Hitchhiker Identification

Chevyguy8893 · Feb 15, 2014

This unknown hitchhiker has been in the tank since I started it, and it is finally at a size that I could get a picture that could show some detail. I believe it is a majano anemone, but I am not positive. It is slightly smaller than a dime in diameter, and has a short stalk (or whatever the correct term is for the base). Thanks in advance for the help.

Sorry about the poor quality pictures, it is in a bad location to get a good picture.

DSC_0767 by chevyguy8893, on Flickr

DSC_0768 by chevyguy8893, on Flickr

Raptor72 · Feb 16, 2014

Yep, its a Majano. I had one exactly like that grow in a colony zoos. Make sure to remove the entire foot when you do so that it doesn't grow back.

Chevyguy8893 · Mar 2, 2014

Thank you for the identification. I will make sure that it is gone completely when I get a chance to remove it. Too bad they have a bad reputation since it looks nice, but it has to go. Sorry about the late reply.

TJ's Reef · Mar 2, 2014

No, certainly not a Mojano but would need to have a better look to properly ID.

Cheers, Todd

Chevyguy8893 · Mar 2, 2014

Well, I guess I will let it grow out some more and see if I can get a better picture. It hasn't been bothering anything so far, but I will keep an eye on it. Thanks!

saltyhog · Mar 2, 2014

Does it have a hard skeleton? It could be a hidden cup coral.

Chevyguy8893 · Mar 2, 2014

As far as I can tell the whole coral is soft, but I will have to double check.

Rob&Gab · Mar 2, 2014

looks like a baby plate coral.

Chevyguy8893 · Mar 8, 2014

Rob&Gab said:
looks like a baby plate coral.

Thanks for the reply, that is a good possibility from comparing it to other pictures online.

Chevyguy8893 · Mar 24, 2014

I discovered that this had released from the rock sometime within the past day (whether it was willing or forced, I don't know). I got it out of the depths of the rock it fell into and put it on the substrate. Anyway, the ID from Rob&Gab is correct, it is a plate coral. Now I will just have to care for it carefully since it is only around a 1/4" in diameter when it is not opened up.

GoingPostal · Mar 24, 2014

Stick it in a little container with holes, otherwise they are pretty easy to lose. Another one will probably start growing out of that stalk btw.

Obdigital1 · Apr 6, 2014

Thats defenitly a baby plate and if it was growing on the rock pls check the rock it broke off from because there is a good posibility a next baby is growing from the stalk that it hopefully left on the rock??? Is fo that would be a great find. I have a 8 head colony that started the same as 1 tiny baby and now 7 years later its 8 heads and about 30 plates have dropped from it that I use as trades and give aways

Chevyguy8893 · Apr 6, 2014

The stalk still remains on the rock. When I looked the other day I did find that there is another one growing. At the moment it is only ~2 mm in diameter. Once it gets big enough I will start feeding it like I did with the one that detached. The one that detached has been doing well on its own and nothing has been disturbing it.

Here it is after a feeding.

tyler1503 · Apr 6, 2014

How big was it before it detached? I've had one for ages that won't detach, but it continues to grow.

ethridge78 · Apr 6, 2014

I like it its not no pest

Chevyguy8893 · Apr 6, 2014

tyler1503 said:
How big was it before it detached? I've had one for ages that won't detach, but it continues to grow.

The skeleton was roughly 15 mm in diameter when it detached. The stalk it was attached to is pretty small though, so it is very possible that it was broken off the rock by one of the inhabitants. I've found the same from others saying the anthocauli remained attached even when they are larger.