ID for hitch hiker anemone

Just John · Apr 4, 2023

Couldn't find a picture online and hoping to keep it. It's about the size of a pencil eraser.
Thanks!

SlugSnorter · Apr 4, 2023

looks like Aiptasia

Ron Reefman · Apr 4, 2023

I love anemones and I can not ID it. However, I'd remove it. If you want to keep it, put it in a small container and do regular water changes.

It doesn't look like aiptasia to me, but maybe something related and it could end up as a pest.

olonmv · Apr 4, 2023

All I could find that looked similar is Balanophyllia.

vetteguy53081 · Apr 4, 2023

Its a cup coral member known as phyllangia americana and is harmless

Cell · Apr 4, 2023

Does not look like aiptasia whatsoever to me. Definitely looks more like a cup coral polyp.

Just John · Apr 4, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Its a cup coral member known as phyllangia americana and is harmless

Great eye! Thanks as always!

JoJosReef · Apr 4, 2023

As @vetteguy53081 says, it's not aiptasia. Got a lucky couple of these and they are harmless, noninvasive, and actually quite beautiful. I wouldn't put a sensitive coral right next to it, but don't worry about it taking over your tank--for example, I have a gorgonian with a branch extending into my cup coral's space and the end of that branch had no polyps.

Dburr1014 · Apr 4, 2023

Just John said:
Couldn't find a picture online and hoping to keep it. It's about the size of a pencil eraser.
Thanks!

Nice picture op!

vetteguy53081 · Apr 4, 2023

JoJosReef said:
As @vetteguy53081 says, it's not aiptasia. Got a lucky couple of these and they are harmless, noninvasive, and actually quite beautiful. I wouldn't put a sensitive coral right next to it, but don't worry about it taking over your tank--for example, I have a gorgonian with a branch extending into my cup coral's space and the end of that branch had no polyps.

Beautiful they are especially under the right spectrum