversity.

 

[OldRed1]

I have a few tiny ones of those that have appeared on my gulf rock a few months after receiving my gulf rock. They haven't spread and seem harmless so far. I also received a lightbulb anemone on one of my rocks that I absolutely love.

Your rock looks almost identical to mine. The only potentially bad hitchhikers I've witnessed so far is a polyclad flatworm and a bright yellow worm no one can confidently identify. I removed the flatworm, only saw the yellow one once. I also saw a baby snail that I'm hoping is a nassarius and not a whelk. The rock is fantastic and I'm very pleased so far with the amount of life and diversity.

Agreed! From my experience, all the baby snails have been whelks. I now remove on sight. I did remove one flatworm, no idea what kind it was. I didn’t bother to get an ID, truthfully.

 

[Baronen]

I believe they are ball anemones. You’ll be finding new stuff for months with that rock!

 

[happyhourhero]

My worst hitchhiker have been limpets that eat acros.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

It’s my understanding that aiptasia anemones do not grow on live rock from the Gulf, as they are non-native to the area. I have recently noticed several small anemones growing on my rocks, and they seem to be accumulating quickly. If not aiptasia, what might these be?

What's under your far right circle the brown ones look like aiptasia?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I’ll keep an eye on them! Thanks for the feedback!

I'd get rid of them if you already noticed them appear they are spreading, get them early before it's a problem, im sure some kalk paste will wipe them out then suck out the melted flesh.